In Ankhon Ki Masti from Umrao Jaan Translated in English

 In Ankhon Ki Masti – English Translation of Mujra Ghazal

Meta Description:  In Ankhon Ki Masti is a ghazal delivered as a mujra from Umrao Jaan. The film has Rekha playing the eponymous courtesan.  Check out my English translation.

Some Difficulties in Translating a Ghazal from Urdu to English 

The metre and the rhyme known as qafiya (AA BA CA …) do not pose any difficulty in translation. The problem comes from the refrain or radif, which is phrase that appears at the end of every second line of the couplet. In the first couplet the radif appears in both lines. The qafiya comes just before the radif.

 

In aankhon se vaabasta afsaane hazaaron hain: hazaaron hai is the radif and afsaane is the qafiya.

 

Because the grammatical sentence structure of English differs from that of Urdu and Hindi, it is easy to insert a radif in the middle of the line, but difficult to do so at the end. In my translations of ghazals, I do not use the radif at all, which I realise is a flaw. I wanted to be upfront about this.

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of In Ankhon Ki Masti 

Thousands are captivated,

Thousands are captivated by the allure of my eyes

By the allure of my eyes

These eyes have given rise to

These eyes have given rise to many thousands of li..es

Many thousands of li..es

By the allure of my eyes

 

You are not the only one

You are not the only one who is disgraced in my love

Disgraced in my love

There are thousands like yourself

There are thousands like yourself who your families despise

Who your families despise

Thousands are captivated by the allure of my eyes

By the allure of my eyes

 

There are thousands of taverns,

There are thousands of taverns scattered all over the town

Scattered all over the town

One sip of wine from my eyes

One sip of wine from my eyes and you’ll be in paradise

And you’ll be in paradise

Thousands are captivated by the allure of my eyes

By the allure of my eyes

 

You are frightening this flame

You are frightening this flame with threats of a hurricane

With threats of a hurricane

Thousands of moths protect this

Thousands of moths protect this bright flame from any capsize

Bright flame from any capsize

Thousands are captivated by the allure of my eyes

These eyes have given rise to many thousands of li..es

Many thousands of li..es

By the allure of my eyes

The Original Hindi Lyrics of In Ankhon Ki Masti from Umrao Jaan

In aankhon ki masti ke,

In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain

Mastaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon se vaabasta

In aankhon se vaabasta afsaane hazaaron hain

Afsaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke

 

Ek tum hi nahin tanha,

Ek tum hi nahin tanha ulfat mein meri rusva

Ulfat mein meri rusva

Is shaher mein tum jaise

Is shaher mein tum jaise deewaane hazaaron hain

Deewaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke, aah aah aah

 

Ek sirf humi mai ko,

Ek sirf humi mai ko aankhon se pilaate hain

Aankhon se pilaate hain

Kehne ko to duniya mein

Kehne ko to duniya mein maikhaane hazaaron hain

Maikhaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke

 

Is shamm-e-faroza ko,

Is shamm-e-faroza ko aandhi se darraate ho

Aandhi se darraate ho

Is shamm-e-faroza ke

Is shamm-e-faroza ke parvaane hazaaron hain

Parvaane hazaaron hain

 

In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon se vaabasta afsaane hazaaron hain

Afsaane hazaaron hain

In aankhon ki masti ke

 

Meanings of difficult Urdu words

 

Vaabasta = Related to

Afsaane = stories

Tanha = alone

Ulfat = love

Rusva = disgraced

Maikhaane = taverns

Shamm-e-faroza = bright flame

Parvaane = moths

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of In Ankhon Ki Masti 

I had to take some liberties with the exact words to maintain the structure and essence of the ghazal, so I am providing a literal English translation as well.

 

In aankhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaaron hain

There are thousands of admirers of the mystique of my eyes

 

In aankhon se vaabasta afsaane hazaaron hain

There are thousands of stories connected to my eyes

 

Ek tum hi nahin tanha ulfat mein meri rusva

You alone have not been disgraced by falling in love with me

 

Is shaher mein tum jaise deewaane hazaaron hain

There are thousands of die-hard lovers like you in this city

 

Ek sirf humi mai ko aankhon se pilaate hain

I am the only one who can offer wine (intoxicate) through my eyes

 

Kehne ko to duniya mein maikhaane hazaaron hain

They say there are thousands of taverns in this world

 

Is shamm-e-faroza ko aandhi se darraate ho

Are you trying to scare this bright flame by talking of storms

 

Is shamm-e-faroza ke parvaane hazaaron hain

There are thousands of moths to protect this bright flame

 

In Ankhon Ki Masti Fact Sheet

·       Movie: Umrao Jaan (1981)
·       Singer: Asha Bhosle
·       Lyricist: Shahryar
·       Composer: Khayyam
·       On Screen: Rekha
·       Director & Producer: Muzaffar Ali
 
Enjoy the video of In Ankhon Ki Masti.  I have other ghazals at Bollywood Translations with more from Umrao Jaan coming next.
·       Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o
·       Champayi Rang Yaar Aa Jaye
·       Mun Bairagi Tan Anuragi
·       Khud se jo vada kiya tha

·       Sansar ki har shay ka
 
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