Another Ram Gopal Varma film and yet another controversy. This time it's the theme song of Rann, Jana Gana Rann, that has hogged the limelight. RGV has used the Indian National Anthem (with additional lyrics) to project the theme of his film which in a way also highlights the state of present-day India where corrupt politics, communal violence etc. have become the order of the day. Definitely not an India our forefathers had dreamt of.
Going by the discussion boards in various news websites, the reaction toJana Gana Rann has been strongly negative. From what I have read, many are accusing RGV of insulting the National Anthem and some have even called him a desh-drohi. Now aren't those reactions too far-fetched? I am convinced that the song does not disgrace our National Anthem in any way, instead it simply instills a thought for a change, a change for a better India, and it does so by exposing the bitter truths. How does it then insult the idea of patriotism? I would have been absolutely against RGV if he had misused his freedom of expression but fortunately he is mature enough to respect it. All I would like to say is that let us not make a mountain of a molehill of every single matter. It is perfectly fine to voice an opinion but before doing so it is also important to understand the true intent behind the matter concerned. We have had too many good films in the past which were banned or which sank without a trace due to irrelevant public and political pressure. This is sad and in one way or the other it puts a big question mark on the freedom of artistic expression.
What RGV said, "I have not tinkered with the National Anthem. Tinkering would be if I would have shown it in bad light. I haven't done anything of this sort. Through this song, we are talking about the disputes in the country but there were no intentions to ridicule anything."
The song is well sung but the lyrics could have been better poetically.
