Saturday, September 6, 2025

Translation of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya to Original Music

 

Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya – Asha Rafi Hit Duet Translated

Meta Description:  Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya is a golden oldie Bollywood hit song. This Asha-Rafi duet has Madhubala and Bharat Bhushan. Enjoy my poetic karaoke translation.

Setting the Background for Translating Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya

 

Banani (Madhubala), a gypsy girl, is in love with Bijan (Bharat Bhushan), a wealthy landowner. However, her father disapproves of their relationship and insists she marry within their own clan. To prevent her from seeing Bijan, he keeps her confined. During a local fair, he orders Banani to dance to draw in crowds, but she refuses. Just then, she hears a familiar melody played by Bijan, disguised as a wandering minstrel. She joins him in a flirty performance of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya.

 

In the song, Banani is heartbroken after being jilted by a foreigner. Aware of her secret, Bijan playfully teases her about the failed romance. He even offers to reunite the estranged lovers, but only if she agrees to give him something in return.


Notes on the Translation

‘Pardesi’ literally translates to foreigner, but ‘foreigner’ does not quite capture the emotional nuance of the song. In Hindi films, a pardesi is usually stereotyped as a stranger from another place who has won the heroine’s heart and then returned leaving her heartbroken and helpless. In the translation I have therefore used stranger for pardesi, which better suits both the emotional context and the lyrical rhythm.

The phrase ‘thandi aahen’ is an idiom in Hindi that expresses a state of misery, usually because of unrequited love. The line ‘thandi thandi aahon ka salaam de gaya’ can be interpreted as ‘he departed leaving me miserable’. The literal English translation of ‘thandi aahen’ would be ‘frosty sighs or breaths’, which does not convey the figurative meaning of the original. Therefore, I've rendered it in a way that preserves the emotional tone rather than the literal words.

 

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya

 

Asha

A stranger stole my heart my soul also

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow

 

Asha

Yes.. A stranger stole my heart my soul also

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow.. Yes

 

Rafi

Which stranger stole your heart your soul also

Leaving your big beautiful eyes with a teary flow

 

Rafi

Hey..Which stranger stole your heart your soul also

Leaving your big beautiful eyes with a teary flow

 

Asha

My stranger’s magic charm you just cannot surpass

His eyes are like quartz bright his youth like fragile glass

But he abandoned me left me feeling low

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow

 

Rafi

Which stranger stole your heart your soul also

Leaving your big beautiful eyes with a teary flow

 

Rafi

Umpteen suitors are vying for your grace

Bestow on them of fair one the aura of your face

Asha

The stranger has taken with him my radiant glow

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow

 

Rafi

Which stranger stole your heart your soul also

Leaving your big beautiful eyes with a teary flow

 

Rafi

What if I call him – draw him near once more

What will you grant me if I bring him to your door

Asha

He took away all I had the knavish fellow

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow

 

Rafi

Which stranger stole your heart your soul also

Leaving your big beautiful eyes with a teary flow

 

Asha

A stranger stole my heart my soul also

And in its place he left behind a sweet sorrow

 

 

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
 

Asha

Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya
Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya

 

Asha
Haan ek pardesi mera dil le gaya

Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya haan

 

Rafi

Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya
Moti moti ankhiyon
Mein aansu de gaya

 

Rafi
Hoy kaun pardesi
Tera dil le gaya
Moti moti ankhiyon
Mein aansu de gaya

 

Asha

Mere pardesiya ki yahi hai nishaani
Ankhiyan bilor ki shishe ki jawaani
Thandi thandi aahon
Ka salaam de gaya
Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya

 

Rafi

Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya
Moti moti ankhiyon me aansu de gaya

Rafi

Dhundh rahein tujhe laakhon dilwaale
Kar de o gori jara aankhon se ujaale
Asha

Aankhon ka ujaala pardesi le gaya
Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya haan

 

Rafi

Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya
Moti moti ankhiyon
Mein aansu de gaya


Rafi

Usako bulaa doon saamane la doon
Kya mujhe dogi jo tumse mila doon
Asha

Jo bhi mere paas
Tha woh sab le gaya
Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya haan

 

Rafi

Kaun pardesi tera dil le gaya
Moti moti ankhiyon me aansu de gaya

Asha

Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya
Jaate jaate meetha
Meetha gam de gaya.

 

 

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya

 

Female

A foreigner took my heart and went
While leaving he gave me a sweet sorrow

 

Male

Which foreigner took your heart and went
Ang gave you tears in your big eyes


Female

These are the characteristics of my foreigner
Eyes like quartz and youth like glass
He left me with a salute of cold sighs


Male

Lakhs of suitors are searching for you
O fair one spread the brightness of your eyes


Female

The foreigner has taken the brightness of my eyes
While leaving he gave me a sweet sorrow

 

Male

Shall I call him and present him before you
What will you give me if I arrange his meeting you

Female

Whatever I had he took away everything

While leaving he gave me a sweet sorrow

 

Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya Fact Sheet

·       Movie: Phagun (1958)
·       Singer: Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi
·       Lyricist: Qamar Jalalabadi
·       Composer: O.P. Nayyar
·       On Screen: Madhubala & Bharat Bhushan
 
 
Enjoy the video of Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya. I have other Madhubala golden oldie, Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si, at Bollywood Translations with more in the pipeline.
 
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.
 
All the translations are my original work. If you quote them, you must acknowledge my name and provide a link to Bollywood Translations.

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