Ricky Kej’s anthem for Bengaluru airport captures the emotions of departure and homecoming

Ricky Kej’s phone rang minutes after he landed at the Bengaluru airport. He was returning home from Los Angeles after winning his first Grammy in 2015. The number was unknown, but he answered the call.

“Hello, my name is Lata. I am a singer. I have called to congratulate you,” said a young woman.

“Thanks,” replied Ricky, “but may I know how you got my number?” He had just landed and was not very pleased to be called by a stranger.

“Oh, sorry. My assistant gave me your number.” Then another voice came, “Hi Ricky, this is Mahesh. We have met before. I am Lata Mangeshkar’s assistant.”

Ricky was shocked for a few seconds. He couldn’t believe his ears. “Wow. I’m so sorry. Next time, please tell me your full name. You’re not just a name. A He told Lata Mangeshkar, “When I heard about a singer, I thought she was a 16-year-old girl.”

,Everybody says the same thing (Everyone tells me that), she laughed.

The conversation lasted for 45 minutes. This is one of Ricky’s most memorable phone calls.

“There are many such memories at Bengaluru airport,” he says over the phone from Bengaluru. “It has seen so many moments of my life – goodbyes and hellos, departures and arrivals. It connects me to the rest of the world. It is like my second home.”

These sentiments are reflected in the music video of the BLR Airport Anthem (composed by Ricky), released last week.

Sung by Grammy-winning singer Loni Park, the anthem represents the essence of travel and connection. The video comprises three touching stories that will impact every traveller. A daughter bids an emotional farewell to her father, depicting the sweet-bitter moments of farewell. We see the joy and anticipation of reunion through the eyes of a little girl and her mother who are eagerly waiting for her father’s arrival. Finally, a visually impaired woman navigates the airport with ease, experiencing its visually-friendly features that emphasise on inclusivity and accessibility.

The lyrics of the national anthem, “Nothing is too far; no matter where you are. You will never be alone; this is the gateway to your home,” match the visuals. They attempt to remind passengers that Bangalore Airport is much more than just a transit point.

This anthem wasn’t handed to Ricky; it was born out of a personal connection. “While waiting for my flights, I take out my laptop, put on my headphones, and start composing. So, a lot of my music is made at this airport. It’s my gateway to the world, the bridge that takes me on adventures and brings me back home. So, I thought, why not write a song about it?”

The BLR Airport anthem was initially a 45-second musical piece. He hesitantly showed it to his friend, airport CEO Hari Marar, to get feedback for later development. But the latter loved it and wanted him to create an anthem to be played at the launch of the T2 terminal in 2022. “If you don’t come, I will play this 45-second clip from my phone on the mic during the launch,” he jokingly threatened Ricky.

This unexpected effort and his passion for the project inspired Ricky to complete the song. A year and a half later, the national anthem was ready.

The song is a catchy pop-rock anthem. He didn’t worry too much about it reflecting the city’s culture. “Bangalore is a city that has a lot of influences. So, you can’t have one thing that sums it up. That being said, my own identity is deeply connected to Bangalore. I’ve been here since the age of six. Everything I do, everything I create, Bangalore is embedded in it. So naturally, it’s embedded in the song,” says Ricky, “This song is an extension of myself, a tribute to this city that has been my home for so long.”