More than two decades after Lagaan became one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated films, its songs continue to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences. Among them, Ghanan Ghanan remains one of the film’s most memorable sequences, known for its grand scale, emotional storytelling, and striking visuals. However, according to choreographer Raju Khan, bringing the song to life was far more difficult than it appeared on screen.
During a recent episode of India’s Best Dancer Season 5, Raju Khan revisited the making of the iconic track and shared fascinating behind-the-scenes details about the planning, technical hurdles, and creative decisions that shaped one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed songs.
Raju Khan recalls the pressure of filming ‘Ghanan Ghanan’
Looking back on the experience, Raju Khan revealed that the song was shot during the early stages of the Lagaan production, leaving little time for preparation despite the scale of the sequence.
Sharing his memories, he said, “Kaafi stressful tha woh shoot. Jab pehli baar main set dekha, uske agle din hum gaana shoot kar rahe the.”
Raju explained that after attending the film’s muhurat and seeing the massive set for the first time, he was asked to familiarize himself with the cast and the environment before filming began almost immediately.
He further recalled, “Aur phir woh gaana suna maine set par. Overnight humne planning kiya how it happened, even I don’t know.”
In essence, Raju was describing how the choreography and visual planning for such a large-scale song had to be finalized within an extremely short period, making the entire process both demanding and stressful.
Why the second half of the song was especially difficult to shoot
While coordinating a large cast was challenging enough, the real difficulties emerged when the team had to film portions of the song depicting overcast skies and approaching rain.
Raju explained, “Approximately it took 8 days to film that song kyunki challenges toh baad mein aaye ki jab second half ke gaane mein jab baadal chhaate hai. Ab actual mein toh baadal nahi chhaate.”
What he meant was that recreating the appearance of cloudy weather on a massive outdoor set was far more complicated than it seemed. Since the scene required an overcast atmosphere, natural sunlight and visible shadows could not be allowed to disrupt the illusion.
As a result, the choreography and camera blocking had to be carefully redesigned.
“Toh phir mujhe jo shots design karne pade, woh limited areas mein the, without showing the feet of the actresses,” he revealed.
Raju further explained that he deliberately focused on group compositions and individual performances that could maintain visual interest while working within these technical limitations.
The race against sunset that helped create the final visuals
One of the most interesting revelations from Raju Khan’s account involved the timing of the shoot. According to the choreographer, many crucial shots were filmed during a very narrow window around sunset.
“Toh second half ka gaana aap dekhenge toh it is nearly during sunset when we have taken the shots, when the sun is gone and we have only about 45 minutes left for shoot.”
In other words, the team waited for the brief period after the sun had largely disappeared, allowing them to capture footage without harsh shadows. This helped create the illusion of cloudy weather that was essential to the narrative of the song.
He concluded, “So it was quite a challenging job.”
The revelation offered viewers a deeper appreciation of the technical precision and creative problem-solving required to bring the sequence to life.
‘Ghanan Ghanan’ went on to earn national recognition
Despite the numerous challenges involved, the effort paid off in spectacular fashion. During the conversation, it was revealed that Ghanan Ghanan eventually earned Raju Khan a National Film Award, further cementing the song’s legacy as one of the most celebrated musical sequences in Indian cinema.
Even today, the track remains a standout moment from Lagaan, remembered not only for its music and performances but also for the craftsmanship that went into creating it.
India’s Best Dancer Season 5 airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
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