Continuing a tradition started two years ago, the Kolkata-based ITC Sangeet Research Academy (ITC SRA) has released a musical tribute to mark India’s Independence Day and commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram, the country’s national song. Titled Desh Ek Raag 3, it is set to raag Desh, which is synonymous with the spirit of nationhood.

At the heart of the presentation is the academy’s enduring guru-shishya parampara, with gurus, scholars and sishyas coming together to render Vande Mataram through the prism of Hindustani classical music. Their collective performance reflects a living tradition in which musical knowledge, discipline and artistic sensibility are passed down across generations.

The musical tribute features a distinguished ensemble of gurus, including Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Partha Chatterjee, vidushi Subhra Guha, Pt. Uday Bhawalkar, Omkar Dadarkar, Abir Hossain and Brajeswar Mukherjee. Nearly 70 participants spanning generations have lent their voices and artistry to the presentation, from 11-year-old Baibhab Mukhopadhyay to veteran maestros.

The third edition of the Desh Ek Raag series also marks ITC SRA’s march towards its golden jubilee in 2027. Conceived by academy guru Abir Hossain and recorded at the institution’s state-of-the-art studio, the special rendition is accompanied by a music video directed by Kolkata-based independent filmmaker and creative producer Pritha Chakraborty.

ITC chairman Sanjiv Puri, who is also chairman of the board of trustees of ITC-SRA, described Desh Ek Raag 3 as a timeless message of devotion, unity and love for the motherland. “This rendition of Vande Mataram beautifully brings to life the vocal and instrumental traditions of our nation that ITC SRA has nurtured and preserved for nearly five decades,” he said