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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

642. Philosophical Song of Rafi: Yeh lakhnau ki sar-zamin....

Movie: CHAUDHVIN KA CHAAND (1960)

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Ravi
Movie-Hall where first released in Bombay: Minerva Cinema.


Philosophical/Didactic Song of Rafi: Yeh lakhnau kee sar-zameen….
Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original Urdu Lyrics:


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n ~~~
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n ...
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW...


yeh ra.ngg-roop kaa chaman,
THIS GARDEN OF BEAUTEOUS BLOOM ,


yeh husn-o-ishq kaa vatan,
THIS HOMELAND OF BEAUTY AND LOVE,


yahee toh voh maqaam hai,
‘TIS THIS VERY PLACE


jahaa.n avadh kee shaam hai,
THAT HAS THE EVENING OF OUDH,


javaa.n-javaa.n hasee.n-hasee.n,
YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW...


shabaab-o-sher kaa yeh ghar
THIS HOME TO YOUTHFUL COUPLETS,


yeh ahl-e-ilm kaa nagar,
THIS CITY OF ERUDITE PEOPLE,


hai ma.nzilo.n kee god me.n,
LAPPED IN DESTINATIONS ARE


yahaa.n har ek rah-guzar,
EVERY ROUTE HERE,


yeh shahar laalaazaar hai,
THIS CITY IS A GARDEN OF TULIPS,


yahaa.n dilo.n me.n pyaar hai,
HERE THE HEARTS ARE FULL OF LOVE,


jidhar nazar uThaaiye,
WHEREVER YOU GLANCE


bahaar hee bahaar hai,
THERE’S SPRING AND ONLY SPRING,


kalee-kalee hai naaznee.n,
EVERY BUD IS EXQUISITELY BEAUTIFUL,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n ...
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW...


yahaa.n kee sab ravaayate.n
ALL THE HISTORIES OF THIS PLACE


adab kee shaahakaar hai.n,
ARE THE CREATIONS OF ELEGANCE OF MANNERS,


ameer ahl-e-dil yahaa.n,
HERE, THE RICH ARE GENEROUS HEARTED,


ghareeb jaa.n-nisaar hai.n,
THE POOR ARE READY TO SACRIFICE LIFE,


har ek shaaKh par yahaa.n,
ON EVERY BRANCH HERE


hai.n bul-bulo.n kee chah-chahe.n,
THE SONG-BIRDS SING,


galee-galee me.n zi.ndagee
LIFE IN EVERY LANE,


qadam-qadam pe qah-qahe.n,
AT EVERY STEP, LAUGHTER,


har ik nazaaraa hai dil-nashee.n,
EVERY SIGHT GETS INGRAINED IN THE HEART,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW...


yahaa.n ke dost baa-wafaa,
FAITHFUL ARE THE FRIENDS HERE,


mohabbato.n se aashnaa,
DEVOTED TO LOVE AND AFFECTION,


kisee ke ho gaye agar,
IF THEY BEFRIEND SOMEONE,


rahe usee ke umr bhar,
THUS THEY REMAIN LIFELONG!


nibhaayee apnee aan bhee,
FULFILLING ONE’S PROMISE,


ba.Dhaayee dil kee shaan bhee,
ELEVATING THE EMINENCE OF THE HEART TOO,


hai.n aise meharbaan bhee,
THERE ARE SUCH BENEVOLENT PEOPLE TOO,


kaho toh de de jaan bhee,
IF YOU SAY, THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR LIFE TOO,


jo dostee ka ho yaqee.n,
IF THE FRIENDSHIP IS TRUSTED,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,


yeh lakhnau kee sar-zamee.n,
THIS REGION OF LUCKNOW,

NASIR

The pomp and splendour of Lucknow was effaced when Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was deposed by the British in 1854.  He burst out: Babul mora naihar chhoTo jaaye (later immortalized by K.L. Saigal).    With that came an end of the magnificent era of  music, dance, poetry, literature and what not!  Today, the refinement  of "Pehle Aap" has all but disappeared.  The rich Lucknowi culture is on the verge of extinction.  The grandiloquence, the generosity  and the old 'jaan-nisaar' spirit is now more a matter of nostalgia.  As elsewhere, corruption has taken the roots.  The havelis that once dotted the city have given way to modern apartments.  Lifeless statues of  elephant and  living political figures, costing the exchequer billions of rupees,  occupy many acres of land to symbolise political power and clout.   I'm reminded of the disfigured Ozymandias in Shelley's poem which says: "Look on my work ye mighty and despair".  Isn't that the lot of even the mighty mortals?  The silver lining remains in the form of excellent cuisine, 'chikankaari',  the remaining courtesans, ghazals and Thumris.   

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