Amitabh Bacchan to Sing National Anthem at Pro Kabddi League Opening

On the evening of 18 July 2015, a packed indoor stadium in Mumbai went quiet. Then a famous deep voice began to sing “Jana Gana Mana”. It was Amitabh Bachchan, singing the national anthem live to open the second season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The moment of the Amitabh Bachchan national anthem performance is still remembered by kabaddi fans.

This article explains what happened that night, what the actor said about it, and why it mattered for kabaddi. It also covers some simple facts about our national anthem. The details come from news reports of the time, the league’s records and well known reference works.

The Amitabh Bachchan National Anthem Moment

The second season of the Pro Kabaddi League, often called PKL, began on 18 July 2015 at the NSCI stadium in Mumbai. Before the first match, Amitabh Bachchan sang the national anthem live. He was 72 years old then.

The opening game was a big one. Home side U Mumba took on Jaipur Pink Panthers, who had won the first season in 2014. Jaipur is owned by Amitabh’s son, the actor Abhishek Bachchan. U Mumba won a close match by 29 points to 28.

For U Mumba, the win had extra meaning. In the first season in 2014, they had reached the final and lost to Jaipur Pink Panthers. So the opening match of 2015 was a rematch of that final.

The season ran until 23 August 2015. It had 60 matches over 37 days, played in eight cities. U Mumba went on to win the title, beating Bengaluru Bulls in the final in Mumbai.

What Amitabh Bachchan Said About It

Before the event, the actor wrote about it on his blog, as news agency PTI reported. He said the league had asked him to sing the anthem live before the first game in Mumbai. He called it “such a wonderful feeling” and said it was a privilege “to be a part of national identity, national binding, and national honour”.

He also wrote about what the anthem means to people. “No matter where you hear it, in whatever situation, there is something about this song, this anthem, this composition,” he wrote. He said it “brings the hair on end and leaves you with the power of national pride and place”.

In the same post, he shared a small story from a football World Cup. He saw that the players of one team were not singing as their anthem played. He later learned that their anthem had no words at all, only a tune. He called this “fascinating”.

He also wrote that the league planned to have the anthem sung live before games through the season, by well known singers, choirs and musicians.

The Voice Behind the Anthem

Amitabh Bachchan, born on 11 October 1942, is best known as an actor. But his voice has always been a big part of his fame. He is known for his deep baritone. In fact, his film career began in 1969 not on screen but as a narrator, in Mrinal Sen’s film Bhuvan Shome.

He is also a playback singer. He first used his singing voice in a song from the film Mr. Natwarlal, where he starred with Rekha. That film earned him Filmfare nominations both for Best Actor and for Best Male Playback Singer. So when the league wanted a voice for the anthem, it was easy to see why they picked him.

Not His First Time With the Anthem

Earlier in 2015, Amitabh Bachchan had sung the national anthem for a special music video made for Republic Day. So the kabaddi opening was not the first time he lent his voice to it. To learn more about that national day, read our article on Republic Day of India.

Amitabh Bachchan and “Le Panga”

The actor’s link with the league went beyond the anthem. In June 2015, the broadcaster Star Sports launched a campaign for the new season with a song called “Le Panga”. Amitabh Bachchan sang it. “Le panga” is a casual Hindi phrase that roughly means “take on the challenge”. The song was used in ads to bring new fans to the sport.

The old version of this post called this a “promotional stunt”. That is a harsh way to put it. It was a planned ad campaign, and it helped give the league a well known face.

Why It Mattered for Kabaddi

Kabaddi is an old Indian sport, played for a long time in villages and school grounds. Two teams of seven players each face off on a court. One player, called the raider, runs into the other half and tries to touch the defenders, then get back without being caught. A single raid often lasts no more than 30 seconds.

There is one fun rule that makes kabaddi special. While raiding, the raider must keep saying “kabaddi, kabaddi” out loud. This chant shows the referee that the raider is not taking a fresh breath. If the raider stops chanting, the other team gets a point. Kabaddi was once played only outdoors on soft ground, but big matches today are played on padded mats.

The sport also has a long organised history. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India was formed in 1972. The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980, and kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games since 1990.

The Pro Kabaddi League started in 2014 with eight teams. It was set up to give the sport a bright, modern look on television. The first season drew about 435 million viewers, second only to the Indian Premier League that year. The league kept growing. In 2015, Star Sports, which showed the games on TV, announced it would buy a 74% stake in Mashal Sports, the company behind the league. Star Sports also said TV viewing in the first two weeks of the second season was up by nearly 56% over the year before.

Having one of India’s biggest film stars sing the anthem on opening night helped the sport get noticed by people who had never watched it. Big names from films, along with team owners, brought more media attention to a sport that had long lived in the shadow of cricket.

To read more about the long story of games in our country, see our guide on the history of sports and games in India.

Simple Facts About Jana Gana Mana

Since the anthem was at the heart of that night, here are a few facts about it.

• Who wrote it: Rabindranath Tagore wrote it in Bengali on 11 December 1911. The original song was called “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata”.
• First sung: It was first sung in public on 27 December 1911, at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
• Made the anthem: The Constituent Assembly adopted its first stanza as the national anthem on 24 January 1950.
• How long it is: The full version takes about 52 seconds. A short version, with only the first and last lines, takes about 20 seconds.

Read more about the song in our article on Jana Gana Mana, the Indian national anthem, and about its writer in our Rabindranath Tagore biography.

How to show respect when the anthem plays

Government guidelines ask people to stand to attention when the national anthem is sung or played. On purpose stopping people from singing it, or disturbing a gathering that is singing it, is an offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

The anthem has also been at the centre of court cases. On 30 November 2016, the Supreme Court ordered all cinemas to play it before every film. In 2018, the court changed that order, and playing it in cinemas is no longer required.

Looking Back

The night Amitabh Bachchan sang Jana Gana Mana at the kabaddi opening was a small moment in a long season. But it showed how sport, film and national pride often meet in India. For a young league trying to win hearts, it was a strong start.

The league has gone on to hold many more seasons, with new teams and new champions. Jaipur Pink Panthers, the team owned by his son, won a second title in 2022. U Mumba, the winners of that 2015 season, reached a third final in a row in January 2016 but lost to Patna Pirates.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Amitabh Bachchan sing the national anthem at the Pro Kabaddi League?

He sang it live on 18 July 2015, at the opening of Season 2 in Mumbai.

Which teams played the opening match?

U Mumba played Jaipur Pink Panthers. U Mumba won by 29 points to 28.

Who owns Jaipur Pink Panthers?

The team is owned by actor Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan’s son.

Who won Pro Kabaddi Season 2?

U Mumba won the 2015 title, beating Bengaluru Bulls in the final on 23 August 2015.

Who wrote Jana Gana Mana?

Rabindranath Tagore wrote it in Bengali in 1911. Its first stanza became the national anthem on 24 January 1950.

How long is the Indian national anthem?

The full version takes about 52 seconds. The short version takes about 20 seconds.