#sukainawrites — Public Fediverse posts

Every Conversation Matters- 25 Years of Timeless Music

This 2026 World Music Day, there was another occasion to celebrate—the 25th anniversary of Lagaan. I sat down to listen to the conversation between the maestro A.R. Rahman, lyricist Javed Akhtar, director Ashutosh Gowariker, and producer Aamir Khan. They spoke about how the songs came into being in a time with no internet, no cell phones, no advanced technology, and no Dolby sound.

There was one discussion about Ghanan Ghanan, the first song that sets the storyline of the film. More often than not, it is interpreted as a call to the rain gods, filled with hope and a longing to rid the people of despair. Twenty-five years later, the song holds so much more meaning than just the wait for rain.

As I listened to the 6-minute-11-second composition, I was reminded of another song created by the same duo of A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar—Yeh Tara Wo Tara, which runs for 7 minutes and 11 seconds. Two iconic films by the same director, yet what stands out in both is the genius of composer A.R. Rahman and lyricist Javed Akhtar.

In the celebratory video marking 25 years of Lagaan, Javed Akhtar points out that what makes A.R. Rahman’s compositions special is their unpredictability. He uses Ghanan Ghanan as an example. In the same breath, I would also mention Yeh Tara Wo Tara.

Compositions like Yeh Tara Wo Tara stand apart because of the earthy feeling they evoke. Yeh Tara Wo Tara changes the chorus as the same was done with Ghanan Ghanan in Lagaan. This made me realise the magic of the music I grew up with, which focuses heavily on rhythm and a chorus that a regular listener can hum.

The song has been reprised over the years and arranged in different styles. But believe it or not, the majority of Hindi music lovers still go back to the original soundtrack.

It isn’t because they want to pay homage to A.R. Rahman or Javed Akhtar. The song, through its lyrics and melody, does exactly what its music video shows—it brings a community together. As listeners, we begin to realise the depth of its lyrics.

It definitely isn’t the Shah Rukh Khan fan in me speaking. Many people don’t like either film but absolutely love the music albums of both.

This celebration made me realise what A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar have been creating for us over the last 25 years. Five years after Lagaan, Swades was released. At the time, the film wasn’t fully understood. But what has remained timeless is its music.

Another aspect about the duo that remains special is that they didn’t dumb down or underestimate the listeners when it came to music. They flowed against the stream; they gave us song styles that are used to date, when it comes to composition.

Music Albums like these don’t just come one day. They have grown over many years of training, work, and well, staying honest to its core.

I am sharing the lyrics here of both the songs Ghanan Ghanan and Yeh Tara Wo Tara to understand what Javed Akhtar tries to say in this video.

Lagaan Music Album

Swades Music Album

Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghanan
Ghanan Ghanan Ghir Ghir Aaye Badra
Ghane Ghan Ghor Kaare Chhaye Badra
Dhamak Dhamak Goonje Badra Ke Danke
Chamak Chamak Dekho Bijuriya Chamke

Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa
Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa

Mann Mann Dhadkaaye Badarwa
Kaale Megha, Kaale Megha Paani To Barsaao

Yeh Tara Woh Tara

e taara woh taara har taara
Ye taara woh taara har taara
Dekho jise bhi lage pyaara
Ye taara woh taara har taara
Ye sab saath me jo hai raat me
Toh jagmagaya aasmaan saara
Ye sab saath me jo hai raat me
Toh jagmagaya aasmaan saara
Jagmag taare, do taare, nau taare, sau taare
Jagmag saare, har taara hai sharaara

his post is a part of ‘Mixtape Mood Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series

Book Review: The Burnt Sugar Club

The Burnt Sugar Club introduces us to the exhaustion, competition, and emotional burdens carried by five women — Iris, Emerald, Emma, Ava, and Hope. Each of them is struggling with issues of her own, and the author beautifully explores the idea of perspective throughout the narrative. Often, we assume someone else’s life is easier or better than ours, without truly knowing the battles they are fighting behind closed doors.

Beyond the usual “grass is greener on the other side” idea, this story focuses on women who silently carry responsibilities, emotional fatigue, and expectations that the world rarely notices. The book begins by addressing one of the most important realities in many women’s lives — burnout. It captures the unexplained exhaustion that never really allows women to stop working, caring, or fulfilling responsibilities. No matter what happens, there is always this silent expectation to keep going.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is the absence of a specific location, ethnicity, city, or country. The story feels universal because it could belong to women anywhere in the world. The experiences of Hope, Emerald, Ava, Iris, and Emma are relatable irrespective of where the reader comes from. Their emotions and struggles feel familiar, making the narrative deeply personal and comforting at the same time.

The five women meet by chance and gradually form a friendship that becomes the emotional backbone of the story. As the author herself describes them, they are chaotic yet comfortable, burned, scarred, and changed. Their shared meeting place becomes symbolic of the larger theme of the novel, and I loved how this space slowly transforms into a place of safety, healing, and understanding for all of them.(read the book and find out the place)

While the book mainly explores female friendships, it was refreshing to see men portrayed as allies as well. The author does not dismiss the individuality of a character, irrespective of gender, and allows every person in the story to contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

Each woman brings something relatable to the table and, in many ways, makes readers reflect on themselves. As the story progresses, something much more drastic comes to light, and The Burnt Sugar Club becomes more than just a group of women finding solace in one another. It evolves into a story about survival, emotional support, and rediscovering oneself.

The novel beautifully captures the essence of female friendships — women lifting each other up even when they themselves are struggling. Mental health and the idea that “it’s okay to not be okay” are addressed naturally and sensitively throughout the book. The author also does not shy away from awkwardness, flaws, and imperfections that are often hidden or ignored.

Talking about the writing style, especially considering this is a debut novel, Akoparna B delivers confidently with a distinct narrative voice. I appreciate how she remains consistent with her storytelling style and avoids unnecessary dragging or over-explaining. The writing stays engaging and emotionally grounded.

One character experience that stayed with me the most was Hope’s journey. She represents every “good girl” learning to finally choose herself — someone creating boundaries, taking up space, and no longer constantly giving pieces of herself away for others.

There were moments where I wished for slightly more character development for Emerald, but overall, the book flows smoothly and keeps you invested till the very end. The Burnt Sugar Club is an emotionally relatable debut that celebrates friendship, vulnerability, healing, and the quiet strength women carry every single day.