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

Pakeezah - "Chalte Chalte"

Chalte Chalte sung by Lata Mangeshkar became the defining song of the Hindi film Pakeezah. It embodied the story of the movie. A chance encounter led to almost a lifetime of waiting. The lyrics of the song are reproduced below, following which is a translation. It has been impossible to stick close to the words and in order to maintain the flow of thought I have had to take it verse by verse. A few of the crucial words are explained after the translation. In case anyone can come up with a better translation I will put it up with due acknowledgment.

Chalte chalte, chalte chalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

Vahin thamke reh gayi hai

Meri raat dhalte dhalte

Jo kahi gayi na mujhse

Voh zamaana keh raha hai

Ke fasaana

Ke fasaana ban gayi hai

Meri baat chalte chalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

Shabe intezaar aakhir

Kabhi hogi muqtasar bhi

Yeh chiraag

Yeh chiraag bujh rahe hain

Mere saath jalte jalte

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha

Sare raah chalte chalte

While wandering

On the way I saw a stranger

To whom I was instantly drawn

My night came to a standstill

Instead of moving towards morn

 

I did not express my feelings
Yet everybody seems to know
Puerile gossip
From this silent unspoken love
How the puerile gossip was born
On the way I saw a stranger
To whom I was instantly drawn

 

Will this night of expectation
Ever reach its desired climax
These lamps
Or with me these lamps will burn out
And extinguish before dawn
On the way I saw a stranger
To whom I was instantly drawn

Shabe intezaar - the night of waiting

Muqtasar – actually means brief. Here the implication is that the night of expectation will someday be brief and hence fulfilled

Enjoy the video of Chalte Chalte