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 wandering

On the way I saw a stranger

To whom I was instantly drawn

My night came to a standstill

Instead of moving towards morn

 

I did not express my feelings
Yet everybody seems to know
Puerile gossip
From this silent unspoken love
How the puerile gossip was born
On the way I saw a stranger
To whom I was instantly drawn

 

Will this night of expectation
Ever reach its desired climax
These lamps
Or with me these lamps will burn out
And extinguish before dawn
On the way I saw a stranger
To whom I was instantly drawn

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