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Friday, September 19, 2008

161. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Sau Baar Janam Lenge...


Movie: Ustadon ke Ustad (1963)
Music: Ravi
Lyrics: Asad Bhopali.


Another haunting number that's still popular after 45 years: Sau Baar Janam Lenge...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:




Wafa ke deep jalaaye huwe, nigaaho.n me.n,
WITH THE LAMPS OF LOYALTY LIT IN THE EYES

Bhatak rahi ho bhala kyoo.n, udaas raaho.n me.n,
PRAY,WHY ARE YOU STRAYING ON THE FORLORN PATHS,

Tumeh khayaal hai, tum mujh se duur ho lekin,
YOU THINK YOU'RE FAR AWAY FROM ME, BUT

Main saamne hoo.n, chali aao meri baaho.n me.n.
I’M RIGHT BEFORE YOU, COME, WALK INTO MY ARMS.


sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH,

ai jaan-e-vafaa phir bhii, ham tum na judaa ho.nge
O SWEETHEART, EVEN THEN YOU AND I SHALL NEVER PART.

sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH...


qismat hame.n milne se, rokegee bhalaa kab tak,
PRAY, HOW LONG WILL THE DESTINY HINDER US FROM MEETING?

Inn pyaar ki raaho.n me.n, bhaTkegee vafaa kab tak
IN THESE PATHS OF LOVE HOW LONG WILL THE CONSTANCY WANDER?

qadamo.n ke nishaa.n khud hee, ma.nzil kaa pataa ho.nge.
THE FOOTSTEP-MARKS THEMSELVES WILL BE THE DESTINATION’S CLUE.

sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH,

ai jaan-e-vafaa phir bhii, ham tum na judaa ho.nge
O SWEETHEART, EVEN THEN YOU AND I SHALL NEVER PART.

sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH...


yeh kaisee udaasi hai, jo husn pe chhaaee hai,
WHAT SORT OF GLOOM IS THIS THAT’S CAST ON THE BEAUTY?

hamm duur nahi.n tum se, kehne ko judaaee hai,
WE’RE NOT FAR OFF FROM YOU THOUGH, TO SAY, THERE’S A SEPARATION,

armaan bhare doh dil, phir ek jagaah ho.nge.
THE TWO LONGING HEARTS SHALL MINGLE AGAIN.

sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH,

ai jaan-e-vafaa phir bhii, ham tum na judaa ho.nge,
O SWEETHEART, EVEN THEN YOU AND I SHALL NEVER PART.

sau baar janam le.nge,
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL TAKE BIRTH,

sau baar fanaa ho.nge
HUNDRED OF TIMES WE’LL PERISH...

NASIR.


“I believe in the immortality of the soul because I have within me immortal longings”
- Helen Keller quotes

5 comments:

  1. Dear Mr Nasir,

    I am an avid collector of yesteryear movies and I have seen all movies of actress Shakila. And I think she was the MOST GORGEOUS ACTRESS to ever grace the Indian Film Industry. I am really smitten by her beauty. I would like to know more about her. There is hardly any information available on the net other than some pictures. I came across your posts on hamara forums and so I think you can help me out. I really want to know about her both before and post-acting life, what she does today, where she lives, about her family etc. I would be really grateful if you could help. I would be really looking forward to your reply.

    My email id is: bibhash.das.86@gmail.com

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  2. Thanks for your comments Bibhash.
    Indeed Shakila was one of the most gorgeous actresses to grace the Indian screen. But that was offset by her simple bearings. You've read my posts about Shakila in Hamara Forums. I do agree there is hardly any information on the Internet about her. As I informed you, in or about the mid-Sixties, I had the opportunity of attending her wedding along with her Arabic Teacher who hailed from Aligarh. The wedding was arranged on a grand scale at the Mahalaxmi Race Course at Bombay. A friend of mine had last seen her in the Seventies, when she attended a function held by GARWARE at the Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay. She had come along with Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu. Even at that time, she still looked gorgeous.

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  3. Thank you, Nasir saab for the translation of these wonderful lyrics.While faith in repeated janam is basic Indian belief, the line 'qadmon ke nishaan khud hee, manzil ka pataa honge' is just wnderful and I think it is orignal. The sheer poetry of the lyrics is matched by the sweetness of the music and the majestically moving voice of Rafi saheb. This is a great gem and I am able to appreciate it all the more because of your translation. Thank you.

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  4. Most Welcome Nanjappa ji. I am so glad that you liked the English Translation of this song. Have a Nice Day!

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  5. THIS IS MD.RAFI'S BEST EVER ROMANTIC SONG I'VE HEARD IN INDIAN MOVIES.WHAT A GEM OF A VOICE OF RAFI SAAB WITH SO SUPERB INTRICACIES.INDEED A MARVELLOUS SONG.

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