India, Aug. 14 -- In a first, the full version of "Vande Mataram", recently accorded the same legal protection as the national anthem, was played ahead of and at the conclusion of President Droupadi Murmu's address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day on Friday.

The rendition of the national song was followed by the national anthem.

In her address, the President recalled the pivotal role played by the national song during India's freedom struggle.

"During our freedom struggle, people with diverse ideologies were united by one common goal - India's independence. During the Swadeshi Movement, the song Vande Mataram became a song of the masses," she said.

Paying tributes to the leaders of the independence movement, Presi...