Thade Rahiyo – Poetic Translation in English of Mujra from Pakeezah

Meta Description: This is a poetic translation of the mujra Thade Rahiyo from the Kamal Amrohi Bollywood blockbuster Pakeezah. Meena Kumari and Lata Mangeshkar created magic on the screen. Stay tuned for upgrades of all my Pakeezah translations.

Revisiting the hit songs from Pakeezah

Wine matures with age and so does poetry. I began Bollywood Translations more than a decade ago with Pakeezah. When I recently checked out those translations, to my dismay I found them to be dull and gawky, nowhere near the level of my current work. I have decided to upgrade these English translations from Pakeezah and some others. I will follow the process of transcreation where the focus will be on maintaining rhyme and rhythm. If I have to tweak the content a bit in order to create the poetic experience, then so be it. I start with Thade Rahiyo.

The Original Lyrics of Thade Rahiyo from Pakeezah

Bollywood songs are full of flirtatious one upmanship between the lover and the beloved. This mujra from Pakeezah is a perfect example. The girl waits night after night for lover to come. When he ultimately does so, she keeps him waiting at the door with one excuse or another.

chaandani raat badi der ke baad aai hai

ye mulaaqaat badi der ke baad aai hai

aaj ki raat vo aaye hain badi der ke baad

aaj ki raat badi der ke baad aai hai

thaade rahiyo o baanke yaar re

thaharo lagaay aaoon, nainon mein kajara

choti mein goond laaoon phoolon ka gajara

main to kar aaoon solah shrringaar re

thaade rahiyo...

jaage na koee, raina hai thodi

bole chhamaachham paayal nigodii

aji dheere se kholoongi dvaar re

saiyaan dheere se kholuungi dvaar re

main to chupake se

aji haule se kholuungi dwaar re

thaade rahiyo...

Transcreation (Or Poetic Translation) of Thade Rahiyo from Pakeezah

The moonlit night has come after a long time
This romantic delight has come after a long time
Tonight he is again very late
My errant knight has come after a long time

Tarry a while, you flirtatious amour

I am applying kohl on my eyes so please wait
Fragrant buds in my tresses I have yet to plait
Ear stud, necklace, ring, girdle, anklets and more
Tarry a while, you flirtatious amour

Everyone is in bed, the night has run deep
My damned anklets will wake them from their sleep
I have to move slowly to open the door
My love, very slowly I will open the door
Very silently
Very quietly I will open the door

Tarry a while, you flirtatious amour

Thade Rahiyo Fact Sheet

· Movie: Pakeezah

· Singer: Lata Mangeshkar

· Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri

· Composer: Ghulam Mohammad

· On Screen: Meena Kumari

· Director: Kamal Amrohi

Enjoy the video of Thade Rahiyo.

Mujra Songs in Bollywood Films

Mujra is a dance form that evolved In the Mughal era and has retained its popularity ever since. The tawaif or courtesan entertains her aristocratic patrons with songs and dances that revolve around risqué romancing. In Urdu, mujra also means paying salutations to someone of a higher social status and the name of the dance probably derives from this. Bollywood is replete with period films set in the aristocratic milieu of Northern India and most of them would include a mandatory mujra, much like the item numbers in contemporary movies. Pakeezah and the recently released Netflix series Heeramandi are set in kothas and include many mujra songs, many of which feature in Bollywood Translations.

· Masoom Dil Hai Mera

· Saiyaan Hatto Jao

· Nazariya ki Maari

· Aaj Hum Apani Duaaon Ka

· Chalte Chalte

· Thade Rahiyo

· Inhi Logon Ne

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