Actor and BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has triggered another round of political fireworks after taking a direct satirical swipe at senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi amid the ongoing row over the singing of Vande Mataram on Independence Day. The Mandi MP shared a meme referencing Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, comparing the mythological Greek hero Odysseus in agony to Sonia Gandhi's alleged reluctance to hear the national song sung at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
The meme showed Odysseus writhing and shouting while being subjected to the enchanting, dangerous song of the Sirens, captioned mockingly as "Sonia Gandhi after 2nd verse." Posting the visual on her social media feed, Kangana commented that while she rarely shares internet memes, this one made her laugh out loud, instantly propelling the post into trending political and entertainment feeds.
The dig comes in the middle of an intense political fight that began right after the August 15 flag-hoisting event at the AICC headquarters. Leaders from the BJP accused the former Congress chief of stepping in to cut short the rendition of Vande Mataram during the official event. Senior saffron party figures, including Home Minister Amit Shah, claimed the viral video showed the Congress party's long-standing unease with patriotic verses. The controversy escalated further over the weekend when police complaints were filed against both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of showing disrespect to the national song.
The Congress party pushed back strongly, dismissing the allegations as a deliberate smear campaign meant to divert attention from real governance issues. Party spokespersons clarified that there was never any attempt or intention to stop the song. According to their account, Sonia Gandhi was merely gesturing to party workers to bring a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing on stage for an extended time in the sweltering heat. The opposition described the widely circulated clips as maliciously edited snippets taken out of context.
The friction is especially sharp given recent legislative moves in Parliament, which recently passed amendments to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, giving Vande Mataram equal legal standing with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. With new compliance rules and stricter legal protocols attached, public conduct during the national song has come under unprecedented scrutiny.
For Kangana, the post adds to a long list of sharp political and cultural confrontations. Known for her unfiltered critiques—most recently drawing flak for her comments on protesting students—the actor politician frequently uses pop culture and satire to challenge opposition figures. As both parties continue to trade barbs over the August 15 video, Kangana’s meme has added fresh fuel to an already heated ideological battle.