Sir: The national anthem played in cinemas has become unpleasant since the music of the anthem is ‘remixed’, making it sound strident as well as unmelodious. And the most horrific thing is that the chorus singing the anthem do not know the words properly. Instead of saying ‘Istiqlal’, they say ‘Istaqbal’ in the final verse. The national anthem is a matter of our identity and pride. It is important to play it on all public gatherings, including art councils, theatres and cinema houses, and not only in cities but in towns and villages as well. This matter should not be taken lightly or brushed aside. When I came out of the cinema hall complaining about yet again another example of the downslide the country was going through, I was told that I should be thankful that at least the audience stood up for the anthem. Apparently, in most cinema halls, they don’t even do that. The ministry of information in Islamabad and all provincial governments should ensure that the national anthem is played everywhere with its original music, with the correct words and pronunciation. Tania Hassan Islamabad