Omkara – Namak
Namak is the second Billo (Bipasha Basu)
item number from Omkara, Beedi
Jalay Lei being the other one. It is written by Gulzar and has the same
risqué tenor. Again, a literal translation of the lyrics is meaningless. One
has to get to the underlying sexual metaphor in order to enjoy it.
Mai chaand nigal gayi daiyyo re......
Bhitar bhitar aag jale … baat karu to sake
lage
Main chaand nigal gayi daiyyo re … ang pe
aise chhaale pade
Tez tha chaunka ka karu … sisi sisi karti
main maru
Zabaan pe laga re laga re … namak isaq ka
haaye tere isaq ka
Balam se maanga maanga re … namak isaq ka
tere isaq ka
Sabhi chhede hai mujhko, sipahiye baake
chhamiye
Udhaari dene lage hai gali ke baniye baniye
Koi to kaudi tu bhi luta de, koi to kaudi
Thodi thodi shahad chata de, thodi thodi
Tez tha tadka ka karu… sisi karti main maru
Raat bhar chhaana chhaana re … namak isaq
ka tere isaq ka
Aisi phoonk lagi zaalim ki, ke bansuri jaisi baaji main
Aur jo bhi kaha us chandra bhaan ne phat se
ho gayi raazi main,
Kabhi ankhiyon se pina, kabhi honto se
pina
Kabhi achcha lage marna, kabhi muskil lage
jeena
Karvat karvat pyaas lagi thi
Aji balam ki aahat paas lagi thi
Tez tha chauka ka karu, sisi karti main
maru
dali bhar dala daala re namak isaq ka haaye re, tere isaq ka
dali bhar dala daala re namak isaq ka haaye re, tere isaq ka
“Mai chaand nigal gayi” is the critical
phrase. Once that is understood the other metaphors will fall in place. The
problem is that this phrase, which literally translates as “I swallowed the moon”,
is it difficult to put in perspective. I interpret it as “I dreamt of my moon
faced lover”. I don't offer any justification for the same, except that the
song makes sense when taken as an imaginary interaction with a lover. I have
not come across any use of this phrase in this manner. However, I do recall
reading the Sanskrit epic Kadmbari by Bana. The queen dreams of swallowing the
moon and conceives, ultimately giving birth to a child as handsome as the moon.
“Namak isaq ka” is the joy of making love. So here goes …
I dreamt of my lover
And was burning with passion … even talking
about him gave me the hots
I dreamt of my lover … and it felt as if my
body was full of blisters
It was like putting too much chilly in the
food … when your mouth is on fire
But what could I do … I had tasted the
experience of making love to him
And I wanted more of the same from him
(Seeing me mature as a sexy lass)
Everyone makes passes at me, leery cops*
and roadside flirts
Even the grocers are extending credit
hoping for repayment in kind
My lover, you can gift me at least a few trinkets
And whisper sweet nothings in my ears
The dream was like putting too much chilly
in the food … when your mouth is on fire
Yet I dreamt all night of the joy of your
making love to me
My lover handled me as if he was playing a flute
And I yielded completely to his moon like
charm
He gazed lovingly in my eyes, he kissed my
lips passionately
Self-annihilation in love is ecstatic, life
without the lover is hell
I thirsted for him as I tossed on my bed
I dreamt of hearing his footsteps at my
door
The separation was like too much chilly in
the food … when your mouth is on fire
I tried to douse myself with a small dream
of making love to him
* Cops are maligned in Bollywood. Check out Inhi Logon Ne - Hamri na maano sipahiya se poochho … Jis ne bajariya mein chheena dupatta mera
For more Gulzar specials check out my
translations of Khamoshi