Unity, empathy and the idea of India | Hindi Movie News - Times of India (2025)

From

Lata Mangeshkar

singing ‘Koi Sikh koi Jaat Maratha, koi Gurkha koi Madrasi, sarhad par marnewala har veer tha Bharatwasi,’ to Shah Rukh Khan’s dialogue in Chak De! India – “Mujhe states ke naam na sunai dete hai na dikhai dete hai… Sirf ek mulk ka naam sunai deta hai – India” – songs and

dialogues

have celebrated the idea of India for decades.
Film experts say that songs and scenes that have stood the test of time avoid hypernationalism.

Film historian Chintamani shares, “There are many songs and scenes in

films

that represent the idea of India from the 1940s to the 1960s. Dialogues and lyrics were caring and empathetic, addressing how to support the weakest among us. The use of such dialogues was crucial because, at that time, very few films and songs in Hindi cinema had pan-India appeal.” “In the ‘70s and ‘80s, films like Ek Duuje Ke Liye highlighted regional disparities and how people overcame them. In recent years, plots and scenes of films have used this narrative trope. It is quite evident in films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Chak De! India, and 83, where different regions come together in the plot, talking about

unity

through dialogues and narratives,” he adds.
“The simple lyrics of Desh Premee’s title song, ‘Aapas Mein Prem Karo Mere Desh Premiyon’, reflect a sentiment of unity. In every decade, there were films that evoked such feelings,” says film historian Gautam Chintamani

Saluting the spirit of India on screen
In Satyen Bose’s Jagriti, two iconic songs, written by Pradeep, discussed themes of glory and nation-building – ‘Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikal Ke, and Aao Bachcho Tumhe Dikhayein Jhaanki Hindustan Ki’. In an earlier interview,

Gulzar

told us, “Filmein watan ko kabhi bhooli nahi. Pradeep ji (Kavi Pradeep) ne bahut patriotic songs likhe hain jaise ‘ Aao Bachon Tumhe Dikhayein Jhaanki Hindustan Ki’, jo kaafi mashhoor raha”

Veteran writer Anjum Rajabali says, “Some of the most iconic songs that have remained etched in popular memory include ‘Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega, Insaan Ki Aulad Hai Insaan Banega’ from Dhool Ka Phool (1959) and ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani Ye Patloon Englistani Sar Par Laal Topi Rusi, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ from Shree 420 (1955)”

In her biography, Lata Mangeshkar recalled singing ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon for the first time’. “Following the Chinese attack on India in 1962, Pradeepji wrote this song, and I sang it for the first time in Delhi on Republic Day on 26th January, 1963” Later Jawaharlal Nehru told her, ‘Beta, tum ne aaj mujhe rula diya”

“After Independence, many songs and dialogues were written that celebrated differences and spoke about unity in diversity. The idea was to promote a strong feeling of unity in people’s hearts. When we hear the lyrics of songs like Aao Bachon Tumhe Dikhayein Jhaanki Hindustan Ki or Hum Uss Desh Ke Vaasi Hain, we sense that when our films and songs celebrate our country, they are celebrating our people, diversity, and values,” says film historian Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.

In an impassioned speech in Mulk, Taapsee Pannu’s character, a defence lawyer, says, “Ek mulk kagaz pe nakshon ki lakeeron se nahi bantt-ta... mulk bantt-ta hai rang se, bhasha se, dharam se, zaat se… ‘Hum aur woh’ milke is mulk ko thodi na banate hai, ‘hum’ is mulk ko banate hai.
Sirf ek mulk ka naam sunai deta hai – India: SRK in Chak De!
To encourage his team to play for the nation and not the respective states they belonged to, Chak De! India’s Kabir Khan says to his team, “Mujhe states ke naam na sunai dete hai na dikhai dete hai… Sirf ek mulk ka naam sunai deta hai – India.” Later in the scene, when the players introduce themselves along with their states, he reiterates, “Iss team ko sirf woh players chahiye jo pehle India ke liye khel rahe hain. India. Phir apni team mein saathiyon ke liye aur uske baad bhi thodi bahut jaan bach jaye toh apne liye.”