Bismil – Transcreation and Explanation of Song from Haider
Meta Description: Bismil is a popular Bollywood item
number from Omkara rendered by Sukhwinder Singh. This English
translation fits perfectly to the original beat by Vishal Bhardwaj. Understand
the context of the song in Haider, which is adapted from William
Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The Context of the Song Bismil in the Bollywood Movie
Haider
Without
understanding the context of the song, it is challenging to grasp its meaning,
especially since Gulzar is renowned for his metaphorical lyrics. The film Haider
is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In Hamlet, the
protagonist stages a play that mirrors the suspected murder of his father by
his uncle Claudius. The play’s impact on Claudius and Hamlet’s mother,
Gertrude, confirms Hamlet's suspicions about the fratricide.
Similarly,
in Haider, the song Bismil functions as a metaphorical
reenactment of the drama unfolded in Haider’s life. In this song, the bulbul
symbolizes Ghazala Meer (Haider’s mother), the bulbul's mate represents Hilaal
Meer (Haider’s father), and the hawk stands for Khurram Meer (Haider’s uncle
and now stepfather). Khurram had falsely implicated Hilaal to gain favour with
the authorities, initiating his rise to power and opulence. The song performed
by Haider ends with a plea to his mother that she is in danger and should come
to her senses.
The Difficulties in Translating Bismil in English
A direct translation of Bismil that preserves the
exact nuances, rhyme, and rhythm of the original proved impossible for several
reasons:
· The song's rich metaphorical
content
Transcreation, as opposed to literal translation, captures
the intent and emotional essence of the original while adapting the language to
fit the song's rhythm and beat. As a result, the English version I have created
can be sung to the original instrumental track.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Bismil
Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart
Quickly from the garden depart
O! Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart
Quickly from the garden depart
Bulbul smitten by Cupid’s dart
Love smitten bulbul, O! love smitten bulbul
Many troubles are faced by a troubled heart
A quick heartbeat, a quick heartbeat says
A quick heartbeat, a quick heartbeat says
You cannot tell true love and pretence
apart
Fragrant flowers incite passion
Quickly from the garden depart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Quickly from the garden depart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Ho.. Everybody please listen to me
I am just repeating your story
Love smitten bulbul, love smitten bulbul
Love smitten bulbul, O! love smitten bulbul
Lived a pair of birds, female and male
The male was naïve, the female frail
Lived a pair of birds, female and male
The male was naïve, the female frail
In winter the falling snow
Would paint the mountain ranges white
A hawk with malefic intent
A hawk with malefic intent
Over the valleys would take flight
He would carry death hidden in his wings
Wanted a life of luxury
A new path to chart
Wanted a life of luxury
A new path to chart
The hawk flirted with the bulbul
He took control over her mind
He led her down the garden path
Where poisoned flowers she would find
He took control over her mind
(The hawk flirted with the bulbul)
Poisoned flowers she would find
(He took control over her mind)
O o.. he set the valley aflame
Spread his nets over the lake
He caught the helpless hapless male
He caught the helpless hapless male
And both his wings he did break
At every step the hawk did lie
Lied the evil heart
Quickly from the garden depart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
The wounded male was arrested
(arrested, arrested)
With iron chains he was bound
At Sheeripur in Aramula
In the river he was drowned
Jhelum.. Jhelum..
Red red became red red became red red
became red
Jhelum.. Jhelum..
Red red became red red became red red
became red
The pure waters of Kashmir are great
The chains dissolved and changed his fate
He is alive, will be alive
The culprit will now not survive
He is alive, will be alive
The culprit will now not survive
He is alive, will be alive
The culprit will now not survive
Come to your senses, come to your senses
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
He led her down the garden path
Come to your senses, come to your senses
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
Come to your senses, come to your senses
Smitten by Cupid’s dart
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Bismil from Haider
Bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil
Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil
E bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil
Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil
Bismil bismil bulbul-e-bismil
E dil-e-bulbul E bulbul-e-bismil
Mushkil dil bhi mushkil hoti hain
Dil dhadke dil dhadke toh
Dil dhadke dil dhadke toh
Dhadkan-e-dil bhi harkat-e-dil hoti hain
Khushbu-e-gul mein, ishq bhara hai
Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil
E bulbul-e-bismil
Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil
E bulbul-e-bismil
Ho.. sunle zamaana samjhata hoon
Teri kahaani doharata hoon
E dil-e-bulbul bulbul-e-bismil
E dil-e-bulbul bulbul-e-bismil
Ik joda tha nar-mada ka
Bholi thi bulbul nar sada tha
Ik joda tha nar-mada ka
Bholi thi bulbul nar sada tha
Barf gira karti thi jab
Bhar jaati thi kohsaaron mein
Ik baaz bada badniyat tha
ik baaz bada badniyat tha
Udata tha sabz anzaraon mein
Pankhon mein uske maut chhupi thi
Mehfil mehfil dhoond raha tha
Mehelon ki manzil
Mehfil mehfil dhoond raha tha
Mehlon ki manzil
Bulbul ke khwabon mein jakar
Zeher ke dank lagaye the
Khushbu-e-gul mein zeher bhara
Aur mada ko bhijwaaye the
Zeher ke dank lagaaye the
(Bulbul ke khwabon mein jakar)
Mada ko bhijwaaye the
(Zeher ke dank lagaye the)
O o.. waadi mein chidka baarod
Jheel mein jaal bichha daale
Chhuriyon se bechare nar ke
Chhuriyon se bechare nar ke
Dono pankh kata daale
Are dil dil dil dil jhoot kahe ye
Jhoot kahe buzdil
Mat mil mat mil gul se mat mil
E bulbul-e-bismil
E bulbul-e-bismil
E bulbul-e-bismil
Zakhmi nar ko kaid kiya
(kaid kiya, kaid kiya)
Zanjeeron mein bandhwaya
Aramula ke Sheeripur se
Phir paani mein phikwaya
Jehlum.. Jehlum..
Laal laal hua laal laal hua laal laal hua
laal
Jehlum.. Jehlum..
Laal laal hua laal laal hua laal laal hua
laal
Kashmir ke paani ki taaserein
Khul gayi zanjeerein takdeerin
Zinda hai woh zinda hoga
Mujrim phir sharminda hoga
Zinda hai woh zinda hoga
Mujrim phir sharminda hoga
Zinda hai woh zinda hoga
Mujrim phir sharminda hoga
Hosh mein aa ja, hosh mein aa ja
E bulbul-e-bismil
E bulbul-e-bismil
Khushbu-e-gul me zeher bhara hai
Hosh mein aa ja, Hosh mein aa ja
E bulbul-e-bismil
Hosh mein aa ja, Hosh mein aa ja
E bulbul-e-bismil
Meanings of few Urdu words
Bismil = wounded
Harkat-e-dil = (here) mistakes committed in
love
Nar-mada = female-male
Kohsaar = mountain range
Sabz = fresh
Anzar = sight
Taaseer = effect
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Bismil
The repeated lines have been removed
Bulbul who has been wounded in love
Do not go near the flowers
A troubled heart can lead you to greater
troubles
When heart beats quickly
Anxiety can lead to you to make mistakes in
love
The fragrances of flowers are filled with love
Everyone listen to what I have to say
I am repeating your story
There was a pair of birds – male and female
The bulbul was naïve, so was her mate
When there was snowfall
There would be a blanket on the mountain
ranges
There was a hawk with malefic intent
Who would fly from where he could see the green
valleys
He was hiding death in his wings
He was searching every gathering
His destination was a palatial life style
He entered the dreams of the bulbul
And stung her with poison
He poisoned a bouquet of fragrant flowers
And sent it to the bulbul
Sprinkled gunpowder in the valley
Spread nets in the lake
With knives, of the helpless male bird
He cut off both the wings
He is lying
The coward is lying
He imprisoned the wounded mate
And bound him in chains
From Sheerinpur in Aramula
Who was thrown in the waters
Jhelum..
Became red
Due to the effect of the waters of Kashmir
The chains opened and the fate changed
He (male bird) is alive and will remain so
The culprit will be shamed
Come to your senses
Bulbul wounded in love
Bismil Fact Sheet
