On Independence Day morning, the media centre at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts released Vande Mataram. The film features Kathak dancer Sangita Chatterjee with Odissi performer Shashwati Garai Ghosh, Bharatanatyam artist Parshwanath Upadhye, Manipuri dancer Kankana Singh, Sattriya exponent Anwesa Mahanta, Kuchipudi artist Amrita Lahiri, Kathakali performer Shyam Das and Mohiniyattam dancer Jayaprabha Menon.
Ram Bahadur Rai, president of IGNCA, serves as chief patron. The concept came from member secretary Sachchidanand Joshi. Lubdhak Chatterjee handled direction, cinematography and editing, while Anurag Punetha supervised the project.
Sangita, who originated the idea, explained that she grew up watching Mile Sur Mera Tumhara and sought to create a similar work uniting all eight classical dance forms. She noted that India cannot be viewed in isolation and carries an integrated knowledge system across heritage, dance, music, textiles and stories. The 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram offered the right moment to express unity in diversity.
Produced by Kalpataru Arts, the film has music direction by Anirban Bhattacharyya. It was filmed at East Kolkata Wetlands, Baruipur, Guptipara in West Bengal, Guwahati, Bengaluru, the National Crafts Museum in Delhi, Nahar Singh Palace in Faridabad, NIV Art Centre, Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple and IGNCA.
Director Lubdhak Chatterjee said the diverse classical forms allow rich cinematic possibilities when themes and locations are combined into a unified experience. He thanked Sangita, IGNCA and the full team of artists and partners.
