Omkara – Namak

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

“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