More than two decades after its release, Ghanan Ghanan from the acclaimed film Lagaan continues to be celebrated as one of Indian cinema’s most memorable songs. On India’s Best Dancer Season 5, renowned choreographer Raju Khan revisited the making of the iconic track and shared fascinating behind-the-scenes details about the challenges involved in bringing the sequence to life.
During a special episode celebrating the spirit of “India Wala Dance,” Raju Khan reflected on the early days of the Lagaan shoot and the enormous planning required to film the song despite limited preparation time.
Recalling the experience, he described the shoot as one of the most demanding projects of his career.
“It was a very stressful shoot. The day after I first saw the set, we were already filming the song. The first shot of Lagaan had just been completed, and I was asked to visit the massive set and understand the scale of the production. After meeting the actors and primary cast, I heard the song on the set itself. Overnight, we planned the entire choreography and execution,” he revealed.
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Eight Days of Filming and Unexpected Challenges
According to Raju Khan, filming Ghanan Ghanan took approximately eight days. While the opening portions progressed smoothly, recreating the overcast weather conditions required for the latter half of the song proved particularly challenging.
The sequence demanded the appearance of dark rain clouds gathering over the village, but natural weather conditions did not cooperate during filming.
“The challenges came later when we had to show clouds covering the sky. In reality, there were no clouds. Covering such a huge set was impossible, and we could not show shadows because the scene was supposed to look overcast. I had to design shots in limited areas and carefully avoid showing elements that would reveal the sunlight,” he explained.
The choreographer added that he deliberately focused on group performances to enhance the visual appeal of the song rather than relying heavily on individual close-up shots.
Racing Against Sunset
One of the most difficult aspects of filming involved capturing the second half of the song during a very narrow time window each day.
“If you watch the second half carefully, most of those shots were taken around sunset. Once the sun disappeared, we only had about 45 minutes available for shooting. That was the only time we could create the required look without visible shadows. It was a very challenging job,” said Raju Khan.
The careful planning and execution ultimately paid off, helping create one of the most visually striking musical sequences in Indian cinema.
National Award Recognition
The conversation became even more special when it was revealed that Ghanan Ghanan earned Raju Khan the prestigious National Film Award. The song remains one of the most celebrated achievements of his career and continues to be appreciated by audiences even today.
Featuring Aamir Khan and an ensemble cast, Lagaan remains one of India’s most iconic films, and Ghanan Ghanan is widely regarded as one of its defining musical moments.
Watch India’s Best Dancer Season 5
India’s Best Dancer Season 5 airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and streams on Sony LIV.
