O Womaniya: Gangs of Wasseypur Song Translated and Explained
Meta Description: Gangs of
Wasseypur was a cult film replete with violence and sexual content. O
Womaniya by Varun Grover featured Huma Qureshi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui on
screen.
Setting the Background for Translating O Womaniya
Gangs of Wasseypur is a cult classic set against the backdrop of
a feudal, small-town milieu, where politics, crime, violence, and class
struggles form the core of the narrative. The characters are raw, unrefined,
and their dialogue is laced with profanity and sexual innuendos. Amidst this
gritty atmosphere, the song O Womaniya stands out as older women
imparting wisdom to the younger generation, warning them about the manipulative
ways of men and offering guidance on how to protect themselves from
exploitation.
In keeping with the
film’s visceral and earthy tone, the song pulses with energy and authenticity.
While I have preserved the metrical structure to maintain this rhythmic
intensity, I have had to adapt the rhyme scheme to ensure that same vitality
comes through. I have worked to keep the colloquial nature of the language
intact. Since transcreation was necessary to uphold the song's essence, I have
also included a literal translation to offer a clearer understanding of the
lyrics.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of O Womaniya
If he ogles at you
Then you should stare back
But if he tries to grab you
You should give him a smack
O woman power
O O woman power
O woman power
O O woman power
O woman power
O O woman power
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
When your man beckons you
And love play does seek
When your man beckons you
And love play does seek
When your man beckons you
And love play does seek
When your man beckons you
And love play does seek
Bite his ear do not
Kiss him on the cheek
Bite his ear do not
Kiss him on the cheek
Yes bite his ear do not
Kiss him on the cheek
Bite his ear do not
Kiss him on the cheek
Give him just quarter of
Whatever he asks for
Give him just quarter of
Whatever he asks for
Give him just quarter of
Whatever he asks for
If he tries to use force
Then head straight for the door
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
La la la ha aa ha aa ah aha aa
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
O woman power
Aa Aa woman power
Every now and then
With blouse buttons he’ll play
Every now and then
With blouse buttons he’ll play
All that he wants
Is a roll in the hay
All that he wants
Is a roll in the hay
When he warms his hands
Using your body heat
Alas
When he warms his hands
Using your body heat
When he warms his hands
Using your body heat
Into his shoulder
Sink in your sharp teeth
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
La la la la la
O woman power
Aa ha woman power
Hey woman power
O ho woman power
This is woman power
This is woman power
Ho woman power
Aa ha woman power
He will tempt you with
A trip to the city
He will tempt you with
A trip to the city
He will tempt you with
A trip to the city
He will tempt you with a
Trip to the city
He wants to cuddle
And fondle your titty
He wants to cuddle
And fondle your titty
He wants to cuddle
And fondle your titty
Do not let the scoundrel
Take you for a ride …for a ride …for a ride
Do not let the scoundrel
Take you for a ride
Do not let the scoundrel
Take you for a ride
Do not go out with him
You are safer inside
Oh ho oh ho oh ho
Aa ha aa ha aa ha
Ho la la la la
La la la la
Ho woman power
Aa ha woman power
O woman power
Ah ha woman power
This is woman power
Oh woman power
Oyi woman power
Aa ha woman power
The Original Hindi Lyrics of O Womaniya from Gangs
of Wasseypur
Taare jo babuna
Taari thi babuniya
Babuna ke haathe na
Chadhti babuniya
O womaniya
O O womaniya
O womaniya
O O womaniya
O womaniya
O O womaniya
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
Maange jo babuna
Prem nishaniyan
Maange jo babuna
Prem nishaniyan
Maange jo babuna
Prem nishaniyan
Maange jo babuna
Prem nishaniyan
Bole jo thohdi katti ho kanya
Bole jo thohdi katti ho kanya
Haan bole jo
Thohdi katti ho kanya
Bole jo thohdi katti ho kanya
Badle rupaiya ke
Dena chavaniyaa haye
Badle rupaiya ke
Dena chavaniyaa
Badle rupaiya ke
Dena chavaniyaa
Saiyyan ji jhaptte
To hona hiraniya
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
La la la ha aa ha aa ah aha aa
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
O womaniya
Aa Aa womaniya
Reh reh ke maange
Choli battaniya haan
Reh reh ke maange
Choli battaniya
Ji mein lukaye
Lo ji lotanniya
Ji mein lukaye
Lo ji lotanniya
Chaahe muhjhausa
Jab haath sikanniyaa.
Haaaye
Chaahe muhjhausa
Jab haath sikaniya
Chaahe muhjhausa
Jab haath sikaniya
Kandha mein dena
Ji dant bukaniya
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
Oh ho ho ho ho aa ha aa ha
La la la la la
O womaniya
Aa ha womaniya
Aye womaniya
O ho womaniya
Yi hai womaniya
Yi hai womaniya
Ho womaniya
Aa ha womaniya
Bolega babuna
Chal ri ho Patna
Bolega babuna
Chal ri ho Patna
Bolega babuna
Chal ri ho Patna
Bolega babuna
Chal ri ho Patna
He patna bahane
Wo jayega satana
Patna bahaane
Wo jayega satana
Patna bahaane
Wo jayega satna
Deh ho na pahuna ka
Ticket kataniya kataniya kataniyaa
Deh ho na pahuna ka
Ticket kataaniya
Deh ho na pahuna ka
Ticket kataaniya
Ho patna na jaana
Chaahe jaana Siwaniya
Oh ho oh ho oh ho
Aa ha aa ha aa ha
Ho la la la la
La la la la
O womaniya
Aa ha womaniya
O womaniya
Aa ha womaniya
Ye he womaniya
Oh womaniya
Oyi womaniya
Aa ha womaniya
Meanings of Colloquial Words and Phrases
Babuna = Boy
Babuniya = Girl
Haathe Chadhana = Get hold of
Womaniya = Woman (the “iya” is a colloquial suffix added to most words)
Prem nishaniyan = Love bite
Thohdi = Chin
Katti ho kanya = Bite his ear
Chavaniyaa = Four annas
Hiraniya = Deer
Choli = Blouse
Battaniya = Button
Lukaye = Hides
Lotanniya = Sprawl on the bed
Muhjhausa = With blackened face (here evil intent)
Haath sikanniyaa = Warm hands
Bukaniya = Bite
Patna = The capital city of unified Bihar, the state where Wasseypur lies
Satana = To sit close with bodies touching
Pahuna = Guest (here used as scoundrel)
Siwan = A nondescript town in Bihar
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of O Womaniya
If the man ogles
The girls should ogle
back
But she should not let the man get hold of
her
If the man asks for love bites on his chin
Bite off his ear
For every rupee that he bestows on you
Give him only a quarter’s worth
But if he lunges at you
Flee like a deer
From time to time he will ask
To play with the buttons of your blouse
In his mind is the hidden desire
To take you to bed
With evil intent he desires
To warm his hands (on your body)
Bite deep into his shoulder
The boy will ask you
To come with him to Patna
(Patna being a big city will have
attractions for a small town girl who has never gone out)
This is an excuse to
Fondle and grope you (in the crowded
journey)
Do not let the scoundrel
Buy the ticket
Do not go to Patna
Even if you must settle for Siwan
(The intent is do not go anywhere with him)
O Womaniya Fact Sheet
· Movie: Gangs of Wasseypur
