Kangana Ranaut Criticizes Sharmila Tagore Over Remarks on Vande Mataram Interpretation

Bollywood actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has publicly challenged veteran actress Sharmila Tagore over recent remarks concerning India’s national song, Vande Mataram. The disagreement centers on Tagore’s suggestion that parts of the song may conflict with the religious sentiments of those who adhere to monotheism.

In a recent interview with the news agency IANS, Sharmila Tagore expressed her perspective on the song’s inclusive reach. She noted that while the composition is deeply symbolic, references to multiple deities in certain stanzas can be challenging for those who believe in a single God. Tagore proposed that to better include all religious groups in India, only the first two stanzas of the song should be utilized.

Kangana Ranaut responded to these comments by sharing a clip of the interview on her Instagram story. While she acknowledged Tagore’s right to express her opinion, Ranaut criticized the veteran actress for what she described as a narrow interpretation of art and poetry. Ranaut argued that words in creative works often serve as metaphors rather than literal religious prescriptions, emphasizing that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s composition was intended to awaken the spirit of the nation during the independence struggle.

Defending the song against claims of religious bias, Ranaut stated that it is reductive to interpret a significant piece of nationalist art solely through the lens of religious practice. She invoked the teachings of Swami Vivekananda to illustrate her point, suggesting that references to physical or spiritual strength are symbolic and not literal or exclusionary. Ranaut urged for an end to what she characterized as divisive Hindu-Muslim framing of artistic expressions.

Despite the sharp nature of the public rebuttal, Ranaut concluded her statement by expressing personal affection for Tagore, noting that she holds the veteran actress in high regard. As of Thursday afternoon, Sharmila Tagore has not issued a formal response to Ranaut’s comments.