A heartfelt rendition of India's national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana', featuring the voices of Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor and Tagore fusion singer Isheeta Ganguly, was launched on Friday.
The two-minute music video, coming as a call to all Ind to unite during the COVID-19 crisis, showcases aerial views of Mumbai's beautiful cityscapes as it binds the viewers in an awe-inspiring rendition of the nation's anthem.
While Ganguly, a trained singer under the legendary late Suchitra Mitra, has sung the 'Jana Gana Mana', the short film ends with Tharoor reciting Rabindranath Tagore's "Where the Mind Is Without Fear" - a poem evoking hope and courage amidst obstacles and deep uncertainty - that which we are facing as a nation and as a globe in the collective fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The video is conceptualized and edited by a twelve-year-old Adarsh Das, a student of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School. It has scenic visuals of several iconic locations like Wankhede Stadium, Marine Drive, Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati Mandir, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link.
"It was a moving experience to recite Gurudev Tagore's immortal lines after listening to Isheeta's voice and feeling the uncertainty assailing our nation in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our minds are currently gripped by fear of the unknown, of possible attack by the virus; fear has led to the demonization of certain of our own citizens, either because of their appearance or their religion. The Tagore verse speaks of India transcending such fears and narrow divisions to a broader self-realization. I felt it could not be more appropriate today to accompany Isheeta's heartfelt rendering of the national anthem," said Dr Tharoor.
India, like the world, has been thrown into an unprecedented crisis where the toll it will take on our nation is deeply uncertain, adds Ganguly.
"Our National Anthem celebrates every region and Indian in this country and abroad regardless of caste, creed and colour. As a beacon of hope for all, we ask the city and country to join us in this movement of resilience and solidarity through our deep love and connectedness to this anthem joined with Dr. Tharoor's recitation, spoken as if Tagore's words are his own. Let us continue to support our incredible healthcare workers, essential service providers and police force who are working to support those amidst the frontline battle during this crucial hour," Ganguly, who is also a playwright and director, said.
( With inputs from IANS )