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Monday, October 18, 2010

703. Philosophical Song of Rafi: Kaise diwali manaayen hamm laalaa...

Movie: PAIGHAM (1959)

Music: C. Ramchandra
Lyrics: Pradeep


Main movie-hall where first released in Bombay: Maratha Mandir Cinema.


Philosophical/Didactic Song of Rafi: Kaise diwaali manaaye.n...
Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original Urdu-Hindi Lyrics:


kaise diwaali manaaye.n hamm laalaa
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE DIWALI, GRANDEE?


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


hamm toh huwe dekho Than Than gopaalaa,
SEE, WE’VE BECOME PENNILESS!


apnaa toh baaraah, maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


mar mar ke hamm roz mehnat kare.n,
EVERY DAY WE TOIL OURSELVES TO DEATH!


arre yaaron ko dekho tijoreee bhare.n,
LOOK AT OTHERS, HOW THEY FILL THEIR COFFERS!


din raat hamm toh, Ghulaamee kare.n~~~~,
DAY AND NIGHT WE SLAVE AWAY,


arre phokaT me.n...
Eh! FREELY...


phokaT me.n yeh saa.nD khetee chare.n,
THESE BULLS ROAM FREELY IN A CHINA SHOP,


dhan pe hamaare hai saiTho.n kaa taalaa,
THE CAPITALIST HAS OUR WEALTH UNDER HIS LOCK!


apnaa toh baaraah, maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


kaise diwaali, manaaye.n hamm laalaa,
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE DIWALI, GRANDEE?


apnaa toh baaraah, maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


hamm Khud toh khich.Dee hee khaate rahe,
WE, OURSELVES, CONTINUED TO EAT A HODGEPODGE DISH,


arre halwaa lafange u.Daate rahe,
WHILE THE CROOKS FEASTED UPON THE SWEETMEAT,


hamm muft jhaa.Doo, lagaate rahe~~~,
WITH THE BROOM WE SWEPT FOR FREE,


gangaa me.n...
IN THE GANGES...


arre gangaa me.n gaddhe nahaate rahe,
THE ASSES CONTINUED BATHING IN THE GANGES,


daataa teree akkal ku....aa.n?
O GIVER! YOUR SENSES, EH!


daataa teree akkal ku hay kaay jhaalaa,
O GIVER! WHAT’S HAPPENED TO YOUR SENSES?


apnaa toh baaraah, maheene deewaalaa,
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


(with chorus:
kaise diwaali, manaaye.n hamm laalaa,
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE DIWALI GRANDEE?


apnaa toh baaraah, maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!


apnaa toh baaraah maheene deewaalaa...
WE’RE DEAD BROKE FOR ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS!)


NASIR


"A worthy man is still worthy even penniless, a donkey is a donkey even if he is finely saddled."
- Turkish Proverbs


4 comments:

  1. Oh...is it time for Diwali already? Gosh I must be slack.

    Oh and the quote...it's a hoot Nasir Saab. I love it!!!

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  2. Yes, Veen. I believe the rich have Diwali and Eid everyday, while for some guys such as the character in our song, the festivals are fraught with Diwaala..

    As for the Turkish quote, donkeys are mentioned even in this Hindi song. It seems donkeys have a similar trait round the world! LOL....

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  3. True, it is Diwali everyday for the rich.

    On a totally unrelated matter (or is it), I can remember my Nanaji saying when he spent too much money: Mera toh Dwala nikhal gaya...have you heard that saying before or is it special to my nanaji???

    And Yes, a ghadda is ghadda by any other name :O

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  4. Lol...Ghadda is a ghadda by any other name! Very aptly stated in a Shakespearean style! Now, that a sentence worth remembering!

    Veen, "Diwaalaa" is a very common expression for denoting insolvency, bankruptcy, monetary loss, and spending extravagantly.

    ReplyDelete