Chaudhvin Ka Chand – Translation of Filmfare Award Winner

Meta Description: Chaudhvin Ka Chand is an all-time favourite Bollywood song. It has won two Filmfare Awards. Enjoy the poetic translation and explanation of Urdu words.

Filmfare Awards for Chaudhvin Ka Chand

Chaudhvin Ka Chand, released in 1960, has remained a beloved classic, consistently appearing in lists of all-time favourite Bollywood songs. At the 8th Filmfare Awards, the song triumphed in two major categories. Shakeel Badayuni kickstarted his remarkable hat-trick of Best Lyricist awards with Chaudhvin Ka Chand. Meanwhile, Mohammed Rafi secured the first of his many Filmfare Awards for Best Playback Singer (Male) for his unforgettable rendition of the song.

Explaining Chaudhvin Ka Chand Versus Purnima Ka Chand

‘Chaudhvin ka Chand’ refers to the full moon, which occurs on the 14th day of the waxing fortnight of the lunar cycle and hence is called chaudhavi (14^th) ka chand. Thereafter the moon starts to wane each night. In the Islamic calendar, each day runs from sunset to sunset, and although the lengths of days vary, there are always 14 days in a fortnight.

In contrast, according to the Hindu calendar, the full moon night occurs on the 15th tithi (not day) of the waxing fortnight, known as Shukla Paksha, and is called Purnima. There’s a key distinction between a tithi and a day, as we commonly understand it. A tithi represents the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°, which occurs 15 times within a traditional fortnight. The duration between two tithis can vary significantly due to the movements of the Earth, Sun, and Moon. To put things in a simplistic manner you will have two tithis on one of the traditional days in the fortnight. A more detailed explanation of this process goes beyond the scope of this discussion.

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Chaudhvin Ka Chand

Are you the full moon or the dazzling sun

Whatever you may be, you are one in a million

Are you the full moon or the dazzling sun

Whatever you may be, you are one in a million

Are you the full moon

Tresses on your shoulders are like the rain clouds drifting low

In your eyes like glasses of wine there is a faint glow

Which is full of love, you are that intoxication

Are you the full moon or the dazzling sun

Whatever you may be, you are one in a million

Are you the full moon

Like a blooming lotus in a lake is your fair face

Or on life’s violin a melody played with grace

O soul of the spring you are some poet’s vision

Are you the full moon or the dazzling sun

Whatever you may be, you are one in a million

Are you the full moon

The sweet smile on your lips lights up your pretty visage

And the Milky Way bows down to respect your personage

Of this world of beauty, you are the youthful passion

Are you the full moon or the dazzling sun

Whatever you may be, you are one in a million

Are you the full moon