English Translation of Masoom Dil Hai Mera from Heeramandi

Meta Description: Masoom Dil Hai Mera is a poignant mujra from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali epic Heeramandi. Read my English transcreation of this song to understand the essence of being a courtesan. Get insights into the comparison between Heeramandi and Pakeezah.

 

The Background of Masoom Dil Hai Mera Mujra from Heeramandi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic series Heeramandi has just debuted on Netflix, captivating audiences with its rich storytelling and intricate characters. In the second episode, the short yet moving mujra Masoom Dil Hai Mera is performed on screen by Lajjo played by the actor Richa Chadha. The lyrics are by A M Turaz and the vocals by Shikha Joshi.

 Masoom Dil Hai Mera is not only a beautifully poignant piece but also pivotal to understanding the essence of being a courtesan. Lajjo’s special patron, Zoravar, ignites her heart, and she dares to dream of a future with him, defying the norms of her profession. She is rudely awakened to reality when she is asked to perform at Zoravar’s wedding to a lady from a respectable aristocratic family. Despite her heartache, Lajjo fulfils her duty, only to be insulted and even slapped by Zoravar. The ensuing confrontation reveals that Zoravar is the illegitimate child of a courtesan who sold to an aristocratic family years earlier.

 Read the original lyrics and the English translation of Masoom Dil Hai Mera against the background of this social hypocrisy. I have used a transcreation approach in which to maintain the essence of the content I have forgone the literal translation.  

 

The Original Lyrics of Masoom Dil Hai Mera

 

Masoom dil hai mera ise tod diya jaye

Rishta gamon se mera ab jod diya jaye

 

Bade naam wale

Badnaam hoon bahut main

Mujhe cchod diya jaye

The English Translation of Masoom Dil Hai Mera from Heeramandi

The realities of life have shattered my naivete.

The men living in mansions are genteel and reputed

While the courtesans they dally with are shrouded in disgrace

To be used for pleasure and then discarded.

Having suffered this fate, I am now wedded to sorrow.

 

Enjoy the official Netflix audio of Masoom Dil Hai Mera

 

Heeramandi Is Inspired by Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah

In my English translation of Sakal Ban I pointed out that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been inspired by the classic Bollywood film Pakeezah. The mujra Masoom Dil Hai Mera echoes two well-known mujras from Pakeezah, both based on essential themes discussed earlier. The song Inhi Logon Ne serves as an allegorical commentary a courtesan’s life, which I elaborate on in my Bollywood Translations of Pakeezah. Another mujra from Pakeezah, Aaj Ham Apani Duaaon Ka, features a courtesan performing during the wedding ceremony of a man she loves, though being rejected by his family because of her disgraced profession.

 Heeramandi and Pakeezah have several similarities, including the courtesan milieu, the grandiose sets, and the opulent costumes. However, beyond the surface similarities, Sanjay Leela Bhansali subtly integrates snippets from his inspiration, although under different circumstances. Here are two examples, and please feel free to inform me of any others you discover so I can expand the list:

 ·       Sonakshi Sinha plays the double role of mother and daughter, Rehana and Fareedan, as Meena Kumari did in Pakeezah.

·       Fareedan walks on shattered glass to demonstrate her commitment much like Sahibjaan in Pakeezah

I have other interests as well and you can check out more blogs.

 

·       India My Country

·       Bharatiya Itihaas

·       Blackjack – Ace the Dealer

·       Ramayana (Hindi)

 

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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. 

Pakeezah - "Chalo Dildaar Chalo"

This is another lyrical and romantic song from the Hindi movie Pakeezah. It is the only song that has a male voice, which is rendered by Rafi. The song and the English translation of the lyrics are provided below.

--MALE--

Chalo dildaar chalo

Chaand ke paar chalo

--FEMALE--

Hum hai tayaar chalo

--FEMALE--

Aao kho jaaye sitaaron mein kahin

Chhod de aaj yeh duniya yeh zameen

--FEMALE--

Hum nashe mein hai sambha lo hamein tum

Neend aati hai jaga lo hamein tum

 

--FEMALE--

Zindagi khatm bhi ho jaaye agar

Na kabhi khatm ho ulfat ka safar

 

--MALE--

Come my love, come with me

Beyond the moon we’ll be

--FEMALE--

My love, I am ready

  

--FEMALE--

We’ll get lost in the stars none can find us

And leave this earth and world far behind us

 

 --FEMALE--

Please hold me tight I am intoxicated

Don’t let me sleep keep me rejuvenated

 

 --FEMALE--

Even if this life of ours does come to an end

Our undying love to the next life we’ll extend

Enjoy the video of Chalo Dildaar Chalo

Pakeezah - "Aaj Ham Apani Duaaon Ka"

This is the last song in the Hindi movie Pakeezah and is the climax of the movie as well. Pakeezah's lover has forsaken her under pressure from his family and now she has been asked to perform a mujra in his wedding. This is her last chance and she gives it all that she has. Befitting the challenge that the chorus of the song describes, Pakeezah dances on broken glass and gets her feet bloodied in order to win her love. The song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The song and its translation are reproduced below.

Poetic Translation of the Lyrics

Today I will know whether my prayers have fructified
Or my female charm has failed, and my heart’s scars have lied

Your guilt makes you ashamed, you’ll not look me in the eye
You are so damn timid, your own heart beat you’ll deny
Feel the pain in my bosom, it will never subside

They say don’t fall in love, if you have a faint heart
Some say love makes you whole, some say it tears you apart
How love unfolds for me, this night’s end will decide

My love is now at test, it could all end tonight

Will the lamp burn to smoke or will there yet be light
To see the dawn tomorrow you must be at my side

Original Lyrics

Aaj Ham Apani Duaaon Ka Asar Dekhenge
Tir-E-Nazar Dekhenge, Zakhm-E-Jigar Dekhenge

Aap To Aankh Milaate Hue Sharamaate Hain,
Aap To Dil Ke Dhadakane Se Bhi Dar Jaate Hain
Phir Bhi Ye Zeed Hai Ke Ham Zakhm-E-Jigar Dekhenge,

Pyaar Karana Dil-E-Betaab Bura Hota Hai
Sunate Aaye Hain Ke Ye Khwaab Bura Hota Hai
Aaj Is Khwaab Ki Taabeer Magar Dekhenge

Jaanaleva Hai Muhabbat Ka Sama Aaj Ki Raat
Sham' a Ho Jayegi Jal Jal Ke Dhuaan Aaj Ki Raat
Aaj Ki Raat Bachenge To Sahar Dekhenge

Literal Translation of the Lyrics

Today I will see the fruits of my prayers
Of my amorous glances and of the wounds of my heart

You are unable to look me in the eyes
You are even afraid of your own heart beat
Yet I will insist on exposing my wounded heart to you

It is not good for people with weak hearts to fall in love
In fact it has been said that love is a bad dream
But today I will see how this dream unfolds for me.

Tonight the atmosphere of love may well be fatal
Tonight the lamp will burn and turn to smoke
If I survive the night then I will see a new dawn


The meanings of two words bear clarification

Tabeer means the interpretation of a dream. In the context of the song it means whether her dream will be realized or not.

Sahar means dawn or morning

Enjoy the video of Aaj Ham Apani Duaaon Ka

Pakeezah - "Mausam Hai Ashiqana"

This is one of the two songs from the Hindi movie Pakeezah that is not based on a mujra. The song is intensely romantic and lyrical. Kamal Amrohi has written the lyrics himself and the song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Meena Kumari does full justice to the song on the screen as the woman who has just realized that she has been rescued by the man of her dreams. The song and its translation follow.


Mausam Hain Aashikaanaa
Aye Dil Kahin Se Un Ko Aise Men Dhoondh Laana

Kehana Ke Rrut Jawaan Hai, Aur Ham Taras Rahe Hain
Kaali Ghata Ke Saaye, Birahan Ko Das Rahe Hain
Dar Hain Na Maar Daale, Saawan Ka Kya Thhikaana

Sooraj Kahin Bhi Jaaye, Tum Par Na Dhup Aaye
Tum Ko Pukaarate Hai, In Gesooon Ke Saaye
Aa Jaao Main Banaa Doo, Palakon Ka Shaamiyaana

Phirate Hain Ham Akele, Baaho Men Koi Lele
Aakhir Koi Kahan Tak, Tanahaeeyon Se Khele
Din Ho Gaye Hain Zaalim, Raate Hain Qatilaana

Ye Raat Ye Khaamoshee, Ye Khwaab Se Nazaare
Juganoo Hain Yaa Zameen Par, Utare Huye Hain Taare
Bekhwaab Meri Aankhe, Madahosh Hain Zamaana

Romance is in the air
Bring me my lover now, search for him everywhere

Tell him it is spring and that I yearn for his love
But I feel tormented by the dark clouds above

If I don’t meet him soon, I may die of despair

Let the sun shine brightly, scorching all in its gaze
The shade of my tresses will protect you from its rays
Come rest in my embrace away from the bright glare

I cannot wait any more, please take me and kiss me
Show your lovelorn lady that you really miss me
The days are oppressive, the darkness a nightmare

I move like a zombie in the silence of the night
Are these stars on earth or fireflies giving off light
Dream or reality, I’m truly unaware

Enjoy the video of Mausam Hai Ashiqana