Wednesday, May 1, 2024

English Translation of Sakal Ban from Heeramandi

English Translation of Sakal Ban from Heeramandi

Meta Description: Bollywood Translations brings the English translation of the lyrics of Sakal Ban from Heeramandi. This Netflix serial from Sanjay Leela Bhansali has just gone live. Be the first to enjoy it.

About Heeramandi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic serial Heeramandi has released last night on Netflix and has enthralled viewers as expected. The sets are opulent, the aura is grandiose, and the songs are enthralling. Bollywood Translations brings you the English translations of the sublime lyrics, not in the mundane prosaic manner that you will see in the sub-titles, but retaining the soul and mood of the Heeramandi songs.

About Sakal Ban

The first English translation is of the song Sakal Ban, which translates as The Entire Garden. The song celebrates the onset of spring.

· Singer: Raja Hasan

· Lyrics: Amir Khusro

· Starring: Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Sehgal

The Hindi Lyrics

Sakal Ban Phool Rahi Sarson
Sakal Ban Phool Rahi Sarson
Sakal Ban

Ambva Phoote Tesu Phoole
Ambva Phoote Tesu Phoole
Gori Karat Sringaar
Malaniya Gadhwa Le Aayi Karson

Tarah Tarah Ke Phool Mangaye

Le Gadhwa Hathan Mein Aaye

Nizamuddin Ke Darwaje Par
Mere Nizamuddin Ke Darwaje Par
Oh Mohe Aavan Keh Gaye
Aashiq Rang Aur Beet Gaye Barson

Sarson = Mustard

Ambva = Mango

Tesu = Palash

Gadhwa = Bouquet

Aashiq Rang = Lover

English Translation of Sakal Ban from Heeramandi

The gardens are blossoming with mustard

The gardens are bright yellow with mustard
All the fields…

Mango buds are bursting on the branches

The red palash is flowering on the trees

The maid brings bouquets of these home

So the ladies can ready for the spring fest

All varieties of flowers were called for

And the maids brought the bouquets home

My lover had called me for a romantic tryst

At the shrine of saint Nizamuddin

I’ve been going there each spring for years

But he has not turned up yet

Transcreation of Lyrics of Sakal Ban from Heeramandi

My English translation of Sakal Ban accurately captures the content of the Heeramandi mujra, but is not in consonance with the rhythm, rhyme, and metre of the song. A poetic transcreation was required that retains the essence of the spring time event along with the verse structure.

The mustard fields are blooming yellow

The mustard fields

Mango blossoms fragrances spread

Fiery palash curtains of red

Fair girl adorns herself

Choosing flowers that enhance her glow

The lady called for myriad flowers

Bouquets are sent from the bowers

At the shrine of Saint Nizamuddin

My lover arranged a tryst

I’m there but no sign of the fellow

Enjoy the official Netflix video of Sakal Ban

Read the original Amir Khusro Salal Ban lyrics

Heeramandi and Pakeezah

Heeramandi takes you back to the Kamal Amrohi epic Pakeezah, which has been an acknowledged inspiration to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bollywood Translations has the English translations of all Pakeezah lyrics. Start with Inhi Logon Ne.

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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Sunday, April 28, 2024

Origin and Elements of the Kajari Folk Song Genre

Meta Title: Origin and Elements of the Kajari Folk Song Genre

Meta Description: Learn about the Kajari, a folk song genre from Mirzapur sung in Bhojpuri that expresses a woman's desire to reunite with her absent lover. Explore its origins, elements, and its presence in Bollywood songs.

Introduction

If you are interested in exploring a fascinating folk song form, you might want to learn more about the Kajari (also written as Kajri). This song genre carries a mystic allure due to its somewhat amorphous definition and classification. Although there are specific traditional requirements, songs are often referred to as Kajari even if only a few are met. In this article, I will explain the elements and origins of Kajari in a simple manner for readers who may not possess in-depth knowledge of Indian music.

Origins of Kajari

The term "Kajari" is derived from the Bhojpuri word "kajara," which translates to "kaajal" in Hindi and "kohl" in English. The genre originated in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh and has since spread to other regions. The first Kajari song is said to have been born from the poignant love story of a woman named Kajari, who lived in Mirzapur while her husband was working elsewhere. As the monsoon clouds arrived, her longing for her absent lover turned into a plaintive song—marking the beginning of the Kajari genre.

Today, Kajari is popular in regions such as Varanasi, Mirzapur, Mathura, and Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), as well as the Bhojpuri areas of Bihar. The most popular Kajari songs, often risqué in nature, are sung in Bhojpuri. However, you can also find them in Awadhi and Maithili, while Bollywood Kajari songs are typically in contemporary Hindustani.

Elements of Kajari

The Kajari genre revolves around a woman's longing for intimacy with an absent lover. This may be a husband working far away or a paramour who has left her behind. The genre also includes references to "kohl" either through the dark monsoon clouds resembling its colour or as the actual kohl in the woman's eyes.

While Kajari songs in Bollywood often feature a woman expressing her longing in solitude, traditional folk Kajari songs commonly involve women sharing their sorrows with others or openly expressing their unrequited desire.

Common Elements of Kajari:

Saawan: The month of Saawan is associated with the monsoon season and often represents a time of heightened yearning for the absent lover in Kajari songs.
Kohl: Kajari songs frequently describe the kohl in the eyes of a woman washed away by tears, adding depth and beauty to the lyrics.
Jhoola: Women often gather around swings (jhoola) to express their individual or collective pain of being separated from their partners.
Radha and Krishna: Radha and Krishna, the divine and eternal lovers, are central figures in some Kajari compositions.

Conclusion

The Kajari is a folk song genre typically not sung in classical style. Its slow, melodious rhythm and deep pathos in the lyrics contribute to its growing popularity on social media platforms and its status as a significant part of the cultural heritage of the Hindi heartland.

Here are some blogs featuring English translations of popular Kajaris in Bollywood Translations.

· The Kajari Sawan from the Bollywood film Jaanisaar

· The popular folk Kajari Kachori Gali

· The Kajari Mai Ri Main Kaase Kahoon from Dastak

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Thursday, April 18, 2024

Aap Ka Haseen Rukh Translation of Bollywood Piano Song

Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi – “Aap Ke Haseen Rukh …”

In my continuing series of Bollywood songs translation in English, I have chosen Aap Ke Haseen Rukh. This is an ethereal Hindi film song, and one of my favourites. The hit number is from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi and has lilting music by O.P. Nayyar. It is one of the most popular Rafi songs because the haunting inflections of the playback singer are on full display. But this blog is about Bollywood lyrics English translation. I want to focus on the lyrics writer Anjaan. Till then he was a small-time lyricist depending on the mercy of music directors. This song propelled him to the big league and he ended up writing songs for blockbuster Amitabh Bachchan movies.

But first one word about the picturization of the song. It belongs to the genre that is referred to as piano songs in Hindi films, which have the hero playing the piano while singing to his love interest. What makes Aap Ke Haseen Rukh stand out is that Dharmendra is serenading two beautiful ladies, Mala Sinha and Tanuja, who are listening in rapt attention each one of them coyly imagining to be the recipient of the praise. To find out who the lucky lady was you will have to see Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi. I do not want to play spoiler. The black and white film accentuates the light and shade in harmony with the lyrics of the song.

Aap Ke Haseen Rukh is unique in the list of Bollywood songs in that it uses repeated words in almost every line. I cannot recall any other Hindi film song that incorporates this feature. Normally “subah subah ki dhoop” would hinder the flow of the music, but such is lyric writer Anjaan’s virtuosity that such repetitions do not appear awkward. Instead, they create the rhythm that takes listeners to a higher plane of enjoyment. Please check out the video of Aap Ke Haseen Rukh.

There are several lyrics English translation of this song on the Internet, but I have created a good translation of Aap Ke Haseen Rukh. Let me explain translation versus transcreation. Translating poetry from Hindi to verse form in English has natural limitations because of the idiomatic differences in the languages. One way to overcome this hindrance is to use a process that is known as transcreation. The literal translation of the lines is abandoned and so is the metre and rhyme scheme, but the specific rhythm of the poem and its core emotion and tone are maintained. I have provided a translation versus transcreation of Aap Ke Haseen Rukh with lyrics and English translation.

The Original Hindi Lyrics

Aap ke haseen rukh pe aaj naya noor hai