Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o Lyrics from the Bollywood Film Dastak
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Description: Hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o is a ghazal in chaste Urdu
written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Three verses have been used in Rajinder Singh
Bedi’s Dastak with music by Madan Mohan and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Understand
the literal translation in English and enjoy the transcreation as poetry.
Before the Translation of Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o from
Urdu
Hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o
from Dastak is a perfect candidate at Bollywood Translations.
It is one of the more difficult film songs to understand, because
it has been penned in chaste Urdu and not in the usual Hindustani which is an
amalgam of Urdu and Hindi. And there is a background story here.
When Rajinder Singh Bedi decided to make Dastak he approached
Majrooh Sultanpuri to write the lyrics. While waiting for Majrooh, Bedi picked
up a diary containing the poet’s ghazals and happened to read hum-hain-mataa-e-koocha-o.
It was a love at first sight because the very first verse of the ghazal
epitomised the central theme of the proposed movie. Majrooh offered to rewrite
the ghazal in Hindustani because most Bollywood fans would not understand the
original, but Bedi wanted the lyrics as written. He was a filmmaker who did not
compromise, not even for his viewers.
Bedi ensured that the song was a handcrafted masterpiece. The
music was composed by Madan Mohan and rendered in the soulful voice of Lata
Mangeshkar. Rehana Sultan played the protagonist to perfection. Dastak
performed handsomely at the National Film Awards 1971, winning the Best Actor,
Best Actress and Best Music Direction accolades.
Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o As a Ghazal
The metrical structure and the rhyme scheme of a ghazal adheres to
tradition, yet its thematic essence varies across its verses. Each stanza of a
ghazal is expected to encapsulate a distinct idea, and so it was with Majrooh
Sultanpuri's creation. Majrooh has included his name in the last verse as the poet,
again as was the practice.
Rajinder Singh Bedi's discerning eye selected three stanzas from the
original hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o and skilfully integrated them into the
climax scene of Dastak. Those not in the know still believe that the
song was custom-crafted for this specific moment. To unravel the profound
meaning of hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o, one must delve into the story of Dastak.
Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o in the Context of Dastak
Hamid and Salma, newlyweds facing the harsh reality of limited housing
options, find themselves settling in a flat situated in a red-light district,
once occupied by a woman named Shamshad, known to the locals as a prostitute.
Salma, unfairly judged and ostracized by the community due to this association,
bears the brunt of their prejudice, particularly when Hamid is away at work.
Their ordeal reaches a critical juncture when a former patron of Shamshad
visits, confessing that his sole pleasure was listening to her sing. In a
moment of raw emotion and frustrated by the taunts she has had to bear, Salma retrieves
her tanpura and begins to sing hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o.
·
The ghazal’s poignant first verse mirrors
Salma's struggle and the societal objectification of women while the patron
ogles with lust drooling from his eyes.
·
As the ghazal moves to the second verse, Salma
lost in her performance, is oblivious to her husband’s presence, but the viewer
sees a jealous rage simmering on Hamid’s face.
·
As the song climaxes in the final verse, Hamid
overcome by possessiveness reaches for a knife to stab her. The song ends here
but what happens immediately thereafter is relevant.
·
Salma smashes her tanpura against the wall and Hamid
drops the knife. Salma apologises for the seeming behavioural lapse and the
couple resolve to confront the adversity together.
The Urdu Lyrics and the English Translation
These are the stanzas of hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o
that have been included in the movie Dastak, followed by my interpretation. I
have not gone for the literal word by word translation but have opted for
transcreation of poetry to keep the English lyrics in sync with the events on
the screen. See the video
of hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o before going ahead.
Hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o-bazaar ki tarah
Uthati hai har nigaah kharidaar ki tarah
I’m like the cheap goods on the street market display
All who look at me wonder what price they’d have to pay
Vo to kahin hai aur magar dil ke aas paas
Phirti hai koi shai nigah-e-yaar ki tarah
My lover’s elsewhere but it feels as if he’s here
A loving gaze or jealous rage that I can’t say
Majrooh
likh rahey hain vo ahl-e-wafaa kaa naam
Hum bhi khade huey hain gunahgaar ki tarah
He
has always been proud of my fidelity
But
I now stand guilty wishing my shame away
The Original and Complete Version of Hum Hain Mataa-e-Koocha-o
Though this blog is about Bollywood Translations I would like to
address the original and complete lyrics of hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o written
by Majuru Sultanpuri as a part of his personal poetry writing. See how the
interpretation can vary when the movie context is ignored. Read the complete
ghazal, understand the key Urdu words and phrases, and then enjoy my
transcreation of this sublime poem.
Hum hain mataa-e-koocha-o-bazaar ki tarah
Uthati hai har nigaah kharidaar ki tarah
Mataa = goods
Koocha = lane
mataa-e-koocha-o-bazaar = goods from the lanes and markets
I’m like the cheap goods on the street market display
All who look at me wonder what price they’d have to pay
Is koo-e-tishnagi mein bahut hai ki ek jaam
Haath aa gayaa hai daulat-e-bedaar ki tarah
Koo = lane
Tishnagi = thirst
Bedaar = plentiful
One glass of wine would suffice to quench this road thirst
But here I am at the bar with bottles in an array
Vo to kahin hai aur magar dil ke aas paas
Phirti hai koi shai nigah-e-yaar ki tarah
Shai = thing
My lover’s elsewhere but it feels as if he’s here
I can touch his loving gaze be it night or day
Seedhee hai raah-e-shauq pe yunhi kahin kahin
Khum ho gai hai gesoo-e-dildaar ki tarah
Seedhee = straight
Raah e shauq = desired path
Khum = crooked
Gesoo = tresses of hair
I thought my desired path would be straight and easy
It twined like my lover’s plait much to my dismay
Be-tesha-e-nazar na chalo raah-e-raftagaan
Har naqsh-e-paa buland hai deevaar ki tarah
Be = without
Tesha = wood cutting tool
Raftagaan = past
Naqsh = what has been written
Paa = legs
Do not ponder on the past with your bleary eyes
Firmly plant each step ahead build a new today
Ab jaa ke kuchh khulaa hunar-e-naakhun-e-junoon
Zakhm-e-jigar huey
lab-o-rukhsaar ki tarah
Rukhsaar
= cheeks
My
heart’s wounds now stand exposed like my lips and cheeks
It
was a frenzied task to put them on display
Majrooh
likh rahey hain vo ahl-e-wafaa kaa naam
Hum bhi khade huey hain gunahgaar ki tarah
Ahl e wafaa = loyal person
Majrooh is listing names of those faithful in love
I stand aside guilty wishing my shame away
More on Dastak at Bollywood Translations
