Pakeezah – “Nazariya ki Maari…”

This is a snippet of a song from Pakeezah, probably played in the background in one of the ‘kothas’. I recently came across a discussion about the interpretation of this song on an online forum and realized that the participants had totally missed the essence. Nazariya ki maari is one of those ethereal Hindi movie songs in which it is essential to figure out who is the speaker and about whom he or she is commenting. If you get this wrong, your interpretation will be confused. The other problem is the use of metaphorical and colloquial language that defies literal translation. I address both in my Bollywood translation. But, first the song.

Haan Haan

Nazar ka vaar tha, dil ki tadap ne chhol di
Chali thi barachhi kisi par, kisi ko aan lagi


Ho nazariya ki maari
Haye
Nazariya ki maari mari mori guyiyaan (x7)

Koyi jaraa ja ke baidh bulaayo (x7)
Aa ke dhare more naari
Haye raam aa ke dhare mori naari (x2)

Nazariya Ki Maari Mari Mori Guyiyaan (x7)

The singer is a third person narrating the condition of her friend who has been smitten by the seductive glances from a flirt, glances that were meant for someone else. The song was sung by Rajkumari, a popular Bollywood playback singer of the 1940s, before Lata Mangeshkar cornered the market. Some words and phrases need to be explained before you read my translation.

Nazar ka vaar: literally attacking glances, but here seductive glances is more suited

Baracchi: literally spear, but here dart is more suited

Chhol: scab from a wound

Nazariya ki maari: smitten by seductive glances

Guyiyaan: female friend probably from gudiyaan which means doll

Naari: pulse from naadi

The Translation

Oh Yes!

The glances were inviting, and revealed the wounds of her tormented heart

The flirtation was for some other, but she became its victim

 

Oh! Smitten by seductive glances

Alas!

Smitten by the seductive glances, my friend has succumbed (x7)

 

Someone, please fetch the doctor

Oh God! Let him calm me down (x2)

Smitten by the seductive glances, my friend has succumbed (x7)

My other Pakeezah translations are here.

Listen to a rendering of this thumri by Simrat Chhabra

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has used a truncated version of Nazariya Ki Maari in his Netflix series Heeramandi. 

Khamoshi - Woh Shaam Kuchh Ajeeb Thi

Khamoshi - Woh Shaam Kuchh Ajeeb Thi

The Hooghly with the Howrah Bridge in the background has been the setting for a number of memorable Bollywood songs and this number is very much among the best. Kishore Kumar sings for Rajesh Khanna, with Waheeda Rehman misconstruing the intent. Lata Mangeshkar loved this song so much that she sang it for one of her stage shows.

Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi, yeh shaam bhi ajeeb hai
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi woh aaj bhi kareeb hai 
 
Jhuki hui nigaahon mein, kahin mera khayaal tha
Dabi dabi hansi mein ik, haseen saa gulaal tha
Main sochta tha, mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh
Na jaane kyon laga mujhe, ke muskura rahi hai woh

Mera khayaal hai abhi jhuki hui nigaah mein
Khuli hui hansi bhi hai, dabi hui si chaah mein
Main jaanta hoon, mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh
Yahi khayaal hai mujhe, ke saath aa rahi hai woh

That evening was unusual,

This evening is as well
She was close to me then,

She’s here now I can tell

 

 

She was looking away

But her thoughts were of me

Supressed smile blushing cheeks

Ethereal beauty

She was humming something

I thought it was my name

Her simple joyous face

That set my heart aflame

 

 

She still harbours my thoughts

Beneath her lowered gaze

Her burgeoning desire

In carefree laughter stays

She’s still humming my name
I’m sure even today

And my mind can sense that

She’ll now not go away

Enjoy the video of Woh Shaam Kuchh Ajeeb Thi

Khamoshi - Hum Ne Dekhi Hai

 Khamoshi - Hum Ne Dekhi Hai

Hemant Kumar, Gulzar, Lata Mangeshkar and flashes of Waheeda Rehman – nothing more need be said.

Hum ne dekhi hai in aankhoon ki mahakati khushboo
Haath se chhuke isey rishton ka ilzaam na do
Sirf ehsaas hai ye rooh se mahsoos karo
Pyaar ko pyaar hi rahane do koi naam na do

Pyaar koi bol nahin, pyaar aavaaz nahin
Ek khamoshi hai sunati hai kahaa karati hai
Na ye bujhati hai naa rukati hai naa thahari hai kahin
Noor ki boond hai sadiyon se bahaa karati hai

Muskuraahat si khili rahati hai aankhon mein kahin
Aur palakon pe ujaale se chhupe rahate hain
Honth kuchh kahate nahin, kaanpate honthon pe magar
Kitane khamosh se afasaane rukey rahate hain

I have seen love’s fragrance blossom in these very eyes
Do not bind it in relations or spoil it with your touch
It is ethereal just feel it through your soul
Let love be love do not give it any name as such

Love is not a sequence of words or of voices
It does listen and it does speak but in silence
It does not burn out nor does it end or stop
It is an eternally flowing luminescence

The eyes are always festooned with a smile
And across the face a quiet glow is spread

The lips are silent, but on the quivering lips
A million tales can be sensed but remain unsaid

Enjoy the video of Hum Ne Dekhi Hai

Prem Parbat - Yeh Dil Aur Unki

Prem Parbat – Yeh Dil Aur Unki

This is a gem of a song from a forgettable movie. Written by Jan Nisar Akhtar (father of Javed Akhtar), music by Jaidev and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, it could not have better credentials. It was performed on screen by Rehana Sultana, an actress far ahead of her era. The song is mesmerizing and captures the bond between love and nature. The translation aims to bring alive the essence and poetry.

Yeh dil aur unki nigaahon ke saaye
Mujhe gher lete hain baahon ke saaye

Pahaadon ko chanchal kiran chumatee hai
Hawaa har nadee kaa badan chumatee hai
Yahaa se wahaa tak, hain chaahon ke saaye

Lipate ye pedon se baadal ghanere
Ye pal pal ujaale, ye pal pal andhere
Bahot thande thande, hain raahon ke saaye

Dhadakate hain dil kitanee aazaadeeyon se
Bahot milate julate hain in waadiyon se
Mohabbat kee rangeen panaahon ke saaye

Poetic English Translation of Yeh Dil Aur Unki

My heart finds delight in my lover’s warm gaze

I want to cuddle up in his arms’ embrace

The mountain peaks are kissed by the sun’s fickle rays

On every river the flirtatious wind sashays

My passions transcend beyond the limits of space

The clouds and the tree tops are entwined in embrace 

See the patterns of light as the foliage sways

There’s nothing more refreshing than these sheltered ways

This freedom makes my heart beat at a frenzied pace

It merges with the beauty that nature displays

With vibrant hues desire’s coloured canopy is ablaze

 

My heart finds delight in my lover’s warm gaze

I want to cuddle up in his arms’ embrace

The print of the Bollywood film Prem Parbat was destroyed in a fire and the original song Yeh Dil Aur Unki is not available. Enjoy the remix. 

Heer Ranjha – Milo Na Tum

Heer Ranjha – Milo Na Tum

This is a one song translation from the 1970 movie Heer Ranjha, directed by Chetan Anand and starring Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvanshi. The movie was unique because of its dialogues in verse. With lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and music by Madam Mohan one expected a galaxy of superb songs. However, only one of the numbers stood out as extraordinary. This was the realization and acknowledgement of being in love by Heer. Lata Mangeshkar has surpassed herself in this soulful song.

Milo na tum to ham ghabaraaye
Milo to aankh churaaye
Hamein kyaa ho gayaa hai
Tumhee ko dil kaa raaz bataaye
Tumhee se raaz chhupaaye
Hamein kyaa ho gayaa hai ...

O bhole saathiyaa
Dekhe jo shokhii tere pyaar kee
Aanchal mein bhar lee hamane
Saaree baharein sansaar kee
Nayee adaa se ham ithalaaye
Paayee khushi lutaaye
Hamein kyaa ho gayaa hai

Roothe kabhee kabhee maan gaye
Baatein tumhaaree hum jaan gaye
Aisee adaayein qurabaan gaye
Tumhein manaaye dil bahalaaye
Kyaa kyaa naaz uthaaye
Hamein kyaa ho gayaa hai

O sohane jogiyaa
Rang le hamein bhi isee rang mein
Phir se sunaa de bansi
Kaliyaan khilaa de gore ang mein
Vahi jo taane aag lagaaye
Unhee se aag bujhae
Hamein kyaa ho gayaa hai  

Poetic Transcreation of Milo Na Tum

Your not being near me is worrisome

But I avoid you when you come

Something’s stirring within me

 

I want to reveal my heart to you

But retain some secrets too

Something’s stirring within me

  

O my dearest friend

Your love your charm has overwhelmed me

The sap of spring is everywhere

I’m no longer the girl that I used to be

Now I am flirtatious now I feel coy

Each pore oozes joy

Something’s stirring within me

 

You first sulk and then you yield to me

Your heart’s desire is no mystery

It can be deciphered quite easily

Your smallest wish is my destiny

I will entreat you I will please you

And I will even tease you

Something’s stirring within me

 

My beautiful lover

I am like the wet clay for you to fashion

Play your flute once again

Let my fair body quiver with passion

The music that sets my soul on fire

Serves to quench my desire

Something’s stirring within me

Enjoy the video of Milo Na Tum