When we connect with Shankar Mahadevan to discuss his latest release, Ram anthem, he is enroute to Ayodhya for today’s inauguration. “This is what India is all about. We’ve been striving for this for over 500 years. I began my career by playing the veena for a Ram bhajan, so this is significant to me,” says Mahadevan, who, along with Kailash Kher, Akriti Kakkar and Shaan, released the number that earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “My friend Sameer ji [Anjaan] said we should work on this song. This is one of the biggest events in Indian history. It’s a high-energy number that you can dance to, but, it also has an emotional quotient. It is very rhythmic.” Mahadevan, who also collaborated with 250 artistes to create a carnatic track for the occasion, says the numbers reflect the varied emotions that are being felt by Indians. 

“The pulse of Ayodhya has been appropriately captured in this number,” says the musician, who hopes to perform at the event. “If I get to sing four lines closer to the Pran Pratishtha, I’ll be very happy.”