• By Ajeet Kumar
  • Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:48 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom 4 Space Mission has a cool launch day playlist with four songs, including AR Rahman's Yun Hi Chala Chal from Swades. First up is Yun Hi Chala Chal from the 2004 movie Swades, a happy song with words that inspire adventure, perfect for a trip to space.  'The song was composed by Oscar-winner AR Rahman, and the lyrics were penned by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar.

The vocals of the song were given by Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher and Hariharan. It is a motivational track that encourages the movie's main character (SRK) to practice perseverance and follow one's own path. The song appears in a montage sequence where Shah Rukh Khan and actor Markand Deshpande travel through the Indian countryside.

As per the official synopsis, Swades is a movie about a NASA scientist who returns to his homeland to find the nanny who raised him, intending to bring her back to America. His journey leads him into the rural heart of India, to the village of Charanpur, and sets him on both an outward and inner quest to find where he truly belongs.

The mission team picked these other songs:

-Thunderby Imagine Dragons a powerful song about strength and dreams.

-Supermonce -- a lively track full of energy.

-Bvhely-- a calm Hungarian song with deep words for quiet moments before launch.

Theme: The song is about a man’s journey through rural India, symbolising a search for identity and purpose. It's upbeat and inspiring, evoking a sense of freedom and curiosity as the actor Shahrukh Khan travels through diverse landscapes, meeting people, and reflecting on life.

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar's words are simple yet deep. The main essence of the song is to celebrate the joy of roaming and the lessons learned along the way. "Yun hi chala chal rahi, yun hi chala chal" (Just keep walking, traveller, embracing the journey without overthinking the destination.)

Shukla's first message from space

Shukla, who is piloting the Axiom-4 mission that launched from Florida on Wednesday, said that India is returning to space after 41 years and called it an "amazing ride." Stating that the journey is the beginning of India's human space programme, he said the chest of Indians "should swell with pride."

The Axiom Mission 4 of Ax-4, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12 Noon IST).

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"Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second," he said.

"The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!" added Shukla.

ALSO READ: Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS Trip: ISRO To Conduct THESE Space Experiments Through Axiom-4 Mission

For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.

(With inputs from agency)