Omkara – Namak

Namak – Transcreation and Explanation of Gulzar’s Lyrics 

Meta Description:  Namak is a Bollywood item number from Omkara featuring Bipasha Basu.  The Vishal Bhardwaj Hindi movie is a remake of Shakespeare’s Othello. Understand the risqué metaphors of the rustic original song and sing the English translation to the original beat. 

The Difficulty in Translating the Lyrics of Namak

Namak is the second Billo (Bipasha Basu) item number from Omkara, Beedi Jalay Lei being the other one. It is written by Gulzar and has the same risqué tenor. Again, a literal translation of the lyrics is meaningless. One must get to the underlying sexual metaphor to enjoy it.

 

“Main chaand nigal gayi” is the critical phrase. Once that is understood the other metaphors will fall in place. The problem is that this phrase, which literally translates as “I swallowed the moon”, is difficult to put in perspective. I interpret it as “I dreamt of my moon-faced lover”. I do not offer any justification for the same, except that the song makes sense when taken as an imaginary interaction with a lover. I have not come across any use of this phrase in this manner. However, I do recall reading the Sanskrit epic Kadmbari by Bana. The queen dreams of swallowing the moon and conceives, ultimately giving birth to a child as handsome as the moon.

The Transcreation in English of the Hindi Lyrics of Namak

I dreamt of my lover

Oh yes, I dreamt of my lover, listen

Hmm it has aroused my passion

It is a fatal attraction

Yes it has aroused my passion

It is a fatal attraction

 

Oh, I dreamt of my lover, listen

Feel the burning sensation

I’ve never been that way before

The heat I can’t, the heat, the heat I cannot ignore

It is an addiction, addiction yes

Now an addiction

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

It is, it is an addiction

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O yes! this frenzied desire

This burning desire O yes! this frenzied desire

 

Come and give me satisfaction

Give me satisfaction

Come and give me satisfaction

Give me satisfaction

Come and give me satisfaction

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O yes! this frenzied desire

O yes! burning desire, frenzied desire

 

Alas!

 

Leery cops roadside Romeos

They all make passes at me

Yes, yes, yes sir, yes

O yes sir, O yes sir, O

Rowdy cops roadside Romeos

They all make passes at me

Even the street corner grocer

Sends weekly rations for free

Some trinkets you too volunteer

Volunteer

Whisper sweet nothings in my ear

In my ear

 

I’ve never been that way before

The heat I cannot ignore

O yes! I’ve never been that way before

The heat I cannot ignore

Wild dreams are not, yes

Wild dreams are not

Wild dreams are not the solution

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

O yes! Desire

 

One look from the man of my heart

One look from the man of my heart

And I was like putty in his arms

I yielded all to my lover

Such was the magic of his charms

I was like putty in his arms

Such was the magic of his charms

 

Alas!

 

He dived deep into my eyes

He filled my lips to the brim

He dived deep into my eyes

He filled my lips to the brim

There is ecstasy in death

I cannot live without him

I tossed and turned as I waited

As I waited

Sought his footsteps with breath baited

With breath baited

 

I’ve never been that way before

The heat I cannot ignore

O yes! I’ve never been that way before

The heat I cannot ignore

I am filled sir, filled sir, filled sir

Filled sir, filled sir, filled sir yes

I am filled

I am filled to saturation

This burning desire O! this frenzied desire

It is, it is an addiction

This burning desire O yes! this frenzied desire

 

Come and give me satisfaction

Give me satisfaction

Come and give me satisfaction

This burning desire O yes! this frenzied desire

This burning desire this frenzied desire

This burning desire this frenzied desire

This burning desire this frenzied desire

This burning desire this frenzied desire

This burning desire this frenzied desire

This burning desire

 

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Namak from Omkara

Main chaand nigal gayi

Ho ji main chaand nigal gayi daiyya re

Hmm bheetar bheetar aag jale

Baat karoon toh senkh lage

Aji bheetar bheetar aag jale

Baat karoon toh senkh lage

 

O main chaand nigal gayi daiyya re

Ang pe aise chaale pade

Tez tha jhaunka ka karoon

Si-si karti, si-si si-si karti main maroon

Jabaan pe laga ji, laga ji re

Jabaan pe laga

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai re tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka haai re tere ishq ka

 

Balam se maanga maanga re

Balam se maanga re

Balam se maanga maanga re

Balam se maanga re

Balam se maanga maanga re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai re tere ishq ka

Haai re tere ishq ka, tere ishq ka

 

Haai!

 

Sabhi chhede hai mujhko

Sipahiye baake chhamiye

Haan, haan, haan ji haan

Aa ha ji, aa ha ji, aah

Sabhi chhede hai mujhko

Sipahiye baake chhamiye

Udhari dene lage hai

Gali ke baniye baniye

Koi toh kaudi tu bhi luta de

Koi toh kaudi

Aji thodi thodi shehad chata de

Thodi thodi

 

Tez tha tadka ka karoon

Si-si karti main maroon

Aji tez tha tadka ka karoon

Si-si karti main maroon

Raat bhar chhana re

Raat bhar chhana

Raat bhar chhana chhana re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Haai re tere

 

O aisi phoonk lagi zalim ki

O aisi phoonk lagi zalim ki

Ke bansuri jaisi baaji main

Arre joh bhi kaha us Chandrabhan ne

Phat se ho gayi raazi main

Bansuri jaisi baaji main

Phat se ho gayi raazi main

 

Haai!

 

Kabhi ankhiyon se peena

Kabhi honthon se peena

Kabhi ankhiyon se peena

Kabhi honthon se peena

Kabhi achchha lage marna

Kabhi mushkil lage jeena

Karvat karvat pyaas lagi thi

Karvat karvat

Aji balam ki aahat paas lagi thi

Balam ki aahat

---

Tez tha jhaunka ka karoon

Si-si karti main maroon

Aji tez tha jhaunka ka karoon

Si-si karti karti main maroon

Dali bhar daala ji, daala ji, daala ji

Daala ji, daala ji, daala ji re

Dali bhar daala

Dali bhar daala daala re

Namak ishq ka haai tere ishq ka

Jabaan pe laga laga re

Namak ishq ka haai re tere ishq ka

---

Balam se maanga maanga re

Balam se maanga re

Balam se maanga maanga re

Namak ishq ka haai re tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka, tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka, tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka, tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka, tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka, tere ishq ka

Namak ishq ka

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Namak

The repeated lines and choruses have been eliminated

 

I dreamt of my lover

And was burning with passion … even talking about him gave me the hots

I dreamt of my lover … and it felt as if my body was full of blisters

It was like putting too much chilly in the food … when your mouth is on fire

But what could I do … I had tasted the experience of making love to him

And I wanted more of the same from him

 

(Seeing me mature as a sexy lass)

Everyone makes passes at me, leery cops and roadside flirts

Even the grocers are extending credit hoping for repayment in kind

My lover, you can gift me at least a few trinkets

And whisper sweet nothings in my ears

The dream was like putting too much chilly in the food … when your mouth is on fire

Yet I dreamt all night of the joy of your making love to me

My lover handled me as if he was playing a flute

And I yielded completely to his moon like charm

He gazed lovingly in my eyes, he kissed my lips passionately

Self-annihilation in love is ecstatic, life without the lover is hell

I thirsted for him as I tossed on my bed

I dreamt of hearing his footsteps at my door

The separation was like too much chilly in the food … when your mouth is on fire

I tried to douse myself with a small dream of making love to him

Namak Fact Sheet 

 
·       Movie: Omkara
·       Singer: Rekha Bhardwaj
·       Lyricist: Gulzar
·       Composer: Vishal Bhardwaj
·       On Screen: Bipasha Basu, Vivek Oberoi, Saif Ali Khan
·       Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
 
Omkara is Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Othello. This song is a tamasha type dance number by Bipasha Basu who plays Billo, the equivalent of Bianca from Shakespeare’s play. In this context, tamasha refers to a rustic item number with provocative gestures and double entendre lyrics.
 
Enjoy the video of Namak. 
 
Bollywood Translations has more item numbers from Hindi movies.
 
·       Teri Kattili Nigahon Ne Mara
·       Tilasmi Bahein
·       Aaj KI Raat
 
 
Please follow Bollywood Translations and give your feedback in the comments section. Connect with me on X and Instagram @HarshNev.

Beedi Jalai Le – Transcreation and Explanation of Omkara Lyrics 

Meta Description:  Beedi Jalai Le is a Bollywood item number from Omkara featuring Bipasha Basu.  The Vishal Bharadwaj Hindi movie is a remake of Shakespeare’s Othello. Understand the risqué metaphors of the rustic original song and sing the English translation to the original beat. 

The Transcreation in English of the Hindi Lyrics of Beedi Jalai Le

Beedi Jalai Le would classify as a Bollywood item number and so the lyrics of the songs are earthy and risqué.  Penned by Gulzar, they are intensely metaphorical and defy translation in the normal literal manner. The translations available elsewhere on the Internet are grossly inadequate, being mere literal translation of words. 

Beedi Jalai Le is perfect material for transcreation, which at Bollywood Translations, meets two requirements. 

• ·       It captures the contextual essence of the song, even if some literal content is lost
• ·       It can be sung in English to the original instrumental tune of the song without missing a beat

 

 

With no quilt to warm my soul

The cold wind on a roll … what the hell

Oh! It is so chilly go get a blanket will you

Oh! Burning coal from your neighbour’s hearth will do

 

Light a smoke with heat from my heart

See my heart is set on fire

Keep the flame within, the heat not depart

Don’t show the world your desire

 

No reason and no rhyme

And there wasn’t any crime … what the hell

Just like that I was picked up one afternoon

Was made to shake my hips to a risqué tune

Light a stove with heat from my heart

See my heart is set on fire

 

Not sharp like a knife. nor a dagger nor a scythe

The wind bites and leaves on your skin its mark

Without compassion it is cold and very stark

Oh! Come to me and get some warmth some spark

 

Light a smoke with heat from my heart

See my heart is set on fire

Keep the flame within, the heat not depart

Don’t show the world your desire

 

Without a hint, without a beep

Woke me from my beauty sleep … what the hell

He first came to my bed and then entered my quilt

Took me in his arms and we made love to the hilt

Light an ember with heat from my heart

See my heart is set on fire

 

Light a smoke with heat from my heart

See my heart is set on fire

Keep the flame within, the heat not depart

Don’t show the world your desire

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Beedi Jalai Le from Omkara

Naa gilaaf, naa lihaaf
Thandi hawa bhi khilaaf sasuri
Ho Itti sardi hai kisi ka lihaaf lei lay
Ho Jaa padosi ke chulhe se aag lei lay

Beedi jalai le jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai
Dhuan naa nikaariyo lab se piya
Je duniya badi ghaagh hai

Naa kasoor, naa fatoor
Bina juram ke hujoor marr gaye
Aise ik din dupahari bulai liyo re
Baandh ghungru kachehri lagai liyo re
Angithi jalaai le jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai

 

Na to chakkua ki dhaar, na daraanti na kataar
Aisa kaate ke daant ka nisaan chhod de
Ye kataai to koi bhi kisaan chhod de
Aise¦ jaalim ka chhod de makaan chhod de

 

Beedi jalai le jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai
Dhuan naa nikaariyo lab se piya
Je duniya badi ghaagh hai

Na bulaya na bataya
Mhane neend se jagaya hai re
Aisa chauke lihaaf mein naseeb aa gaya
Woh elaichi khilai ke kareeb aa gaya
Koyla jalai le jigar se piya
Jigar maa  badi aag hai

Beedi jalai le jigar se piya
Jigar maa badi aag hai
Dhuan naa nikaariyo lab se piya
Je duniya badi ghaagh hai

 

Meanings of some Urdu words

 

gilaaf – pillow case

lihaaf – quilt

khilaaf - against

ghaagh - cunning

kasoor - fault

fatoor - defect

juram – crime

hajoor - lord

kachehri – court, (here dance assembly)

daraanti - sickle

kataar - dagger

naseeb - luck

The Literal English Explanation of the Lyrics of Beedi Jalai Le

I do not have a quilt to keep me warm, not even a pillow case. And the goddamned wind is freezing. It is so cold that I feel like taking someone’s quilt, or warming myself with the heat from my neighbour’s stove. The sexual innuendo should not be lost. I want to cosy up with my neighbour to warm me.

The neighbour replies: you can light your beedi from my bosom since there is a fire raging in it. It is an implicit acceptance of the sexual proposal. Do not blow smoke from your lips, my love. This world is extremely cunning. The innuendo is: do not let anyone see you leaving my place or they will know what we have been up to.

 Without any fault or provocation, I was dragged here. One afternoon they called me to their assembly and forced me to dance. But I have fire in my bosom and I had them lusting after me.

 Not a sharp knife, not even a sickle or dagger can match her. Her love bites leave the marks of her teeth. No farmer will need implements for harvesting if he had teeth like hers. I have been telling her to leave her tyrant lover and come to me.  (This interpretation is different from the one in the transcreation. The beauty of poetry lies in that multiple interpretations can co-exist.)

Without any warning my lover woke me up from my sleep. I was startled, but glad for his company. He gave me a mouth freshener and cuddled up with me. I let him share the warmth of my body because there was a fire raging in my bosom. 

 Beedi Jalai Le Fact Sheet 

 
·       Movie: Omkara
·       Singer: Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh, others
·       Lyricist: Gulzar
·       Composer: Vishal Bharadwaj
·       On Screen: Bipasha Basu, Vivek Oberoi, Saif Ali Khan
·       Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
 
Omkara is Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Othello. This song is a tamasha type dance numbers by Bipasha Basu who plays Billo, the equivalent of Bianca from Shakespeare’s play. In this context, tamasha refers to a rustic item number with provocative gestures and double entendre lyrics.
 
Enjoy the video of Beedi Jalai le. 
 
Bollywood Translations has more item numbers from Hindi movies.
 
·       Teri Kattili Nigahon Ne Mara
·       Tilasmi Bahein
 
 
Please follow Bollywood Translations and give your feedback in the comments section. Connect with me on X and Instagram @HarshNev.

Khamoshi – Tum Pukar Lo

Khamoshi – Tum Pukar Lo

This haunting number from Hemant Kumar is the third song from Khamoshi that is picturised on Waheeda Rehman, but sung by someone else. Waheeda Rehman wants to deliver her message of love to Dharmendra, but finds him singing a melody for someone else. A copy of Kalidas’ Meghdoot in her arms is a masterstroke. She takes the long walk back without saying anything. I have provided two translations for this song. One is quite literal but fails to express the depth of emotion. Therefore I have taken some liberties with the second translation, but tried to maintain its poetic quality.

Tum pukar lo, tumhara intezaar hai

Khwaab chun rahi hai raat, beqarar hai

Honth pe liye huey dil ki baat hum
Jaagte rahenge aur kitni raat hum
Muqtasar si baat hai tum se pyaar hai
Tumhara intezaar hai

Dil bahal to jaayega is khayal se

Haal mil gaya tumhara apne haal se
Raat ye qaraar ki beqarar hai
Tumhara intezaar hai

Literal Translation

Please do call me, I am waiting for you

The night is picking dreams, it is restless

With my heart’s sentiments on my lips

How many more nights do I remain awake

The issue in brief is that I love you

I am waiting for you

My heart will be consoled with this thought

Your condition is no different from mine

This night of bliss has become restless

I am waiting for you

muqtasar = brief

Emotional Translation

I am waiting for you, do call me please

I’ve only dreams in this night of unease

Till when do I lie awake night after night

Singing soulfully about my heart’s plight
I am in love, I say on bended knees
I am waiting for you, do call me please

This thought offers me some consolation

You’re in the very same situation
When will the long night our loves’ thirst appease

I am waiting for you, do call me please

Enjoy the video of Tum Pukar Lo