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Standing to attention

Every cinema in India must play the national anthem before a film is screened with the audience standing in respect, the Supreme Court has ruled. The judgement asserted that this would instill "a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism” in Indians. But will it work? Dan Damon asked the former UK Arts Minister and now music critic, David Mellor, to compare the national anthem of India with other countries.

(Photo: Indian school children salute as they stand to attention and sing the Indian national anthem in Hyderabad in 2012; Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

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3 minutes