Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday launched an audio-visual presentation of five verses of Rabindranath Tagore’s poem — ‘Jana Gana Mana’ on the 150th birth anniversary of the poet, who gave India its national anthem.

“We are celebrating this event of the arrival of the great personality who influenced our lives substantially through his versatile creations,” said Mukherjee after releasing the full version of the national anthem in audio-visual presentation produced by ‘Saregama’.

Mukherjee, who is also the Chairperson of the National Implementation Committee to commemorate Tagore’s anniversary said, “Tagore has influenced us overwhelmingly… and it is quite natural that a grateful nation is paying homage on the completion of the 150th birth anniversary of this great soul.”

The Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Minister of Culture Kumari Selja were also present on the occasion.

The Audio-visual presentation titled ‘Jaya hey’ delves into a variety of emotions that range from his paeans to nature, love and to his writings that expressed his political concerns and beliefs.

The presentation features all the 5 verses, sung and played by 39 celebrated Indian artists such as Girija Devi, M Balamuralikrishna, Nithyashree Mahadevan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma on Santoor, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt on the Mohan Veena, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kailash Kher, P Susheela, Jagjit Singh and Shankar Mahadevan, folk singers like Lopamudra Mitra and Lakhandas Baul.