Pakeezah - "Chalte Chalte"

Chalte Chalte sung by Lata Mangeshkar became the defining song of the Hindi film Pakeezah. It embodied the story of the movie. A chance encounter led to almost a lifetime of waiting. The lyrics of the song are reproduced below, following which is a translation. It has been impossible to stick close to the words and in order to maintain the flow of thought I have had to take it verse by verse. A few of the crucial words are explained after the translation. In case anyone can come up with a better translation I will put it up with due acknowledgment.

Chalte chalte, chalte chalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

Vahin thamke reh gayi hai

Meri raat dhalte dhalte

Jo kahi gayi na mujhse

Voh zamaana keh raha hai

Ke fasaana

Ke fasaana ban gayi hai

Meri baat chalte chalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

Shabe intezaar aakhir

Kabhi hogi muqtasar bhi

Yeh chiraag

Yeh chiraag bujh rahe hain

Mere saath jalte jalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

While I was walking

I chanced to meet someone

While I was walking down the road

My night came to a standstill

Instead of moving towards dawn

The thoughts that I could never voice

Are on everybody's lips

A tale

This chance encounter of mine

Has been stretched into a tale

I chanced to meet someone

While I was walking down the road

The night of expectation will

Someday reach fulfillment

These lamps

These lamps are extinguishing

Burning out with me

I chanced to meet someone

While I was walking down the road

Shabe intezaar - the night of waiting

Muqtasar – actually means brief. Here the implication is that the night of expectation will someday be brief and hence fulfilled

Enjoy the video of Chalte Chalte