English Translation of Lyrics of the Kajari titled Sawan from Jaanisaar

Meta Description: The music album of the Bollywood film Jaanisaar has lilting songs by leading playback singers. The folk artiste Malini Awasthi has sung the Kajari call Sawan. Read the English translation of the lyrics and understand the nuances of this Kajari.

Jaanisaar by Muzaffar Ali is a Period Drama Genre Film

Before I start on the translation of the lyrics of Sawan, a word on the movie it is from. Muzaffar Ali has directed many period Bollywood films and though most of them have won critical acclaim, only Umrao Jaan starring Rekha as the eponymous courtesan achieved box office success. Jaanisaar, meaning sacrificing one’s life, is set in the same courtesan milieu amid revolt against British rule. In this sense, it is similar to the epic series Heeramandi, whose songs, like Sakal Ban, also feature in Bollywood Translations. In both narratives, the courtesan wages a secret battle against the British and ropes in a young aristocrat just returned from England after completing his studies.

Though the Bollywood film Jaanisaar was a dismal failure at the hustings, its album was a resounding success. Each of the ten lilting numbers has been crafted with lyrical beauty. The galaxy of singers includes Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh, Abida Parveen, and Malini Awasthi. Malini Awasthi, who has given voice to the Kajari Sawan, is a renowned folk artist and I will translate her Bhojpuri Kajari in Bollywood Translations.

The Song Sawan from Jaanisaar as an Example of Kajari

The characteristics of a Kajari have been explained in an earlier blog on Bollywood Translations. Let us see how the Jaanisaar song Sawan matches against those.

· Viraha: The song is an expression of separation from a lover

· Sawan: The chorus of the song emphasises that many monsoon seasons (that include the rainy month of Sawan) have gone by

· Kajal: The line “nayan mein apne kajara na thehre” literally translates as the kohl will not stay fixed on the eyes, because the constant flow of tears washes it away.

· Language: The song is in Hindustani, which is the common language of Bollywood songs. However, to give it a flavour of folk dialect, Bhojpuri words have been introduced in the lyrics of Sawan like “patiyaan” for letters, “jug” for eon, and “nirmohi” for unloving.

The Original Lyrics of Sawan from Jaanisaar

Barkha na suhaye tere bin

Kalkatte wale piya

Kab aaoge tum

Tum ko aane mein

Tum ko bulaane mein

Kai sawan baras gaye saajna

Dhundhate dhundhate hi zamane mein

Kai sawan baras gaye saajna

Daag hai dil mein laakho gehre haaye

Nayan mein apne kajara na thehre

Sapno mein aake mila kya satane mein

Kai sawan baras gaye saajna

Beet gaya jug patiyaan paaye haaye

Roothe balam ko kaun samjhaaye

Mann ki umango ko rokey sunane mein

Kai sawan baras gaye saajna

Paake bidesh mein sautan koi

Chaina na laage o nirmohi

Ratiyon mein bindiya sajane mitane mein

Kai sawan baras gaye saajan

English Translation of Lyrics of the Kajari Sawan

The romance of rains

Has no joy without you

When will you come

Since you left, and my ego allowed your flight