Rangeela Re – Translation of Iconic Neeraj Prem Pujari Song
Meta Description: Rangeela Re is a classic song from Dev
Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Lata Mangeshkar, S. D. Burman, and Neeraj. Enjoy the
poetic translation set to the original score.
Setting the Background for Translating Rangeela Re
Rangeela Re is a song of jealousy, hurt and unrequited
love, played out when Suman (Waheeda Rehman) sees the man she loves, Ram (Dev
Anand), at a party with another woman. She expressed her deep anguish through
the song bringing out both her love for him and her resentment at his apparent
indifference. The exuberant, almost uninhibited dancing matches the emotional
pain.
Not known to Suman, Ram
is with another woman because he is undercover in his espionage assignment. He
has assumed the identity of Peter Andrews and is posing as a married man while
operating abroad. The woman accompanying him is introduced as Mrs Andrews, his
supposed wife. Ram is compelled to ignore Suman when she encounters him in
London, after she has become Miss India. He cannot reveal his real identity or
compromise his mission.
How Gopaldas Saxena “Neeraj” Secured Rangeela Re
Gopaldas Saxena, pen
name Neeraj, was a Hindi teacher at Aligarh University, when Dev Anand wanted
him to write the songs for his first directorial venture Prem Pujari. He
called Neeraj to Bombay, but the final call was to be taken by Sachin Dev
Burman. He was looking for a replacement for Shailendra, who had recently
passed away, and whose forte was simple Hindi. Dev Anand wanted to avoid
difficult to understand Urdu words, a style that was in vogue at that time.
Burman preferred
commissioned writers to poets and decided that he will not use Neeraj. However,
he could not outright dismiss him because Neeraj had come with the producer of
the film, so he put some conditions he thought would be unattainable. He explained
the situation of the song and added that the song should begin with “rangeela
re” and that there should not be any Urdu words in the lyrics. Next day, when
Burman read the lyrics, he admitted that did try to scare Neeraj, but the song
exceeded all expectations. Neeraj not only got Rangeela Re but all the
other songs of Prem Pujari as well.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Rangeela Re
Casanova, ae Casanova
Casanova my spirit is
fully submerged in your name
You deceiver there’s
no water that will quench this burning flame
Ho Casanova my spirit
is fully submerged in your name
You deceiver there’s
no water that will quench this burning flame
Ho Casanova
Once with the thread of dreams that love had
woven
Lightly in my eyes now
you have broken
What game have you
played, what are you trying
The flame sways
happily, the wick is crying
Wherever it may go,
whether sad or not so
Peace it will not
know, sweetheart
Great is love, oh so
great
Casanova my spirit is
fully submerged in your name
You deceiver there’s
no water that will quench this burning flame
Ho Casanova
Sorrow is my
bridegroom, loneliness my house
Tears make up my
saari, sighs make up my blouse
I consume fire like a
water stream
I’m a woman possessed,
a tragedy queen
With envy I’m
seething, against me world’s scheming
Why am I breathing,
sweetheart
Great is love, oh so
great
Casanova my spirit is
fully submerged in your name
You deceiver there’s
no water that will quench this burning flame
Ho Casanova
Casanova Casanova
When I have livened up
your desolate ways
When I have livened up
your desolate ways
Then why are your arms
in another’s embrace
How could you forget those tender nights I pray
When eyes did
understand what eyes did convey
I left my family, my dreams became history
And yet you ignored me
sweetheart
Great is love, oh so
great
Casanova my spirit is
fully submerged in your name
You deceiver there’s
no water that will quench this burning flame
Ho Casanova
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Rangeela Re from Prem
Pujari
Rangeela re, ae rangeela
Rangeela re tere rang mein yun ranga hai mera mann
Chhaliya re na bujhe hai kisi jal se yeh jalan
Ho, rangeela re tere rang mein yun ranga hai mera mann
Chhaliya re na bujhe hai kisi jal se yeh jalan
Palkon ke jhoole se sapnon ki dori
Pyaar ne baandhi jo tune voh todi
Khel yeh kaisa re, kaisa re saathi
Diya to jhoome hain, roye hain baati
Kahin bhi jaaye re, roye ya gaaye re
Chain na paaye re hiya
Waah re pyaar, waah re waah
Rangeela re tere rang mein yun ranga hai mera mann
Chhaliya re na bujhe hai kisi jal se yeh jalan
Ho, rangeela re
Dukh mera dulha hai, birha hai doli
Aansu ki saari hai, aahon ki choli
Aag main piyoon re jaise ho paani
Naari deewaani hoon peeda ki rani
Manwa yeh jale hai, jag saara chhale hai
Saans kyoon chale hai piya
Waah re pyaar, waah re waah
Rangeela re tere rang mein yun ranga hai mera mann
Chhaliya re na bujhe hai kisi jal se yeh jalan
Ho, rangeela re
Rangeela rangeela
Maine to seenchi re teri yeh raahein
Maine to seenchi re teri yeh raahein
Baahon mein teri kyoon auron ki baahein
Kaise tu bhoola voh phoolon si raatein
Samjhe jab aankhon ne aankhon ki baatein
Gaaon ghar chhoota re, sapna har toota re
Phir bhi tu rootha re piya
Waah re pyaar, waah re waah
Rangeela re tere rang mein yun ranga hai mera mann
Chhaliya re na bujhe hai kisi jal se yeh jalan
Ho, rangeela re, rangeela re
Meanings of Difficult Words
Rangeela = Colourful (literally); Here refers to a charismatic
flirtatious person, so Casanova
Chhaliya = One who deceives, conman
Diya = Traditional oil lamps or the flame from such lamps
Baati = Cotton wick immersed in oil
Hiya = Heart
Birha = Separation
Doli = Palanquin
Aahon ki = Of sighs
Choli = Blouse
Peeda = Pain
Manwa = Mind
Seenchi = Watered
Rootha = Sulked
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Rangeela
Re
Casanova, ae Casanova
Casanova my mind is bewitched
by your charisma
O deceiver, no water
will quench this burning
On the swing of my
eyelids with the thread of dreams
Which love had tied
that you have broken
What game is this,
what game my partner
The flame is swaying,
the wick is crying
Wherever it may go,
whether it cries or sings
There’ll be no peace
for my heart
Great is love, great o
great
Sorrow is my
bridegroom, separation my palanquin
Tears make up my
saari, sighs make up my blouse
I consume fire as if
it’s water
I’m a crazy woman a
tragedy queen
My mind is burning the
whole world deceives me
Why am I breathing
darling
Great is love, great o
great
When I have watered
the paths you have taken
Then why in your arms
are someone else’s arms
How could you forget those flowery nights
When eyes did
understand what eyes did say
Home village got left behind, every dream was broken
Yet you kept on
sulking darling
Great is love, great o
great
Rangeela Re Fact Sheet
· Movie: Prem Pujari
Enjoy the video of Rangeela Re and the translation of Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye from Prem Pujari.
I have other
Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman hit songs at Bollywood Translations with more in
the pipeline.
· Kahin Pe Nigahen
· Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya
· Din Dhal Jaaye
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