Amitabh Bachchan's 'Ekla Chalo Re' by Rabindranath Tagore and other facts about the song

Actor Amitabh Bachchan lent his voice for popular song Ekla Chalo Re in 2012 for film, Kahaani. song was penned by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. Tagore, born on May 7, is also kwn by his pen name Bhanu Singha Thakur. He was popularly kwn to be a polymath, poet, musician, artist and Ayurveda-researcher from Indian subcontinent. Here are a few facts about Ekla Chalo Re. 

Facts about Rabindranath Tagore's Ekla Chalo Re

First published in 1905

Originally titled as Eka, song was first published in  September 1905 issue of Bhandar magazine. Ekla Chalo Re was first included in Rabindranath Tagore’s song anthology Baul in 1905. It was later incorporated in  complete anthology of Tagore’s music in 1941. musical tation for song was prepared by Indira Devi, Tagore's niece was first published in April–May 1906 issue of Sangeet-Vignan Prakashika magazine. 

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Renditions of song in films post-2000

A rendition of Ekla Chalo Re with African lyrics composed by A R Rahman was used in 2004 in film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Forgotten Hero. It was also included in 2012 film Kahaani when Amitabh Bachchan lent his voice for song was composed by duo of Vishal - Shekhar. Before 2000, song also featured in films like Sandipan Pathshala and for an album titled Rupantori. song was earlier also recorded by Kishore Kumar under direction of Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. 

first record of song by Rabindranath Tagore is lost

Sometime between 1905 and 1908, song was first recorded by Rabindranath Tagore himself. record of song labelled H. Bose Swadeshi Records is w lost. Two records of song made by Harendranath Dutta and Hindustan Party were later released by Gramophone Company of India and Hindustan Records respectively.

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Singer Suchitra Mitra recorded Ekla Chalo Re four times

Suchitra Mitra, also kwn as eminent Rabindranath Tagore singer, reportedly recorded song four times. first she recorded song was for film Sandipan Pathshala in 1948 and a second time in 1984. She recorded song for third time for an album titled Rupantori in 1988. fourth recording of song is said to be featured as background music by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in  album Tribute to Tagore.

Ekla Chalo Re is one of 22 protest songs

Ekla Chalo Re was written by Rabindranath Tagore in Giridih town in modern-day Jharkhand. Written during  Swadeshi period of Indian freedom movement, song was one of 22 protests songs. In 1905, song became one of key songs for Anti-Partition Movement in Bengal Presidency.

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