Bemurawat Bewafa – Bollywood Ghazal Translated and Explained
Meta Description: Bemurawat Bewafa is a golden oldie
ghazal by Mubarak Begum from Hindi film Sushila. Enjoy the poetic translation set
to original music with the song fact sheet.
Setting the Background for Translating Bemurawat Bewafa
The film Sushila may have vanished into obscurity, but one of its songs, Bemurawat Bewafa, achieved immortality. It became the defining number of Mubarak Begum’s career, a song she rendered at concerts for decades. Its enduring appeal lay not only in her haunting voice but also in the evocative lyrics penned by Jan Nisar Akhtar, father of Javed Akhtar. The song’s plaintive theme of a beloved still cherishing a lover who has betrayed her trust has found resonance in countless Bollywood narratives.
Translating Bemurawat Bewafa as a Ghazal
An integral part of a ghazal is the radif. Both lines of the matla and the second lines of all subsequent shers must end in the same refrain word or phrase which is called the radif. The rhyming words or qafiya precede the radif. While translating ghazals, it is often difficult to include the radif because the grammar in Urdu/Hindi and English are materially different and a forced radif disturbs the mellifluous rhythm. In this translation I have done away with the radif.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Bemurawat Bewafa
The pain of heart the
pain of faith
What is the pain of
desire
Do you really
understand
What does true love
require
Compassionless
disloyal
You’re now a stranger
to me
Compassionless
disloyal
You’re now a stranger
to me
Whether you confess or
not
My love’s slayer you
will be
Compassionless
disloyal
I hold a grudge
against you
For others none I do
bear
I hold a grudge
against you
For others none I do
bear
You are worthy of a
place
In my heart this I can
see
Compassionless
disloyal
With every breath I take
This I always experience
With every breath I take
This I always experience
In every heartbeat of
mine
You’ll dwell till
eternity
Compassionless
disloyal
I have the strength to
withstand
A thousand raging tempests
I have the strength to
withstand
A thousand raging tempests
Because I am that vessel
Moored to your shore
steadfastly
Compassionless
disloyal
You’re now a stranger
to me
Whether you confess or
not
My love’s slayer you
will be
Compassionless
disloyal
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Bemurawat Bewafa from Sushila
Darde dil darde wafa
Darde tamanna kya hai
Aap kya jaane mohabbat
Ka takaaza kya hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Begana ae dil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Begana ae dil aap hai
Aap maane ya na maane
Mere qatil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Aap se shikava hai mujh ko
Gair se shikava nahi
Aap se shikava hai mujh ko
Gair se shikava nahi
Jaanati hu dil mein rakh
Lene ke qaabil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Saans leti hu to yu
Mehasus hota hai mujhe
Saans leti hu to yu
Mehasus hota hai mujhe
Jaise mere dil ki har dhadakan
Mein shaamil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Gam nahi jo laakh
Toofano se takarana pade
Gam nahi jo laakh
Toofano se takarana pade
Main wo kashti hu ki jis
Kasti ka saahil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
Begana ae dil aap hai
Aap maane ya na maane
Mere qatil aap hai
Bemurawat bewafa
The Meaning of Difficult Urdu Words
Takaaza = Demand
Bemurawat = Without compassion
Begana = Unknown
Saahil = Shore
Bemurawat Bewafa Fact Sheet
· Movie: Sushila
