Here are my 10 favorite songs penned by Gulzar over the years, which I have attempted to translate. It’s hard to express the same deep meaning in the translations but if some part of the essence is retained in them I would consider myself to be successful…
I. One of the earliest films for Gulzar as film lyricist was Bandini'' (Imprisoned) directed by the highly acclaimed director Bimal Roy and with music by the legendary S.D. Burman. It was the music director who coaxed him to pen one of the very popular songs from the film….one that captures the yearning and emotions of a woman in love…
Moraa goraa ang lai le, mohe shaam rang dai de
chhoop jaaoongee raat hee me, mohe pee kaa sang de de
I don’t desire this beautiful countenance, I wish to be anonymous
To slip quietly into the night and seek the company of my beloved
Ek laaj roke paiyyaa, ek moh khinche baiyyaa
Jaaoon kidhar naa jaanoo, humakaa koee bataaeede
I feel shy and I hesitate, but the yearning is too strong
Should I go, should I stay…oh! How can I decide…
Badalee hataa ke chandaa, chup ke se jhaanke chandaa
tohe raahoo laage bairee, musakaye jee jalaayake
The moon then peeps quietly, from behind the veil of clouds
May the eclipse torment you!, After igniting desire you choose to hide!
kuchh kho diyaa hain paayake, kuchh paa liyaa gawaayake
kahaa le chalaa hain manawaa, mohe baawaree banaayake
I gave up a part of me to feel this way; my loss became my gain…
The song in my heart leads this dance and I just follow in a trance!
II. Another landmark in the remarkable journey of this remarkable poet was the film “Khamoshi”( Silence) in 1969. The film had some great music and some memorable lyrics. One of the songs talks about love…how it can just be felt and not defined…
Humne dekhi hai un aankhon ki mehakti khushboo
haath se chhoo ke ise rishton ka ilzaam na do
sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mehsoos karo
pyaar ko pyaar hi rehne do, koi naam na do
I have sensed the fragrance in those looks
Cannot be touched…can only be felt
A feeling ..let the soul comprehend it
Let love just be love…and have no other name!
pyaar koi bol nahi, pyaar awaaz nahi
ek khamoshi hai, sunti hai kaha karti hai
na ye bujhti hai na rukti hai, na thehri hai kahin
noor ki boond hai, sadiyon se baha karti hai
sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mehsoos karo
pyaar ko pyaar
hi rehne do, koi naam na do
Love isn’t words, it isn’t a sound…
It’s silence that listens and speaks…
Can’t be extinguished, cannot be curbed
Never ends…just flows on…
A drop of light…illuminating the world forever
A feeling… let the soul comprehend it
Let love just be love…and have no other name!
muskuraahat si khili rehti hai, aankhon mein kahin
aur palkon pe ujale se, jhuke rehte hain
honth kuchh kehte nahi, kaanpte honthon pe magar
kitne khaamosh se afsaane, ruke rehte hain
sirf ehsaas hai ye, rooh se mahsoos karo
pyaar ko pyaar hi rehne do, koi naam na do.
A smile seems to always lurk in the eyes
On the lids there is a shadow of light
No words escape from the lips
Which quiver, wanting to tell many a silent tale
A feeling… let the soul comprehend it
Let love just be love…and have no other name!
III. In 1972, Gulzar directed a movie, 'Parichay' (Introduction) which was inspired by the classic “Sound of Music”- a delightful tale with some great songs. Kishore Kumar, who some argue to be the all time best male playback singer of the Hindi film industry lent his voice to this evergreen , philosophical number...
Musafir Hoon Yaaron
Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana
Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhan
Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
I am traveler in the quest of life
No address, no home to call my own
All I have to do is go on…just go on forever.
Ek Raah Rukh Gayi Tho Aur Judh Gayi
Main Mura Tho Saath Saath Raha Murgayi
Hawaon Ke Paron Par Mera Ashiana
Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana
Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
Where one road ends, another begins
Whenever my life took a turn, new paths appeared
Up above…on the wings of the wind, lies my destination
I am a traveller…
Din Ne Haath Thaam Kar Idhar Bithaliya
Raat Ne Ishaare Se Udhar Bulahliya
Subah se Shaam Se Mera Dostana
Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Tikhana
Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana
The day held my hand and coaxed me to pause
The night then signaled for me to carry on
The dawns are my friends, the dusks my companions..
I am a traveller…
IV. In 1975, the Gulzar directed film 'Aandhi' (The storm) was released. The music director was the musical genius, R.D. Burman. The duo have had a very successful partnership that has regaled the music lovers with some fantastic songs for years.
Tere bina zindagi se koyi, shikwa, to nahi, shikwa nahi, shikwa nahi,
Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin, zindagi, to nahi, zindagi nahi, zindagi nahi
Without you…I have no complaints about life
Because without you life isn’t really life
Kaash aisa ho tere qadmo se, chun ke manzil chale aur kahi door kahi - 2
Tum gar saath ho, manzilo ki kami to nahi
How I wish I could choose to go wherever you led me
With you by my side there wouldn’t be a dearth of places that I would want to be
Jee mein aata hai, tere daaman mein, sar jhuka ke ham rote rahe, rote rahe - 2
Teri bhi aankho mein, aansuo ki nami to nahi
Sometimes I wish I could rest my head on your shoulders and just cry
Did I see a hint of tears too…in your beautiful eyes
Tum jo keh do to aaj ki raat, chaand doobega nahi, raat ko rok lo - 2
Raat ki baat hai, aur zindagi baaki to nahi
If you want I can order the moon to shine all night, for the time to stop
Just for this night…not the rest of our lives!
V./ VI. A poignant tale of two lovers struggling to find a home in the bustling city of Mumbai- 'Gharonda' (Home) in 1977 had Gulzar teaming up with Jaidev, a rare musical talent. There are two versions of this song- a happy one picturized on the couple in love sung by Bhupinder and the then very popular Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila and a sad one which potrays the pain of a lonely man who has lost his love…
Do diwaane shahar me,
raat mein yaa dopahar mein
aabodaanaa dhoondhate hai,
yek aashiyaanaa dhoondhate hain.
Two crazy hearts in love
On a mission, day and night…
Searching, seeking
Their love nest…a place to call their own.
in bhoolabhoolaiyyaa galiyon mein
apanaa bhee koee yek ghar hogaa
anbar pe khoolegee khidakee,
yaa khidakee pe khulaa anbar hogaa
asamaanee rang kee aakhon me,
basane kaa bahaanaa dhoondhate hain.
Somewhere in the middle of this maddening maze
We too shall have our own place
With large windows that open into the sky
Or will it be the sky that will descend through them
The azure eyes..
Day dreaming of the dream house…
jab taare jameen par jalate hain,
aakaash jameen ho jaataa hain
us raat naheen fir ghar jaataa,
wo chaand yahee so jaataa hain
palabhar ke liye in aakhon mein,
hum yek jamaanaa dhoondhate hain.
When the stars come down and tread on the earth
The grounds transform into the skies
And the moon refuses to go back home
And sleep right there that night….
As we look into each others’ eyes…
That moment becomes our life…
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein
Raat Mein Aur Dopahar Mein
Aabodaana Dhoondta Hai
Aashiyana Dhoondta
A lonely soul in this crowd
Seeks a place to call his own
A roof on his head, some walls
To shut out the world…
Din Khali Khali Bartan Hai Aur Raat Hai Jaise Andha Kuan
In Sooni Andheri Aankhon Se Aansoon
Ki Jagah Aata Hain Dhuan Jeene Ki Vajah To Koi Nahi
Marne Ka Bahana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...
The days are empty … the nights are like an unending dark tunnel…
The dejected eyes no longer shed tears, just smoke from embers of a broken heart
No reason to live; now it just seeks an excuse to escape.
In Umar Se Lambi Sadkon Ko Manzil Pe Pohonchte Dekha Nahin
Bas Daudti Phirti Rahti Hain
Humne To Theherte Dekha Nahin
Is Ajnabi Se Shahar Mein Jaana Pehechana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...
These roads, which are longer than life, do they ever find their destination?
They keep running…convoluting, haven’t ever seen them halt
In this strange unknown land, the soul seeks a known face….
A lonely soul in the crowd….
VII. 'Ijazat' (Permission) 1987, was a sensitive film in the “art” genre directed by Gulzar that explored the complexities of human emotions. This song that won national awards for both the singer, Asha Bhonsle and Gulzar, the lyricist struck a chord with everyone who had ever been in love...
Meraa kuchh saamaan tumhaare paas padaa hain
saawan ke kuchh bheege bheege din rakhe hain
aaur mere yek khat mein lipatee raat padee hain
wo raat buzaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
I left behind some memories with you
Some days drenched in the monsoons
And that one night wrapped in some handwritten pages
End that desire…the yearning
Give it back to me….
patazad hain kuchh, hain naa .. ..
patazad mein kuchh patton ke girane kee aahat
kaanon mein yek baar pahan ke lautaayee thee
patazad kee wo shaakh abhee tak kaanp rahee hain
wo shaakh giraa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
In the autumn… do you remember?
The silent sound of the falling leaves
Ringing in the ears…and then fading away
The quivering leaves on that autumn bough still remain
Shake them off, will you…and my memories too.
ek akelee chhatree mein jab aadhe aadhe bheeg rahe the
aadhe sukhe aadhe geele, sukhaa to main le aaee thee
gilaa man shaayad, bistar ke paas padaa ho
wo bhijawaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do.
Sharing an umbrella and taking turns to get drenched
Half dry … half wet…the dry half, I carried with me
But my rain -soaked heart still would be there by the bedside
Send it please…with all those memories.
Yek so solah chaand kee raate, yek tumhaare kaandhee kaa teel
geelee mehandee kee khushaboo, zoothhamoothh ke shikawe kuchh
zoothhamoothh ke waade bhee, sab yaad karaa do.
sab bhijawaa do, meraa wo saamaan lautaa do
The hundred odd moonlit nights, caressing the mole on your shoulder
The fragrance of the damp henna on my palms, those lover’s tiffs
Those false promises too, do you remember
Send all that back…won’t you?
Yek ijaajat de do bas
jab is ko dafanaaoongee
main bhee wahee so jaaoongee.
And also allow me one last thing will you
That when I bury my past
I too shall sleep forever, by its side…
VIII. Slumdog Millionaire, 2008… the world gets a glimpse of his poetic genius!
Jai ho, jai ho
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho, jai ho
Jai ho…( let’s rejoice)!
Come join me under the marquee of life
The beautiful, shimmering blue skies.
Ratti, ratti sachi maine jaan gavayi hai
Nach, nach koylo pe raat bitayi hai
Akhiyon ki neend maine phoonko se uda di
Neele tare se maine ungli jalayi hai.
Have suffered every living moment
Have walked on fire, all my life
Lost my sleep with every breath
And scalded my finger as I reached for that star…
Chakh le, ha, chakh le ye raat shahad hai, chakh le
Rakh le, ha, dil hai dil aakhri had hai, rakh le
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na.
Come let’s savor this night, as sweet as honey
Come let’s treasure these hearts full of love, never ending and limitless
Your dark smoky eyes, weave magic
Enchanting, enticing….black magic.
Kab se, ha kab se tu lab pe ruki hai kah de
Kah de, ha kah de ab aankh jhuki hai, kah de
Aisi, aisi roshan aankhe roshan dono bhi hai, hai kya?
Speak out and tell me what you always wanted to say
I surrender before you, so tell me
My lowered eyelids are emitting joy…
Can you sense that…can you?
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho…
Come join me under the marquee of life
The beautiful, shimmering blue skies.
IX. In 'Ishqiya' (Romantic), 2010, Gulzar’s latest offering, he takes you on the journey of a heart that has discovered love , albeit a little late…the words make you smile…they make you sigh and agree to his submission that your heart remains a child all your life..
Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi
Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi
Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi
Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi
Walla ye dhadkan bhadne lagi hai
Chehre ki rangat udne lagi hai
Darr lagta hai tanha sone mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan, dil to baccha hai ji.
Caught in such an eye lock, it’s hard to look away
As much as one may try, it’s hard to break away
The grays of my age catching up
But my heart stays eternally young
God, why does it beat so fast
And cause the color to drain away from my face
Why am I afraid to be alone at night
Why the heart is behaving this way
It is so naïve…like a child
Can so easily break
Yes, so naïve…
Kisko pataa tha pehlu mein rakha
Dil aisa paaji bhi hoga
Hum to hamesha samajhte the koi
Hum jaisa haaji hi hoga
Hai zor karein, kitna shor karein
Bewaja baatein pe ainwe gaur karein
Dilsa koi kameena nahi
Koi to rokey, koi to tokey
Iss umar mein ab khaogey dhokhe
Darr lagta hai ishq karne mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan dil to baccha hai ji.
Who knew that this heart of mine
Will be such a rogue
I always thought it was sane
Just as I was….
Hard as I try, to convince it
It keeps getting distracted
Nothing could be more unruly than this heart
If I listen to it, I am afraid I am in for a heartache
It’s so naïve
Easy to break…
Aisi udhaasi baithi hai dil pe
Hassne se ghabra rahe hain
Saari jawani katra ke kaati
Piri mein takra gaye hain
Dil dhadakta hai to aise lagta hai woh
Aa raha hai yahin dekhta hi na woh
Prem ki maarein kataar re
Taubah ye lamhe katt te nahi kyun
Aankhein se meri hatt te nahi kyun
Darr lagta hai mujhse kehne mein ji
Dil toh bachcha hai ji.
Sadness permanently resides inside
I am scared to smile
I spent my youth hesitating
And now I have stumbled upon love
Whenever the heart beats, I feel
She is coming my way
It’s hard to wait for those moments
Etched forever on my soul
I am scared to speak out, because
The heart is so naïve
Yes…childlike
It’s so naïve
Easy
to break…
X Though this one is not a song from a film, I decided to included this nevertheless because anyone who has grown up with the Indian TV adaptation of the Jungle book could not help but fall in love with this delightful title song created by Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj.
Jungle Jungle
baat chali hai pata chala hai...
Arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai phool khila hai
Ek parinda hoy sharminda, tha woh nanga
Bhai isse to ande ke andar, tha woh changa
Soch raha hai bahar aakhar kyuu niklahai
Arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai phool khila hai.
Hear the rumors that are doing the rounds…
A young cherub in his diapers has been found
And did you hear about that baby bird...
It really is so silly… so absurd
Behaving like a prude
Coz it was nude
Wondering
why the hell
Did he have
to break that shell?
And come
out of that egg into this world…
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