Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has responded strongly to veteran actress Sharmila Tagore’s recent comments on the national song Vande Mataram, saying she was surprised by what she described as a limited interpretation of art and poetry. The exchange has added a fresh Bollywood dimension to the ongoing debate over the song’s religious references and national significance.
Tagore recently shared her view that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram are broadly suitable for everyone to recite. She pointed out that India is home to people belonging to different faiths, including those who believe in a single God, and suggested that later portions of the song, which invoke Hindu deities, could be difficult for some people to embrace.
Ranaut, however, disagreed with Tagore’s interpretation. Sharing a video of the veteran actress discussing the issue on social media, Ranaut said she respected Tagore’s right to express her reservations but questioned why an artist would view poetry so narrowly. She argued that poetic language often uses metaphors and imagery to communicate ideas beyond their literal meaning.
According to Ranaut, Vande Mataram should be understood in the historical context of India’s freedom struggle rather than primarily through a religious lens. She described the song as representing the spirit of the independence movement and suggested that its references to strength and Shakti could be interpreted symbolically rather than solely as religious invocations.
Ranaut also urged Tagore to move beyond what she called a “Hindu-Muslim mindset”, arguing that national and artistic symbols should not be reduced to questions of religious identity. Her comments have further intensified the discussion surrounding how Vande Mataram should be viewed in a religiously diverse country.
The controversy comes amid a broader political and cultural debate over the national song. Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 19th century, played an important role in India’s freedom movement and holds the status of the National Song, while Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem. The differing views over its later verses have renewed questions about tradition, artistic interpretation and inclusivity.
For now, the comments by Sharmila Tagore and Kangana Ranaut have brought two contrasting perspectives into focus: one centred on religious inclusivity and the other on the artistic and symbolic interpretation of the national song. The debate continues to reflect the wider discussion over how India’s cultural and national symbols should be understood in a diverse society.