Actor Kangana Ranaut has defended the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ after veteran actor Sharmila Tagore raised concerns that some of its verses invoking Hindu deities could be difficult for people who follow monotheistic faiths to accept.
The debate over the song has resurfaced amid discussions about 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 later included in his novel Anandamath, ‘Vande Mataram’ became a powerful rallying cry during India's freedom movement.
