Every Conversation Matters- 25 Years of Timeless Music

This 2026 World Music Day, there was another occasion to celebrate—the 25th anniversary of Lagaan. I sat down to listen to the conversation between the maestro A.R. Rahman, lyricist Javed Akhtar, director Ashutosh Gowariker, and producer Aamir Khan. They spoke about how the songs came into being in a time with no internet, no cell phones, no advanced technology, and no Dolby sound.

There was one discussion about Ghanan Ghanan, the first song that sets the storyline of the film. More often than not, it is interpreted as a call to the rain gods, filled with hope and a longing to rid the people of despair. Twenty-five years later, the song holds so much more meaning than just the wait for rain.

As I listened to the 6-minute-11-second composition, I was reminded of another song created by the same duo of A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar—Yeh Tara Wo Tara, which runs for 7 minutes and 11 seconds. Two iconic films by the same director, yet what stands out in both is the genius of composer A.R. Rahman and lyricist Javed Akhtar.

In the celebratory video marking 25 years of Lagaan, Javed Akhtar points out that what makes A.R. Rahman’s compositions special is their unpredictability. He uses Ghanan Ghanan as an example. In the same breath, I would also mention Yeh Tara Wo Tara.

Compositions like Yeh Tara Wo Tara stand apart because of the earthy feeling they evoke. Yeh Tara Wo Tara changes the chorus as the same was done with Ghanan Ghanan in Lagaan. This made me realise the magic of the music I grew up with, which focuses heavily on rhythm and a chorus that a regular listener can hum.

The song has been reprised over the years and arranged in different styles. But believe it or not, the majority of Hindi music lovers still go back to the original soundtrack.

It isn’t because they want to pay homage to A.R. Rahman or Javed Akhtar. The song, through its lyrics and melody, does exactly what its music video shows—it brings a community together. As listeners, we begin to realise the depth of its lyrics.

It definitely isn’t the Shah Rukh Khan fan in me speaking. Many people don’t like either film but absolutely love the music albums of both.

This celebration made me realise what A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar have been creating for us over the last 25 years. Five years after Lagaan, Swades was released. At the time, the film wasn’t fully understood. But what has remained timeless is its music.

Another aspect about the duo that remains special is that they didn’t dumb down or underestimate the listeners when it came to music. They flowed against the stream; they gave us song styles that are used to date, when it comes to composition.

Music Albums like these don’t just come one day. They have grown over many years of training, work, and well, staying honest to its core.

I am sharing the lyrics here of both the songs Ghanan Ghanan and Yeh Tara Wo Tara to understand what Javed Akhtar tries to say in this video.

Lagaan Music Album

Swades Music Album

Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghir Ghir Aaye Badra
Ghane Ghan Ghor Kaare Chhaye Badra
Dhamak Dhamak Goonje Badra Ke Danke
Chamak Chamak Dekho Bijuriya Chamke

Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa
Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa

Mann Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa
Kaale Megha, Kaale Megha Paani To Barsaao

Yeh Tara Woh Tara

e taara woh taara har taara
Ye taara woh taara har taara
Dekho jise bhi lage pyaara
Ye taara woh taara har taara
Ye sab saath me jo hai raat me
Toh jagmagaya aasmaan saara
Ye sab saath me jo hai raat me
Toh jagmagaya aasmaan saara
Jagmag taare, do taare, nau taare, sau taare
Jagmag saare, har taara hai sharaara

his post is a part of ‘Mixtape Mood Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series

Every Conversation Matters-The Unconventional drama!

We belong to a generation shaped by the early years of pop culture — Tommy Hilfiger shirts, chains with snakes or the word cool, and Bollywood families that looked perfect on screen. We grew up watching films like Hum Saath-Saath Hain and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, believing in the idea of the “happy family.” At the same time, we became the first generation to openly talk about toxic family dynamics, emotional guilt, and the damage hidden beneath those smiling photographs.

Families have always been complicated, but those films sold us an illusion — one big joint family where love conquered everything. And we swallowed it completely.

Now, twenty-five years later, we continue to recreate the same image online. Families pose together for reels, photos, and celebrations. Everyone smiles until the camera cuts. Then the masks fall off, and people return to keeping emotional distance from one another. We have learned to recognise who harms us, who drains us, and who truly cares once the performance ends.

Still, families are pushed together for appearances. We are expected to sit in the same rooms and pretend everything is fine so the world can see a “happy family.” In the process, we ignore discomfort. We ignore the aunt who body-shamed us throughout childhood. We ignore the uncle whose stare made us uneasy. We ignore the brother-in-law who borrowed money and never returned it. We ignore the teenage cousin making inappropriate gestures toward young girls.

We ignore all of it because family, apparently, must stay together.

I remember my own parents encouraging me, the elder daughter, to “hang out” with my cousins. I almost laughed. Part of me wanted to ask, “Did you check whether they even want to spend time with me?” I never said it out loud, and that hangout never happened.

Even now, whenever I see cousins online acting inseparable, I scoff a little. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I feel sorry for them. Perhaps some of them are genuine, but the internet has taught us how easy it is to perform closeness.

Words like family, bond, and connection are used so casually today that they are beginning to sound like corporate slogans. “We are one big happy family”, the popular slogan.

Everything feels transactional now. Every post, every story, every carefully edited video carries a price tag.

Reading this, people will probably ask, Who hurt you?

And my answer is simple: Who do you think?

Then comes the next question: Who is your family, then?

Perhaps my sister. Perhaps my mother.

That is my reality.

I have seen too many performative families — including my own — to believe completely in the fantasy sold by films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… or even Kal Ho Naa Ho. Still, I appreciate stories that dare to look beyond the illusion.

Every day, I wake up hoping my mother and sister are safe, healthy, and alive.

Perhaps that is my version of family.

Sordid, maybe. But real. Absolutely real.

This post is a part of ‘Fam Jam Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series

Samaya in How to Win A Breakup:#BlogchatterA2Z

This year too, I decided to write about something I relate to the most. I didn’t do a theme reveal because I wanted to create a special surprise moment with everyone. So here goes.

My A to Z this year will feature fictional characters from movies, books, and series. I’ve chosen to put special emphasis on the fact that they are fictional because, though we often find them deeply relatable, they are, at the end of the day, not real.

That’s why this year, I’ve titled my series The A to Z of Never Never Land.

I start with the letter S: Samaya from the young adult novel How to Win a Breakup by Farah Heron.

The story follows our protagonist, Samaya, as she carefully plots her revenge against her ex-boyfriend who dropped her suddenly like an old purse, never looking back.

Samaya was an absolute treat to read, thanks to her vibrant personality and strong, distinctive identity. She is a brilliant maths whiz who is passionately into gaming, yet she remains deeply emotional and sensitive at the same time. As I turned the pages, all I could think about was how incredibly cool she was. To me, she quickly became an icon.

What I loved most was that she wasn’t written as meek or forced into any tired stereotype. Even though she worked hard chasing top marks and good grades, she never lost her emotional maturity or depth of feeling.

Samaya was heartbroken, a Canadian Muslim girl with Indian roots, but she stayed unapologetically herself while still allowing herself to be beautifully vulnerable.

Farah Heron never portrayed Samaya as an infamous “tomboy.” Instead, she beautifully showed that a girl can be exceptionally good at studies, madly in love with someone, and completely obsessed with video games—all at once.

Reading about her extraordinary energy and the serious focus she brought to every gaming battle felt so refreshing and empowering.

On top of everything, she also had an amazing sense of style and totally rocked every outfit she wore.

Samaya along with the author Farah Heron gave me belief that we as girls/women have power to break out of this BOX the society puts us in.

This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026

Every Conversation Matters: The blurring lines of mystery and thrillers #PlotTwistBlogHop

I don’t remember the last time I didn’t enjoy a domestic thriller or a murder mystery. I have been actively reading both genres for 28 years. As time flew by, I started enjoying the subgenres of Mysteries and Thrillers. The most attractive subgenre for me was murder mystery and domestic thrillers. These two always had me by the throat. I couldn’t get my eyes off the book. I’m known to ignore calls and messages while reading these subgenres. (Sometimes a work call too)😛

Today for World Book Day ECM #PlotTwistBlogHop I will tell you of three major points that make these two sub-genres stand out for me.

World-Buiding

Now you must be thinking that’s the basic that every mystery and thriller books have. Which is not entirely true. A good murder mystery and domestic thriller doesn’t open it’s cards out front. These two sub-genres keep the characters on the front and give a past to the protagonists keeping in mind how these characteristics will get connected to the main plot. 

An example is the opening of a recent book I read “The Jasmine Murders” where the book opens with an intrguing one line but what follows is the foggy introduction of the protagonists and what the two are doing in that space. We don’t know them,we get introduced to the world of the book categorically through the main characters. As you go further in the book,you see the world through the eyes of the characters, not just making you addicted to the plot but also wonder about what’s their fate going to be in the end.

Detective-lens writing

This isn’t something I have come up with. It does exist in every good murder mystery and Domestic thriller. There is suspicion but then there is a lens that the narrator looks at the scenario in front of you. The precision is what makes you go ahead in the plot and doesn’t let you drop the book. It rather makes a detective out of you. There are things that you start noticing on your own and the author successfully makes you,the reader, part of the mystery or the domestic thriller. I want to show an example of the detective lens writing from the book “The Jasmine Murders”. Don’t miss the image below.

Then comes the final and most important aspect that ties the entire plot together and that’s the slow burn. The pacing. 

Pacing

There definitely are people who might disagree with me. But for a traditionalist like me, the pacing cannot be fast. These days we want our thrillers to be fast-paced, and that’s not what makes me enjoy the murder mystery or the domestic thriller. The pacing has to simmer. Many readers feel like it is dragging, and I respectfully disagree. Thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, need to wrap up everything neatly. Only then can we finally understand the world we were brought into through the characters. The same goes for murder mysteries. Psychological thrillers and murder mysteries are often mixed. In the subgenre of murder mystery, it is about solving who the culprit is. In a psychological thriller, it is about figuring out the big WHY.

If I had to mention one “fast-paced thriller”, it might be “The Housemaid”, but it’s a forgettable psychological thriller. That’s why domestic thrillers always call me towards them. The Housemaid falls in the domestic thriller sub genre in fact and it’s a murder mystery. 

Have I given a spoiler? Though after reading some really good thrillers and mysteries,I have absolutely no idea why the show/movie was made on the book. There is absolutely nothing extraordinary about it. 

It’s maybe the thriller snob in me speaking,but there are just too many good thrillers to get adapted to.

But yes, these are two sub genres that I always enjoy because of these three components. 

What about you? Do you agree with me or disagree? Let me know your thoughts.

This post is a part of ‘Plot Twist Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series

Currents Of Kindness Blog Hop-ECM: Where is the Writer?

After watching The Ba***ds of Bollywood directed by Aryan Khan, I came across Neeraj Pandey’s Instagram post, which sparked deep reflection. As a writer and someone who cherishes the impeccable craft of writing in books, I’ve noticed we often undervalue this skill in other media. 

Writers in industries like advertising, political campaign slogans, events, award shows, or theatre are often invisible, much like a burkha-clad woman. Even when we watch a theatrical play, we tend to remember the actor or dancer who stood out for us, but rarely the writer behind the script.

This made me question how inclusive our spaces are for writers outside the realm of books. Do we acknowledge the person who crafted the clever script of a tagline that’s on everyone’s lips now? Writers’ struggles are often dismissed, labelled as lazy or “not knowing how to write,” without understanding the reality of their challenges.

How can we create more inclusive spaces for writers? Every industry—be it a product campaign, event, or show needs a skilled writer who pours their creativity into making it seamless. Consider the writers behind a 30-second ad or a feature film. Are we asking about their pay? Are we recognizing the effort behind the finished product, or do writers remain invisible, just as they often do in movies or advertisements?

In the past decade, only a few writers, like Varun Grover and Neeraj Ghaywan, have gained mainstream recognition for their work, particularly for Masaan. They’ve become household names, but it took years for them to achieve this. Meanwhile, countless other writers toil daily, fighting to keep going without giving up.

Our spaces must become more inclusive and appreciative of writers in every industry. Their work deserves respect, and their pay should reflect their value.

In conclusion I would like to point out… I’ve noticed a troubling pattern: when writers are undervalued, recycling of ideas becomes rampant. When their hard work isn’t recognized, the potential for ground breaking creativity takes a backseat. We need to see the writer. Let’s make space for them. Let’s value their contributions and ensure their efforts are celebrated across all industries.

This post is a part of Currents of Kindness Blog Hop hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series.

Ever feel like blogging’s golden days are over?
Everywhere you look, people are saying, “AI killed blogging.” But if you look closer, you’ll see something else—blogging isn’t dead, it’s transforming.

https://drchetandhongade.com/marketing/is-blogging-dead-due-to-ai/

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Dear Reader: Scribbled and Sealed Blog Hop-ECM

As an avid reader and occasional writer across various spaces, this letter is naturally addressed to you, my fellow readers—writers included, for I’ve yet to meet a writer who isn’t a reader at heart.

Beyond that, this letter is about the beauty of community, the shared passion that binds us to plots, storylines, characters, and the endless wonders of literature.

Today, though, I want to dive into a weightier topic that lingers in our readerly world. As the great game show voice once declared, LET’S GET POLITICAL!

Dear Readers,

From the moment I began reading, literature has been steeped in controversy—debates over what’s being read, what’s suitable for kids, or what’s deemed “appropriate.” It’s tempting to blame the internet or claim these debates exploded during the pandemic, but the truth is, they’ve always been with us. They’ve simply evolved as we’ve moved through different stages of life, where sometimes it all feels like too much because we’ve seen it all before. Back then, we didn’t have tools like ChatGPT to amplify the noise, did we? 😄 

Today, I write to remind you, dear reader, of the privilege we hold—the ability to read. Never forget that countless people across the world lack this opportunity or the time to indulge in the kind of reading you and I cherish. Never forget that many writers today can freely share their voices, but years ago, those same voices were silenced—by society, by laws, or by circumstance. This letter is a call to remember that access to books remains a pressing issue when we wonder why books aren’t being bought. It’s not just a problem in one country or a matter of choosing coffee over literature. There are people who forgo new clothes or small luxuries yet still can’t access books—and no, I’m not talking about myself. 😛 

When you hold a book in your hands, whatever its format, pause to honor the unsung heroes behind it: the editors, proofreaders, beta readers, alpha readers, early readers, cover designers, sales teams, and so many others who bring that story to life. And dear reader, when you open that book, remember the countless writer’s blocks each author has overcome. A block isn’t always just “imposter syndrome.” Sometimes, it’s far bigger—systematic, societal, or deeply personal. 

So, I urge you to pause and consider every piece of literature that crosses your path. I know, I know—I haven’t mentioned celebrity authors. But let’s be honest: don’t we all instinctively reach for a book when a famous name is attached? My politics in literature will always champion the voices we overlook, the books we don’t instinctively pick up. 

This letter is a reminder to give literature the chance it deserves. Don’t shy away from discussing the politics woven into a story, for not separating the art from the artist is a choice which is a political stance that I strongly believe in.

But my politics also compels me to encourage you to explore anti-caste literature, to amplify voices that are searching for readers.

This letter is for you, the reader who understands the power of a voice and who refuses to stay silent when the marginalized need support. 

Dear reader, don’t just stop to smell the flowers—question WHICH flowers you’ve been told to admire. Too metaphorical? 😏 Well, that’s part of the package. 😛 

I hope you feel the heart of this letter and share your own thoughts—your political pennies, if you will—in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

Always yours,  

The Reader Who Forgets to Read but Magically Writes Every Day 🙂

Operation Vijay and the Significance of Kargil Diwas: A Call to Understand the Kargil War #EveryConversationMatters #TricolourTalesBlogHop

Nobody craves war, yet geopolitical tensions often leave governments with no choice but to engage. The hunger for power, whether through war or genocide, has led to countless deaths, with soldiers bearing the brunt. When war is declared, every individual faces danger, regardless of their position. This makes Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26, profoundly significant. It honors the soldiers who prioritized the nation’s safety during the Kargil War of 1999.

Yet, how many of us have truly delved into a book or account to grasp what the Kargil War was about?

Operation Vijay, as the conflict is known, was a swift and resolute response by the Indian Army, in coordination with the Indian Air Force, to safeguard India’s borders.

In 1999, as a nine-year-old, I saw the nation rally around this cause, sparking my curiosity about its origins. “Why Kargil?” As a pre-teen, I repeatedly questioned why the Kargil War happened.

I sought to understand the politics of governance and the battlefield, but answers like “Pakistan needed to be attacked” felt inadequate. Today, through discussions with my co-host Manali and research for our theme, I’ve gained clarity.

The Kargil War wasn’t a random event but a calculated move by Pakistani forces to disrupt the Srinagar-Leh highway, a vital link to Ladakh. Their covert infiltration into Indian territory aimed to control strategic heights along the Line of Control (LoC). For the first time in independent India’s history, the Indian Air Force joined the Army in a high-altitude conflict, marking a historic escalation.

Conspiracy theories about the war’s motives abound, but they dilute the truth. Only those who served at the border—soldiers, officers, and their families—truly know the reality.

This is why we chose Non-Fiction, Memoirs, and Biographies for our winning prizes: to amplify authentic voices from those who witnessed the conflict firsthand.

A Special Hero: Gunjan Saxena

Commemorating Kargil Diwas in 2025 feels incomplete without honoring Gunjan Saxena, one of the few women pilots involved in Operation Vijay. She flew in the perilous high-altitude war zone, showcasing extraordinary courage and breaking barriers for women in combat roles. Her contribution symbolizes the evolving role of women in India’s defense forces.

What Should Not Be Missed

Operation Vijay marked a historic collaboration between the Indian Army and Air Force. Despite the intense ground and air operations, India upheld international diplomacy by not crossing the LoC, a decision that earned global respect. This restraint, paired with military success, underscored India’s commitment to peace while defending its sovereignty.

The Legacy of Operation Vijay

The Kargil War demonstrated India’s prowess in high-altitude warfare, with the Army and Air Force working in unison to reclaim occupied territories. It highlighted the sacrifices of heroes like Captain Vikram Batra, whose bravery remains etched in history, and introduced pioneers like Gunjan Saxena, one of India’s first women pilots in a war zone.

The victory restored the LoC and reinforced India’s resolve to protect its borders.

On this 25th Kargil Diwas, let’s go beyond social media tributes or fleeting homages. Pick up a book, read an article, or speak with a retired officer who stood at the border.

As writers and readers, we have a responsibility to make informed choices. We must understand the sacrifices that shaped our nation’s history. Let’s honor Kargil Vijay Diwas by seeking the truth and celebrating the courage of those who put India first.

This post is a part of ‘Tricolour Tales Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters

The Roar: The Chuckle Chronicles Blog Hop

My laughter, my roar, defines the joy of my existence. It’s not just a sound—it’s a declaration of my spirit. Growing up, I was fortunate to live in a home free from rigid rules about how a girl should sit, walk, or even where her bra strap should rest. My mother never handed me a manifesto dictating how to be a “proper” woman. But the world outside was different. Society, with its relentless judgments, waited until I was old enough to feel the weight of its insecurities—taunts about my parents’ upbringing, snide remarks about my behavior, and criticism of how I, as a woman, dared to exist.

The loudest critiques targeted my laughter—my roar. Relatives and cousins grimaced at its sound, as if it were an offense. When I was  21, a 40-year-old man mocked it, mimicking me with disdain, as if to say, “How dare she?” 

Society succeeded where my mother never intended: it pressed my vocal cords so tightly that I felt guilty for laughing. Imagine that—feeling shame for joy. At  family gatherings, aunts and uncles with their thick UP accents would point and scold, “Yeh kaise hass rahi ho? Theek se hasso.” (What laugh is this? Laugh properly.) 

The “proper” laugh, a subdued, acceptable giggle, became a constant reminder of how my roar was nearly silenced forever.

But one day, I broke free from that chokehold. I refused to let “people” dim my voice any longer.

My roar is not just mine—it’s a rebellion against a world that will only identify those women as women if they have a laugh which is small, soundless and doesn’t attract attention. 

This World Laughter Day, I urge every woman to reclaim her roar.

I see it in my sisters, friends, and countless others who’ve muted their laughter or adjusted it to fit what’s deemed “proper.” Let’s reject that. Let’s laugh loud, unapologetically, and fiercely.

My journey wasn’t about learning to laugh—it was about unlearning the guilt society imposed. It was about embracing the raw, untamed joy that makes me, me. So, to every woman reading this: let your laughter echo. Let it shake the walls of expectation. Your roar is your power, your freedom, and your truth. Don’t let anyone silence it.

This post is a part of ‘The Chuckle Chronicles Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters

Water and Women: Every Conversation Matters

Water is more than a life-sustaining resource. it’s a powerful metaphor for the feminist movement. Its fluidity, resilience, and changing nature mirror the essence of women’s fight for equality. Feminist writers and artists have been using  water imagery to challenge rigid gender norms, exploring identity, resistance, and renewal. It’s a metaphor for the fluidity of gender itself and the strength of collective action. Reclaiming water in this way lets women redefine their stories on their terms.

Water flows through obstacles of canyons,mountains just like a woman finds her way through systematic barriers.women have been denied access to education, political power, and economic independence, yet they go at it and keep fighting.

Just like that water is a reflection of the nurturer she is yet fighting for independence, the duality she lives.Just like water, they expect women to be soft but they are also fierce. Water goes through these storms,oceans that stripped apart lands showing a mirror to the feminism that women can be gentle with being these storms.

Vandana Shiva is such an activist who ties water rights to women’s rights who argues that gender equality and ecology are inseparable. Women in villages are the prime example who bring together people to fight for the rights of water not just for their own survival but their empathetic nature speaks up against their exploitation and of the water resources.

Just like access to clean water isn’t just a need but a women’s rights issue binding the women to body autonomy,education and freedom.The United Nations estimates they collectively spend 200 million hours daily on this labor. That’s time stolen from education, paid work, or rest. For girls, it can mean dropping out of school entirely, chaining them to cycles of poverty. For women, the physical toll or the risks of violence on isolated treks add layers of hardship. If water runs freely,so will the women be released from the slavery of menial labour and be able to fulfil their dreams.

Feminism, like a river, thrives when it links diverse voices across race, class, and borders. Just as no drop exists in isolation, no woman’s liberation is complete until all are free. The flow of water connects us, urging solidarity over division. It’s a call to action to risel together, to rise like the tide, to wash away oppression. The strongest power of the feminist movement has been the embracing of the fierce independent woman who can also be a nurturer and compassionate. 

Feminism and water justice are inseparable. We need policies ensuring women’s access to clean water and sanitation, support for women-led initiatives, and challenges to the power structures fueling inequality. Let’s stand with women worldwide, turning water from a struggle into a source of strength.

In the end, water is feminism’s mirror image. It’s the quiet before the storm, the unstoppable force of a tsunami, and the shared current that binds us. As we fight for a just world, let’s draw from its lessons of being flowing, fierce, and forever free.

This post is a part of ‘H2OhSnap Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters