Saturday, August 17, 2024

Bismil – Transcreation and Explanation of Song from Haider

 

Bismil – Transcreation and Explanation of Song from Haider


Meta Description:  Bismil is a popular Bollywood item number from Omkara rendered by Sukhwinder Singh. This English translation fits perfectly to the original beat by Vishal Bhardwaj. Understand the context of the song in Haider, which is adapted from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.   


The Context of the Song Bismil in the Bollywood Movie Haider

Without understanding the context of the song, it is challenging to grasp its meaning, especially since Gulzar is renowned for his metaphorical lyrics. The film Haider is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In Hamlet, the protagonist stages a play that mirrors the suspected murder of his father by his uncle Claudius. The play’s impact on Claudius and Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, confirms Hamlet's suspicions about the fratricide.

 

Similarly, in Haider, the song Bismil functions as a metaphorical reenactment of the drama unfolded in Haider’s life. In this song, the bulbul symbolizes Ghazala Meer (Haider’s mother), the bulbul's mate represents Hilaal Meer (Haider’s father), and the hawk stands for Khurram Meer (Haider’s uncle and now stepfather). Khurram had falsely implicated Hilaal to gain favour with the authorities, initiating his rise to power and opulence. The song performed by Haider ends with a plea to his mother that she is in danger and should come to her senses.


The Difficulties in Translating Bismil in English

A direct translation of Bismil that preserves the exact nuances, rhyme, and rhythm of the original proved impossible for several reasons:
 
·       The song's rich metaphorical content
·       The frequent use of short, repeated phrases
·       The song's variable tempo
 
Transcreation, as opposed to literal translation, captures the intent and emotional essence of the original while adapting the language to fit the song's rhythm and beat. As a result, the English version I have created can be sung to the original instrumental track.


The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Bismil 


Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart

Quickly from the garden depart

O! Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart

Quickly from the garden depart

Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart

Love smitten bulbul, O! love smitten bulbul

 

Many troubles are faced by a troubled heart

A quick heartbeat, a quick heartbeat says

A quick heartbeat, a quick heartbeat says

You cannot tell true love and pretence apart

Fragrant flowers incite passion

Quickly from the garden depart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

Quickly from the garden depart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

 

 

Ho.. Everybody please listen to me

I am just repeating your story

Love smitten bulbul, love smitten bulbul

Love smitten bulbul, O! love smitten bulbul

Lived a pair of birds, female and male

The male was naïve, the female frail

Lived a pair of birds, female and male

The male was naïve, the female frail

In winter the falling snow

Would paint the mountain ranges white

A hawk with malefic intent

A hawk with malefic intent

Over the valleys would take flight

He would carry death hidden in his wings

Wanted a life of luxury

A new path to chart

Wanted a life of luxury

A new path to chart

 

 

The hawk flirted with the bulbul

He took control over her mind

He led her down the garden path

Where poisoned flowers she would find

He took control over her mind

(The hawk flirted with the bulbul)

Poisoned flowers she would find

(He took control over her mind)

O o.. he set the valley aflame

Spread his nets over the lake

He caught the helpless hapless male

He caught the helpless hapless male

And both his wings he did break

At every step the hawk did lie

Lied the evil heart

Quickly from the garden depart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

 

 

The wounded male was arrested

(arrested, arrested)

With iron chains he was bound

At Sheeripur in Aramula

In the river he was drowned

Jhelum.. Jhelum..

Red red became red red became red red became red

Jhelum.. Jhelum..

Red red became red red became red red became red

The pure waters of Kashmir are great

The chains dissolved and changed his fate

He is alive, will be alive

The culprit will now not survive

He is alive, will be alive

The culprit will now not survive

He is alive, will be alive

The culprit will now not survive

Come to your senses, come to your senses

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

He led her down the garden path

Come to your senses, come to your senses

Smitten by Cupid’s dart

Come to your senses, come to your senses

Smitten by Cupid’s dart


The Original Hindi Lyrics of Bismil from Haider

Bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil

Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil

E bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil

Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil

Bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil

E dil-e-bulbul E bulbul-e-bismil

 

 

Mushkil dil bhi mushkil hoti hain

Dil dhadke dil dhadke toh

Dil dhadke dil dhadke toh

Dhadkan-e-dil bhi harkat-e-dil hoti hain

Khushbu-e-gul mein, ishq bhara hai

Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil

E bulbul-e-bismil

Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil

E bulbul-e-bismil

 

Ho.. sunle zamaana samjhata hoon

Teri kahaani doharata hoon

E dil-e-bulbul bulbul-e-bismil

E dil-e-bulbul bulbul-e-bismil

Ik joda tha nar-mada ka

Bholi thi bulbul nar sada tha

Ik joda tha nar-mada ka

Bholi thi bulbul nar sada tha
Barf gira karti thi jab

Bhar jaati thi kohsaaron mein

Ik baaz bada badniyat tha

ik baaz bada badniyat tha

Udata tha sabz anzaraon mein
Pankhon mein uske maut chhupi thi

Mehfil mehfil dhoond raha tha
Mehelon ki manzil

Mehfil mehfil dhoond raha tha

Mehlon ki manzil

Bulbul ke khwabon mein jakar

Zeher ke dank lagaye the

Khushbu-e-gul mein zeher bhara

Aur mada ko bhijwaaye the

Zeher ke dank lagaaye the

(Bulbul ke khwabon mein jakar)

Mada ko bhijwaaye the

(Zeher ke dank lagaye the)
O o.. waadi mein chidka baarod

Jheel mein jaal bichha daale

Chhuriyon se bechare nar ke

Chhuriyon se bechare nar ke

Dono pankh kata daale

Are dil dil dil dil jhoot kahe ye

Jhoot kahe buzdil

Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil

E bulbul-e-bismil

E bulbul-e-bismil

E bulbul-e-bismil

 

 

Zakhmi nar ko kaid kiya

(kaid kiya, kaid kiya)

Zanjeeron mein bandhwaya

Aramula ke Sheeripur se

Phir paani mein phikwaya
Jehlum.. Jehlum..

Laal laal hua laal laal hua laal laal hua laal

Jehlum.. Jehlum..

Laal laal hua laal laal hua laal laal hua laal

Kashmir ke paani ki taaserein

Khul gayi zanjeerein takdeerin

Zinda hai woh zinda hoga

Mujrim phir sharminda hoga

Zinda hai woh zinda hoga

Mujrim phir sharminda hoga

Zinda hai woh zinda hoga

Mujrim phir sharminda hoga

Hosh mein aa ja, hosh mein aa ja

E bulbul-e-bismil

E bulbul-e-bismil

Khushbu-e-gul me zeher bhara hai

Hosh mein aa ja, Hosh mein aa ja

E bulbul-e-bismil

Hosh mein aa ja, Hosh mein aa ja

E bulbul-e-bismil

 

Meanings of few Urdu words

 

Bismil = wounded  

Harkat-e-dil = (here) mistakes committed in love

Nar-mada = female-male

Kohsaar = mountain range

Sabz = fresh

Anzar = sight
Taaseer = effect


The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Bismil 

The repeated lines have been removed

 

Bulbul who has been wounded in love

Do not go near the flowers

A troubled heart can lead you to greater troubles

When heart beats quickly

Anxiety can lead to you to make mistakes in love
The fragrances of flowers are filled with love

 


Everyone listen to what I have to say

I am repeating your story

There was a pair of birds – male and female

The bulbul was naïve, so was her mate

When there was snowfall

There would be a blanket on the mountain ranges

There was a hawk with malefic intent

Who would fly from where he could see the green valleys

He was hiding death in his wings
He was searching every gathering

His destination was a palatial life style



He entered the dreams of the bulbul

And stung her with poison

He poisoned a bouquet of fragrant flowers

And sent it to the bulbul

Sprinkled gunpowder in the valley

Spread nets in the lake

With knives, of the helpless male bird

He cut off both the wings
He is lying

The coward is lying


He imprisoned the wounded mate

And bound him in chains

From Sheerinpur in Aramula

Who was thrown in the waters

Jhelum..

Became red
Due to the effect of the waters of Kashmir

The chains opened and the fate changed

He (male bird) is alive and will remain so

The culprit will be shamed

Come to your senses
Bulbul wounded in love 

 

Bismil Fact Sheet 


 
·       Movie: Haider
·       Singer: Sukhwinder Singh
·       Lyricist: Gulzar
·       Composer: Vishal Bhardwaj
·       On Screen: Shahid Kapoor
·       Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
 
Enjoy the video of Bismil.
 
One thing you can be assured of with Vishal Bharjwaj is a top-class music album.  I have other hit songs by him at Bollywood Translations with more in the pipeline.
 
·       Beedi Jalay Le
·       Namak Ishq Ka
·       Hamari Atariya
 
Please follow Bollywood Translations and give your feedback in the comments section. Connect with me on X and Instagram @HarshNev. In case you want any song to be translated, whether from Hindi films or otherwise, please mention in the comments.

No comments:

Post a Comment