Gulzar’s Hazaar Rahein explained and translated in English

 

Hazaar Rahein – Translation of Gulzar Filmfare Award Song  

Meta Description:  Hazaar Rahein is a Bollywood hit song from Thodisi Bewafaii.  Gulzar won Best Lyrics Filmfare Award in 1981. Sing English translation karaoke style.

Gulzar Wins Best Lyricist Award for Hazaar Rahein at Filmfare 1981

Gulzar won the Best Lyricist for Hazaar Rahein at the 28^th Filmfare Awards (1981). Kishore Kumar won the Best Playback Singer Male for this same song. Thodisi Bewafaii had a long list of nominations as well.
·       Best Film
·       Best Director
·       Best Actor
·       Best Actress
·       Best Comedian
·       Best Music Director
·       Best Story

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Hazaar Rahein 

Kishore:

I wandered down thousands of paths

I just could not hear you calling for me

 

Lata:

With righteousness you have responded

To a small moment of my disloyalty

 

Kishore:

At that turn from where you left me

At that turn from where you left me

I am still there waiting for you

 

Lata:

My feet were bound by numerous chains

My feet were bound by numerous chains

I wanted to come but what could I do

With righteousness you have responded

To a small moment of my disloyalty

 

Kishore:

If only you had once gone through

If only you had once gone through

The torments that have troubled my mind

 

Lata:

Those nights that I have spent all by myself

Those nights that I have spent all by myself

If only you had gone through that grind

With righteousness you have responded

To a small moment of my disloyalty

 

Kishore:

She insisted that I should call her first

For her signal I was waiting

 

Lata:

His name was always on my two lips

My voice failed me so frustrating

 

Kishore:

I wandered down thousands of paths

I just could not hear you calling for me

 

Lata:

With righteousness you have responded

To a small moment of my disloyalty

To a small moment of my disloyalty

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Hazaar Rahein from Thodisi Bewafaii

Hazaar rahein mud ke dekhi

Kahin se koi sada na aayi

 

Badi wafa se nibhaai tumne

Hamari thodi si bewafaii

 

Jahan se tum mod mud gaye the

Jahan se tum mod mud gaye the

Yeh mod ab bhi wahin pade hain

 

Hum apne pairon mein jaane kitne

Hum apne pairon mein jaane kitne

Bhanwar lapete hue khade hain

Badi wafa se nibhaai tumne

Hamari thodi si bewafaii

 

Kahin kisi roz yun bhi hota

Kahin kisi roz yun bhi hota

Hamari haalat tumhari hoti

 

Jo raatein humne guzari mar ke

Jo raatein humne guzari mar ke

Woh raat tumne guzari hoti

Badi wafa se nibhaai tumne

Hamari thodi si bewafaii

 

Unhein yeh zid thi ke hum bulaate

Hamein yeh ummeed woh pukarein

 

Hai naam honthon pe ab bhi lekin

Aawaz mein pad gai daraarein

 

Hazaar rahein mud ke dekhi

Kahin se koi sada na aayi

 

Badi wafa se nibhaai tumne

Hamari thodi si bewafaii

Hamari thodi si bewafaii

 

Sada = Voice

 
Wafa and Bewafaii Explained in Gulzar’s Hazaar Rahein 

Gulzar’s lyrics are poetic and are open to interpretation, and Hazaar Rahein is no different. The words wafa and bewafaii literally translate as loyalty and disloyalty and in the context of Hindi movies they are usually further nuanced to marital fidelity and infidelity. However, the meaning of the entire song falls into place only when these two words are understood in the context of the narrative of the film.

 

Thodisi Bewafaii explores the marital discord between Arun (Rajesh Khanna) and Neema (Shabana Azmi). The film centres on Neema's mistaken belief that Arun is having an affair, leading her to leave him and return to her father's home after a series of minor disagreements. Neema clings to this misconception until their eventual reconciliation, despite there being no evidence or allegations of Arun’s infidelity. There is not even a hint of allegation of adultery against her. In the song it is Neema who says “hamari thodisi bewafaii” so the word cannot mean infidelity, but only disloyalty in the more general sense.

 

So, what does Neema mean when she refers to wafa on Arun’s part, especially as it is contrasted with her disloyalty. Although Arun is hurt by Neema’s behaviour, he chooses not to react with hostility or disparagement. His response is mature and measured, leaving the possibility for reconciliation open while waiting for Neema to take the first step. Neema’s own ego, however, prevents her from initiating contact, leading to a stalemate. Gulzar's song poignantly addresses how personal pride and misunderstandings can obstruct reconciliation, resulting in mutual dissatisfaction despite both parties' underlying desires to mend their relationship.

Hazaar Rahein Fact Sheet 

 

·       Movie: Thodisi Bewafaii
·       Singer: Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar
·       Lyricist: Gulzar
·       Composer: Khayyam
·       On Screen: Rajesh Khanna & Shabana Azmi
 
Enjoy the video of Hazaar Rahein.  There are more Filmfare Award winning lyrics from Gulzar at Bollywood Translations.
 
·       Ae Watan (2019)
·       Chhapaak (2021)
 
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