Chak De! India – Poetic Translation of Motivational Hit Song
Meta Description: Chak De! India is the motivational
title song from the Shah Rukh Khan movie.
This background song is an anthem for Indian sports. Enjoy the poetic
translation.
Setting the Background for Translating Chak De! India
Chak De! India tells the story of the Indian women’s hockey team, which is an underdog squad that rises against all odds to win the World Cup. At the heart of the narrative is a pivotal moment when the players finally begin to believe in themselves, daring to imagine achieving what everyone else deemed impossible. Producer Aditya Chopra wanted this transformative moment to be immortalized in an anthem that would inspire Indian sport for generations. The composer duo Salim–Sulaiman, together with screenwriter and lyricist Jaideep Sahni, rose to the challenge and delivered a powerful track that fulfilled Chopra’s vision.
The song’s
motivational style is both unique and refreshing. It gathers a multitude of
images that are quintessentially Indian and strings them together like pearls
on a necklace. This vibrant collage includes kite-flying contests, homespun
khadi, pothole-ridden roads, and popular Hindi film songs. Its message is a
call to embrace this Indianness with pride and, through perseverance and hard
work, transform that pride into achievement.
“Chak De” itself resists a literal
translation. A Punjabi
expression of encouragement, it can take on several figurative meanings. I have
chosen “let’s go.” Similarly, some phrases in the original lyrics appear to
serve primarily the demands of rhyme and metre rather than convey concrete
imagery. To preserve coherence and impact, I have introduced images that better
suit the context. In places, I have also departed from a strictly literal
rendering to maintain the song’s cadence and motivational energy. For readers
who are more interested in meaning than momentum, a literal English translation
is provided as well.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Chak De! India
Do something, do something
In veins let the blood flow
Come on do something
(Come on do something
Come on do something)
Do something, do something
Time to be a hero
Now do something
(Now do something
Now do something)
Ho…someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Come on… someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Lets take our time to do or die
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
In the streets, in the lanes,
In the sacks of stored grains,
In the seeds, in the vines,
In our bright festive times,
In the sand’s tiny grains,
In movie song refrains,
In the potholes scarred street,
In cafes chat and eat
Let us today proclaim,
Ten times repeat the same,
My friend do not be slack
Let no one hold you
back
Not one small inch concede
Stubbornly you proceed
Go on polish, go on polish
Go on polish, till
they shine
Someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Come on… someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
Let’s go…let’s go…let’s go…let’s go
In kite competitions,
In clashing of passions,
In the sport stadiums,
In rattling train rhythms,
In the sweet sugarcane,
In homespun cloth so plain,
You’ll find it if you search
In the bricks made
from earth
Today vibrant hues flare
Fireworks everywhere
Let festivity reign,
Let it thrum through each vein
Not one small inch concede
Stubbornly you proceed
Keep grinding on, keep grinding on
Keep grinding on till
they’re fine
Someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Come on… someone the odds defy
Sink or swim, we still will try
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
Let’s go…ho let’s go India
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Title Song Chak De! India
Kuchh kariye, kuchh kariye
Nas nas meri khole...
Haaye kuchh kariye
(Haaye kuchh kariye
Haaye kuchh kariye)
Kuchh kariye, kuchh kariye
Bas bas bada bo de
Ab kuchh kariye
(Ab kuchh kariye
Ab kuchh kariye)
Ho... koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye
Haaye... koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye...
Chak de... ho Chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
Koochon mein, galion mein
Raashan ki phalion mein
Belon mein, beejon mein
Eedon mein, teejon mein
Raiton ke daanon mein
Filmon ke gaanon mein
Sadkon ke gaddhon mein
Baaton ke addon mein
Hunkara aaj bhar le
Das baarah baar kar le
Rehna na yaar peechhe
Tas hai na, mas hai ji
Zid hai to, zid hai ji
Ghisna yun hi, ghisna yun hi
Ghisna yun hi paththar yeh... ae...
Koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye
Haaye... koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye...
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
No where to run, nowhere to hide
Lets take our time to do or die
Chak de... chak de... chak de... chak de...
Ladti patangon mein
Bhidti umangon mein
Khelon ke melon mein
Balkhaati relon mein...
Gannon ke meethe mein
Khaddar mein chheetein mein
Dhoondho to mil jaavein
Pakka woh eenton mein
Rung hai aisa aaj nikhre...
Aur khul ke aag bikhre
Man jaaye aisi holi
Rag rag mein chal ke boli
Tas hai na, mas hai ji
Zid hai to jid hai ji
Pisna yun hi, pisna yun hi
Pisna yun hi bas kariye...
Koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye
Haaye... koi to chal zid phadiye
Doobe, tariye ya mariye...
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
Chak de... ho chak de India
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Chak De! India
|
Kuchh kariye, kuchh kariye |
Do something, do something
Open each vein of mine |
|
Kuchh kariye, kuchh kariye |
Do something, do something
??????????? |
|
Ho... koi to chal zid phadiye |
Ho…someone stubbornly resolve
Sink, swim or die |
|
Chak de... ho Chak de India |
Let’s go…ho let’s go India |
|
Koochon mein, galion mein
Kitna bhi koi kheenche
Tas hai na, mas hai ji Zid hai to, zid hai ji Ghisna yun hi, ghisna yun hi Ghisna yun hi paththar yeh... ae... |
In the streets, in the
lanes, In the grocery cartons, In the vines, in the seeds, During Eid, during Teej, In the grains of sand, In the movie song, In the potholes of the street, Where people meet to chat Let us today proclaim, Do it ten twelve times,
My friend do not lag behind No matter how much one pulls you Do not budge an inch If we insist, we insist Go on polish, go on polish Go on polish, these stones |
|
Ladti patangon mein |
In kite
competitions,
In winding railway tracks,
In the sweetness of sugarcane,
In khadi, in droplets, And fire has scattered openly Let us celebrate Holi this way, Let it speak through each vein If we insist, we insist Keep grinding on, keep grinding on You’ll find it if you search Definitely in the
bricks Today the colours
have blossomed Do not budge an inch Keep grinding on enough
now |
Chak De! India Fact Sheet
· Movie: Chak De! India
