'As An Atheist, I Had To Surrender': Javed Akhtar On Why Lagaan’s ‘O Paalanhaare’ Was Most Challenging Song

Aamir Khan’s Lagaan has completed 25 years, and on this special milestone, the team is re-releasing the film. Well, recently lyricist Javed Akhtar revealed that O Paalanhaare remains the most challenging song he has ever written. He reflected on the creative process behind the iconic devotional track composed by A.R. Rahman.

Hosted by Meiyang Chang, the session saw the Lagaan team revisiting the making of the film’s unforgettable soundtrack. Javed Akhtar was seen recalling his most challenging song. “When people ask me which is the one song I found a challenge to write, I always say it’s ‘O Paalanhaare’,” he said. Akhtar explained that Rahman’s composition possessed such a universal sense of devotion that anyone could immediately identify its

spiritual nature. “Even as an atheist, I had to find innocence and surrender in my heart. You can’t write such songs with tact and craft; it can only be done with purity and simplicity.” Rahman said, “I wanted to make the music timeless, and luckily it has become that.”

Aamir Khan to Host ‘Lagaan’ Reunion as Film Completes 25 Years

According to Bollywood Hungama, the event will reportedly include not just the lead and supporting actors, but also technicians, crew members, and others who contributed to the making of the film. The gathering aims to bring together the entire team that helped shape the 2001 sports drama, which went on to earn global recognition, including an Academy Award nomination.

A source told the portal, “The party will be held on Saturday, June 13, at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. The entire team of Lagaan has been invited for the bash. This doesn’t just include the principal and supporting cast, but every unit member and others who had contributed to the film. It’ll be a huge reunion for the whole team and they’ll go down memory lane and share their special memories associated with Lagaan.”

“Aamir Khan is quite excited to throw this bash and celebrate a film which is close to his heart. He’s eagerly looking forward to meeting the team and having a gala time with them. It’ll surely be an evening to remember,” the source further added.

About Lagaan

Released in 2001, ‘Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India’, was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Starring Aamir Khan in the lead, the film has an ensemble cast including Gracy Singh, British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajendra Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Rajesh Vivek, Shrivallabh Vyas, Raj Zutshi, Pradeep Rawat, Akhilendra Mishra, Daya Shankar Pandey, Yashpal Sharma, Amin Hajee, Aditya Lakhia, Javed Khan, A. K. Hangal, and many more.