Chaudhvin Ka Chand – Translation of Filmfare Award Winner
Meta Description: Chaudhvin Ka Chand is an all-time
favourite Bollywood song. It has won two Filmfare Awards. Enjoy the poetic translation
and explanation of Urdu words.
Filmfare Awards for Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Chaudhvin Ka Chand, released in 1960, has remained a beloved classic, consistently
appearing in lists of all-time favourite Bollywood songs. At the 8th Filmfare
Awards, the song triumphed in two major categories. Shakeel Badayuni
kickstarted his remarkable hat-trick of Best Lyricist awards with Chaudhvin
Ka Chand. Meanwhile, Mohammed Rafi secured the first of his many Filmfare
Awards for Best Playback Singer (Male) for his unforgettable rendition of the
song.
Explaining Chaudhvin Ka Chand Versus Purnima Ka Chand
‘Chaudhvin ka Chand’
refers to the full moon, which occurs on the 14th day of the waxing fortnight of
the lunar cycle and hence is called chaudhavi (14th)
ka chand. Thereafter the moon starts to wane each night. In the Islamic calendar, each day runs from
sunset to sunset, and although the lengths of days vary, there are always 14
days in a fortnight.
In contrast, according
to the Hindu calendar, the full moon night occurs on the 15th tithi (not day)
of the waxing fortnight, known as Shukla Paksha, and is called Purnima.
There’s a key distinction between a tithi and a day, as we commonly understand
it. A tithi represents the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the
moon and the sun to increase by 12°, which occurs 15 times within a traditional
fortnight. The duration between two tithis can vary significantly due to the
movements of the Earth, Sun, and Moon. To put things in
a simplistic manner you will have two tithis on one of the traditional days in
the fortnight. A more detailed
explanation of this process goes beyond the scope of this discussion.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Are you the full moon
or the dazzling sun
Whatever you may be, you
are one in a million
Are you the full moon
or the dazzling sun
Whatever you may be, you
are one in a million
Are you the full moon
Tresses on your shoulders
are like the rain clouds drifting low
Tresses on your shoulders
are like the rain clouds drifting low
In your eyes like glasses
of wine there is a faint glow
Which is full of love,
you are that intoxication
Are you the full moon
or the dazzling sun
Whatever you may be, you
are one in a million
Are you the full moon
Like a blooming lotus
in a lake is your fair face
Like a blooming lotus
in a lake is your fair face
Or on life’s violin a
melody played with grace
O soul of the spring
you are some poet’s vision
Are you the full moon
or the dazzling sun
Whatever you may be, you
are one in a million
Are you the full moon
The sweet smile on
your lips lights up your pretty visage
The sweet smile on
your lips lights up your pretty visage
And the Milky Way bows
down to respect your personage
Of this world of beauty, you are the
youthful passion
Are you the full moon
or the dazzling sun
Whatever you may be, you
are one in a million
Are you the full moon
The Original Hindi Lyrics of the Title Track Chaudhvin
Ka Chand
chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aaftaab ho
jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam, lajawab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aaftaab ho
jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam, lajawab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho
...
zulfein hain jaise
kaandhon pe baadal jhuke huey
zulfein hain jaise
kaandhon pe baadal jhuke huey
aankhen hain jaise maey ke pyaale bhare huey
masti hai jisme pyaar ki tum, woh sharaab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aaftaab ho
jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam, lajawab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho
...
chehra hai jaise jheel
mein hansta hua kamal
chehra hai jaise jheel
mein hansta hua kamal
ya zindagi ke saaz pe chhedi hui ghazal
jaane bahaar tum kisi shaayar ka khwaab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aaftaab ho
jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam, lajawab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho
...
hothon pe khelti hain
tabassum ki bijliyaan
hothon pe khelti hain
tabassum ki bijliyaan
sajde tumhari raah mein karti hain kaikashaan
duniya-e-husno-ishq ka tum hi shabaab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aaftaab ho
jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam, lajawab ho
chaudhvin ka chand ho
...
Explanation of Difficult Urdu Words in the Lyrics of Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Chaudhvin ka chand =
The full moon that occurs on the 14th night of the waxing fortnight Aaftaab
= Sun
Lajawab = Matchless
Maey = Wine
Saaz = Musical
instrument
Jaane bahaar = Life of
spring
Khwaab = Dream
Tabassum = Smile
Sajda = Bow down in
prayer
Kaikashaan = Milky Way
Duniya-e-husno-ishq =
The world of beauty and love
Shabaab = Youthfulness
Chaudhvin Ka Chand Fact
Sheet
· Movie: Chaudhvin Ka Chand
