XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010

Weekend Video Post

When A R Rahman‘s Commonwealth Games official theme song, Swagatham, was released on August 28, 2010, it fell short of expectations of the people, and brought in sharp critisicms from all music and sports lovers. The composition reportedly took six months and Rahman was paid a whopping Rs 5 crore for it.

Mehboob, the lyricist of CWG theme song, defended his lifeless work saying it was not a bollywood song, but an anthem. But nobody was convinced.

Yet another CWG composition of Rahman was later rejected by the maestros of Indian classical music. His ‘Aao Balam’ was supposed to be the introductory track to an eleven minute sequence in the opening ceremony. However, Pandit Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Saroja Vaidyanathan (Bharatnatyam), Raja Reddy (Kuchipudi), Sonal Mansingh (Odissi), Guru Singhajit (Manipuri) and Bharati Shivaji (Mohiniyattam) rejected it as it was not ‘going with the aesthetics of Indian classical dance’. A Vedic chant will now do the job instead.

Commonwealth Games Traditions – Official Theme Song (Revised Version)

Rahman was requested to rework, and he had to make tweaking and layering. The tweaked anthem is more peppier, shorter and richer, and the composition is tighter.

The revised version of the theme song is released accompanied by Bharat Bala’s music video featuring some of the famed Indian sports persons showcasing the achievements of India in the field of sports. The song has now been turned into a “peppy sports anthem”. It has been pepped up with more beats and it is a tighter version of the original song “Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto”, based on the slogan of the games, “Come out and play”.

Ganapathy Bharat, known commonly as Bharat Bala is an acclaimed Tamil film director, screenwriter and film producer based in Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

2010 Commonwealth Games Delhi Theme Song – Revised Version

How do you like the revised theme song of the Commonwealth Games composed by AR Rahman? Please, leave your feedbacks on our blog.