Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai Gulzar Lyrics Explained As Kajari

 

Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai English Translation of Gulzar Song

Meta Description: Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai is a song from Gulzar’s movie Ijaazat. It has the characteristics of a Kajari. Enjoy the English transcreation to the original track.

Setting the Background for Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai

Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai is another haunting track from Ijaazat, this time portraying Sudha as the victim of loneliness. While Khali Haath literally translates to "empty handed," in the context of the song, the emptiness symbolizes a deeper sense of isolation. This metaphor for loneliness is something I have aimed to convey in my transcreation of the lyrics.

 

There is another crucial nuance that often leads to misinterpretation of the song, which occurs in the line “Paye to mitaye na.” Here, the "na" should not be understood as a negative "no." Instead, it is used as an interjection, a common feature in colloquial Hindi, which makes the line more of a reflective pause than a rejection. Therefore, the presence of “na” does not alter the meaning as one might normally think.

 

Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai as a Kajari

 

"Kajari," a genre steeped in themes of separation, is a well-known tradition in both Bollywood and Indian folk music. Khali Haath Shyam Aayi Hai aligns closely with many of the defining characteristics of the Kajari genre:

 

• The song revolves around a woman longing for her absent lover.
• It includes a reference to darkness, which is typically represented by rain clouds in Kajaris. In this case, however, the darkness is portrayed through the night.
• Kajaris often evoke the image of tears. Here, the woman’s sorrow is so profound that her tears have long since dried up.

 

However, Khali Haath Shyam Aayi Hai also departs from some traditional elements of the genre:

 

• There is no mention of kohl or kajal, which are commonly symbolic in Kajaris.
• The lyrics are written in contemporary Hindi, rather than using a regional dialect or archaic expressions often found in traditional Kajari songs.

 

These subtle shifts set this song apart from conventional Kajaris, even as it retains the genre's core emotional essence.

 

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Ruaan

 

It is lonely this evening

O! It is lonely this evening

And lonelier it will end

It is lonely this evening

Today too he has not come

Today too he has not come

There’ll be no love no friend

It is lonely this evening

And lonelier it will end

It is lonely this evening

 

Again, there were no tears

The crying eyes remained dry

Again, there were no tears

The crying eyes remained dry

Desolate is the night sky

Desolate is the night sky

Desolate it will end

It is lonely this evening

There’ll be no love no friend

It is lonely this evening

 

The darkness of the night

Will someone make it light

The darkness of the night

Will someone make it light

If it is not brightened now

If it is not brightened now

Then darker it will end

It is lonely this evening

There’ll be no love no friend

It is lonely this evening

 

Today too he has not come

Today too he has not come

There’ll be no love no friend

It is lonely this evening

And lonelier it will end

It is lonely this evening

 

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai from Ijaazat

 

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

O khali haath shaam aayi hai

Khali haath jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Aaj bhi na aaya koi

Aaj bhi na aaya koi

Khali laut jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Khali haath jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

 

Aaj bhi na aaye aansoo

Aaj bhi na bheege naina

Aaj bhi na aaye aansoo

Aaj bhi na bheege naina

Aaj bhi yeh kori raina

Aaj bhi yeh kori raina

Kori laut jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Khali haath jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

 

Raat ki siyahi koi

Paye to mitaye na

Raat ki siyahi koi

Paye to mitaye na

Aaj na mitayi to yeh

Aaj na mitayi to yeh

Kal bhi laut aayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Khali haath jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

 

Aaj bhi na aaya koi

Aaj bhi na aaya koi

Khali laut jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Khali haath jaayegi

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

 

 

 

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai

 

Khali haath shaam aayi hai

Empty-handed the evening has come

 

Khali haath jaayegi

Empty-handed it will go

 

Aaj bhi na aaya koi

Today too no one has come

 

Khali laut jaayegi

Empty-handed it will return

 

Aaj bhi na aaye aansoo

Today too there were no tears

 

Aaj bhi na bheege naina

Today too the eyes weren’t moist

 

Aaj bhi yeh kori raina

Today too the night is bleak

 

Kori laut jaayegi

Bleak it will return

 

Raat ki siyahi koi

Ink of the night if anyone

 

Paye to mitaye na

Finds then erase it

 

Aaj na mitayi to yeh

Today if it is nor erased then

 

Kal bhi laut aayegi

Tomorrow it will return

 

Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai Fact Sheet

·       Movie: Ijaazat
·       Singer: Asha Bhosle
·       Lyricist: Gulzar
·       Composer: Rahul Dev Burman
·       On Screen: Rekha
·       Director: Gulzar
 
Enjoy the video of Khali Haath Sham Aayi Hai.  Mera Kuchh Samaan from Ijaazat has also been translated at Bollywood Translations.
 
If you are interested in Kajaris then check out some of the best.
·       Mai Ri (Dastak)
·       Kachori Gali (Folk)
·       Sawan (Jaanisaar)
·       Mausam Hai Ashiqana (Pakeezah)
 
 
 
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