Bharat Bala recollects AR Rahman recording Vande Mataram tune at 2AM, says he makes every part non secular: ‘He lit a candle that comes from Ajmer dargah…’ |
‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ was greater than only a tune—it was a second in historical past. Almost three many years later, AR Rahman’s 1997 rendition of Vande Mataram nonetheless echoes throughout generations. However few know the intimate, nearly non secular circumstances below which the observe got here to life.
A love tune, not a patriotic slogan
Throughout a dialog with The Lallantop, filmmaker Bharat Bala revealed that his imaginative and prescient for Vande Mataram went past a standard patriotic anthem. He wished the tune to hold a romantic tone — a heartfelt ode to the nation, reasonably than a jingoistic message. Bala shared that the concept was in growth for almost six months, impressed by an outdated scratch model that when aired on All India Radio. Based on him, the objective was to craft one thing deeper — a love tune for the nation and its folks, one that might resonate emotionally and stand the take a look at of time.
A 2AM recording sparked by religion
He additionally recalled the lengths AR Rahman went to for the recording of Vande Mataram. Rahman had arrange a devoted studio on the second ground of his dwelling solely for the mission. Regardless of months of effort, the suitable second didn’t arrive—till one evening. Bala shared that they’d been sleeping on the studio ground when Rahman out of the blue awakened at 2 a.m., lit a candle introduced from the Ajmer Dargah to set a non secular tone, and felt impressed to file. With no sound engineer out there at that hour, they nonetheless determined to seize the magic because it unfolded.Bharat went on to disclose that the model of Vande Mataram we hear at present is the exact same uncooked take recorded that evening—with none retakes or refinements. With no sound engineer current, Rahman requested Bala to sit down with him and help. Although hesitant to tackle the accountability, Bala agreed, and inside quarter-hour, Rahman stepped into the sales space and commenced singing ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam.’ The emotion was so overwhelming that Bala was moved to tears. That highly effective, impromptu rendition—captured in full solitude—turned the ultimate model used within the now-iconic observe.
Particulars of the video
Bala additional shared that the Vande Mataram video was made with minimal planning and most emotion. There was no storyboarding or elaborate prep—as an alternative, he targeted on capturing actual folks, actual landscapes, and real emotion. The imaginative and prescient was easy but highly effective: to shoot throughout numerous areas of India with an enormous flag, gathering locals at every spot. There was no make-up, no choreography, no rehearsals—simply uncooked, unscripted patriotism filmed artistically. The shoot wrapped in simply 20–25 days, and Bala had the ultimate video prepared inside one other ten. His objective was clear: to make one thing epic, sincere, and deeply human.
