Ever since release, both the album and its title song "Maa Tujhe Salaam" have had a profoundly positive and unifying impact on the nationalistic and patriotic mood of the country.

Sung by Rahman himself, the song has come to represent a feeling of patriotic unity for India and has been performed or played at several national and regional events in the country.

[6] It also features "Gurus of Peace" which Rahman recorded with the late Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who died 4 days after the album's release.

In 1997, when Rahman had gone to Bombay (now Mumbai) to attend the Screen Awards ceremony, he met his childhood friend Bharat Bala.

Called Vande Mataram, it was a tribute to the motherland and featured songs to mark the three colours of the Indian Flag .

[7] Sony asked him to choose from any of its international stars to work with and supposedly even suggested the name of Celine Dion.

But Rahman settled, very appropriately, for the Pakistani Sufi music singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sting's guitarist Dominic Miller.

Rahman became the first Indian artist of popular music to go international when Vande Mataram was released simultaneously in 28 countries across the world.

Both, Rahman's music and singing, were appreciated, and the lead track "Maa Tujhe Salaam", with its brilliant orchestration, is a befitting '90s ode to the motherland.

"[11] Initially there was some negative criticism against Rahman for using phrases of India's national song "Vande Mataram" in the title track; "Maa Tujhe Salaam".

[citation needed]"Maa Tujhe Salaam" was also nominated for International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV India in 1998.

The song's patriotic theme helps to unite everyone, boost morale, and represent pride in the team and the country.

[13][14][15] Stanford Raagapella, a South Asian fusion a cappella group, has created an acappella version of the song Maa Tujhe Salaam.