Come out of Hindu-Muslim mindset: Kangana slams Sharmila Tagore's Vande Mataram take

Actor Kangana Ranaut has reacted strongly to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's recent remarks on Vande Mataram and asked her to 'come out of the Hindu-Muslim mindset'. Tagore had suggested that only the first two stanzas of the National Song should be retained, saying that references to Hindu deities in the later verses may be difficult for people who follow a monotheistic faith to accept.Kangana, while sharing a video of Sharmila's interview on her Instagram Stories, said she appreciated the veteran actor for expressing her reservations but disagreed with her interpretation of the poem. She argued that artistic works often use metaphors and should not necessarily be read as religious texts.Kangana Ranaut reacts to Sharmila Tagore's Vande Mataram remarksSharmila Tagore recently spoke to IANS about Vande Mataram and its relevance to people belonging to different faiths. She said that some of its later verses could be difficult for those who believe in one God.“My point of view is that there are many religious people who believe in one single God, not many Gods. In Vande Mataram, there is a stanza which says that many Gods are mentioned in Vande Mataram,” Tagore said. She added, “It is difficult for those who believe in one religion to say, 'Vande Kali, Vande Durga'. Therefore, if we take all the religious people in India together, the first two stanzas are very good.”Kangana responded by sharing a video of the interview on Instagram Stories. While she said she respected Sharmila's right to express her concerns, she questioned her interpretation of the poem as an artist. “I appreciate that Sharmila ji has spoken about her reservation on Vande Mataram, but I am shocked as an artist how can her views on art/poetry can be so limiting and contrived, in any poetry or song words are metaphors, a poet or artist uses all kinds of imaginations draws unbelievable parallels to bring about the desirable effect, Vande Matram is the spirit of freedom struggle Bankim Chandra ji is compelling the nation to awaken the Shakti within, how can you reduce such a great piece of art to mere religious practice.”Kangana further argued that references to Shakti in poetry can be understood as symbols of strength rather than being limited to religious interpretations.She wrote, “Vivekananda famously said I need youth who are made of iron, bones of steel and veins in which runs thunderbolt, he was not giving weather forecast, he was simply demanding Shakti to rise, please come out of Hindu Muslim mindset even if we believe in one God doctors also call power Shakti, let's embrace each other like our own, I absolutely love you and don't mind a crushing hug like you always give me.”What did Sharmila Tagore say about Vande Mataram?Tagore's remarks came amid a wider debate over the status and interpretation of Vande Mataram. Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and later included in his novel Anandamath, the song became closely associated with India's freedom struggle.The first two stanzas describe and praise the motherland. The later verses contain references to Hindu goddesses, including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. This has led to periodic discussions about whether the complete poem can be embraced equally by people from different religious backgrounds.Tagore said that the first two stanzas could be more widely accepted because of their focus on the motherland, while the later references could pose a difficulty for those following monotheistic faiths.Her comments have now added another layer to the ongoing discussion, with Kangana arguing that the poem's imagery needs to be understood in its artistic and historical context.Mukesh Khanna also weighs inThe debate comes shortly after actor Mukesh Khanna called for Vande Mataram to replace Jana Gana Mana as India's National Anthem.Khanna has previously argued that Vande Mataram should be given the status of the National Anthem. He also made a claim about the origins of Jana Gana Mana, saying that it was written as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth.“I have said this three years ago that Vande Mataram should be made a national anthem. Jana Gana Mana is not the national anthem of our country. It is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth. Rabindranath Tagore wrote a song in praise of her. We have accepted it. Bhagyavidhata, Punjab, Sindh. It is not ours. 'Vande Mataram' is ours,” Khanna had told IANS.He also praised Lata Mangeshkar's rendition of Vande Mataram and said he had recorded a seven-minute version of the song.While Jana Gana Mana is India's National Anthem, Vande Mataram holds the status of the National Song. Both have played important roles in India's history and are deeply associated with the country's national identity and freedom movement.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Aug 21, 2026 08:31 IST