Kangana vs Sharmila: Vande Mataram sparks clash

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Key points

• Kangana Ranaut defended the national song Vande Mataram after Sharmila Tagore triggered concern.
• While afterwards verses invoke Hindu goddesses including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the song's first two stanzas celebrate the beauty and landscape of the motherland.
• Kangana Ranaut backs Vande Mataram, counters Sharmila Tagore's reservations over religious references.
• Power shift, a déjà vu: Air India could be new CEO's toughest flight yet.
• My point of view is that there are plenty of religious residents who believe in one single God, not plenty of Gods.

Kangana Ranaut backs Vande Mataram, counters Sharmila Tagore's reservations over religious references. ET OnlineLast Updated: Aug 21, 2026, 09: 37: 00 AM IST.

Kangana Ranaut defended the national song Vande Mataram after Sharmila Tagore triggered concern. Tagore felt some verses were tough for monotheistic followers to accept. Ranaut countered that poetry uses metaphors and artistic license for effect. She argued Shakti references represent strength and empowerment, not just religion. For context, the debate highlights Vande Mataram's status as India's National Song.

Actor Kangana Ranaut has defended the national song 'Vande Mataram' after veteran actor Sharmila Tagore triggered concern that some of its verses invoking Hindu deities could be tough for residents who follow monotheistic faiths to accept. The debate over the song has resurfaced against the backdrop of discussions concerning its status as India's National Song and its distinction from the National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'. Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and afterwards included in his novel Anandamath, 'Vande Mataram' became a powerful rallying cry during India's freedom movement.: Congress split Vande Mataram, paved way for Partition: Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

While afterwards verses invoke Hindu goddesses including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the song's first two stanzas celebrate the beauty and landscape of the motherland. The references have become a point of contention in discussions over whether the entire song should be treated uniformly. Tagore lately stated individuals who believe in a single God may find some portions of the song challenging to embrace, arguing that the first two stanzas could be more widely accepted. Live Events.

"My point of view is that there are plenty of religious residents who believe in one single God, not plenty of Gods. In 'Vande Mataram', there is a stanza which notes that numerous Gods are mentioned in 'Vande Mataram', " Tagore noted. She continued that references to Hindu goddesses in the afterwards verses could pose difficulties for individuals from monotheistic faiths. "It is tough for those who believe in one religion to say, 'Vande Kali, Vande Durga'. Therefore, if we take all the religious individuals in India together, the first two stanzas are highly good, " she noted. Ranaut responded by sharing a video of Tagore's interview on her Instagram Stories. While saying she appreciated Tagore for articulating her reservations, Ranaut questioned what she described as a restrictive interpretation of poetry and art.: Congress to stick to 1937 resolution on Vande Mataram "I appreciate that Sharmila ji has spoken about her reservation on Vande Mataram, but I am shocked as an artist how can her views on art/poetry can be so limiting and contrived, in any poetry or song words are metaphors, a poet or artist uses all kinds of imaginations draws unbelievable parallels to bring about the desirable effect, Vande Matram is the spirit of freedom struggle Bankim Chandra ji is compelling the nation to awaken the Shakti within, how can you reduce such a great piece of art to mere religious practice." Ranaut argued that references to Shakti in poetry can be understood as metaphors for strength and empowerment rather than solely as religious references. She cited Swami Vivekananda's emphasis on strength and pressed residents to move beyond religious divisions. While 'Vande Mataram' holds the status of the National Song and occupies a significant place in the country's history of independence, "Vivekananda famously said I need youth who are made of iron, bones of steel and veins in which runs thunderbolt, he was not giving weather forecast, he was simply demanding Shakti to rise, please come out of Hindu Muslim mindset even if we believe in one God doctors also call power Shakti, let's embrace each other like our own, I absolutely love you and don't mind a crushing hug like you always give me." 'Jana Gana Mana' is India's National Anthem. Add Now!

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