by Subhash K Jha

If you've heard the nationalistic anti-corruption number Ab bas being played at and during L. K. Advani's Rath Yatra in every corner of the country, you would probably want to know who's singing in the song and who directed the music video.

To our surprise we came to know that Mr Advani has actually lent his voice to a part of song and the music video is directed by none other than Mani Shankar who last directed Sanjay Dutt in Knock Out, the film about the country's wealth being stashed away by politicians in Swiss banks.

Advani apparently saw Knock Out and was impressed enough by its theme of anti-corruption to not ony ask Mani Shankar to conceive a music video on the theme, but also asked Mani to join the Rath Yatra.

Mani who joined the Yath Ratra in Madurai is quite ecstatic about his film making such a decisive impact on the BJP. "When we made Knock Out I had researched extensively on politicians stashing away India's wealth in international banks. At that point of time we never imagined corruption, and Indian money being taken out of the country, would become such a national issue. "

Says Mani, " I got a call from Advaniji's daughter Pratibha telling me that her father wanted me to create a song for the Rath yatra. The theme of theYatra was on getting black money in foreign backs back.

I also spoke with Mr. Advani who told me what his Yatra was all about and what he expected from the song. I got together with my music team Gourov, Manthan and the rest who had worked together on Knock Out and had done several ad films and jingles since then.

Right away I came up with the key line of Ab BAS as the dominant mood of the song. The song slipped out of our hearts effortlessly. I then suggested that Mr. Advani be a part of this song, and lend his voice.

This was a first for him, for he had never given his voice in a song before. Pratibha contributed to the content of lines her father would speak, and soon the song was done. "

Says Mani, "When we started making the music video I suggested that Mr. Advani should merge into a young crowd of Delhi University students and sing the song.

Even though it was a first for him, he readily agreed, and the result has been warm, emotional and friendly, a reminder that you are only as old as your ideas, as young as you feel in your heart. " Another unique thing about this song is that nobody took any money.

Says Mani Shankar emotionally, "We all did it for no remuneration- me, Gourov, Manthan singer Raja Hasan and all others- everyone did this song out of passion. Everywhere in India, wherever the Yatra has gone so far, the song has been a smash hit, with youngsters singing it in the crowds, and public roaring ‘Ab BAS' each time the key line is heard. "

Interestingly both Mani Shankar and L. K Advani's daughter Pratibha Advani describe themselved as apolitical persons who are part of the Rath Yatra because they believe in the issue.

Says Pratibha Advani, "My parents are my world. My father loves movies and has passed on that passion to me. His other passion—cricket—has been inherited by my brother.

My father watches a lot of films. He saw Mani Shankar's Knock Out and was very interested in the film's anti-corruption theme. Uncannily the film pre-empted my father's current fight to bring back the country's wealth from foreign banks.

We immediately thought of Mani to do an anti-corrupion anthem. Little did we think it'd create such an impact. Wherever we go crowds chant the song Ab bas. "

Speaking on how her father decided to be a part of the rock song Pratibha says, "After the song was completed Mani suggested that my father also sing in the track. He felt it would take the anti-corruption message in the song to another level. And it did. "