This Blog is a humble Tribute to the Legendary Indian Playback Singer, Mohammed Rafi (1924-1980) whose songs continue to attract the older and the newer generations day by day. This Blog transliterates and translates his Solo Songs into English for wider appreciation. The Blog will also publish posts on his life and times, and other topics.
Movie: GAYATRI MAHIMA (1977) Music: Chitragupt Lyrics: Bharat Vyas Rafi’s Melodious Philosophical Song in Raga Bageshwari: saaNchi ho lagan jo mann meN…. Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the Hindi filmy lyrics: Aaaa Aaaaa…. saaNchi ho lagan jo mann meN, IF THE PASSION IN THE HEART BE TRUE, dukh dard miTe pal chhin meN, THE SORROW AND PAIN WILL END INSTANTLY, saaNchi ho lagan, jo mann meN, IF THE PASSION IN THE HEART BE TRUE, dukh dard miTe pal chhin meN, THE SORROW AND PAIN WILL END INSTANTLY, tera mann toh, nirmal hai, YOUR HEART IS PURE, phir kaahe paRe uljhan meN, THEN WHY GET INTO A CONFLICT! saaNchi ho lagan, jo mann meN, IF THE PASSION IN THE HEART BE TRUE, dukh dard miTe pal chhin meN! THE SORROW AND PAIN WILL END INSTANTLY! mat neer bahaa tuu udaas naa ho, DON’T SHED TEARS, DON’T BE SAD, dheeraj naa gawaa, DON’T LOSE PATIENCE, yuuN niraash naa ho, DON’T DESPAIR LIKE THIS, mat neer bahaa…. DON’T SHED TEARS…. mat neer bahaa tuu udaas naa ho, DON’T SHED TEARS, DON’T BE SAD, dheeraj naa gawaa, DON’T LOSE PATIENCE, yuuN niraash naa ho, DON’T DESPAIR LIKE THIS, terii peeR miTegii, biptaa haTegii, YOUR PAIN WILL END, CALAMITY WILL RECEDE,
aasha rakh jeewan meN, HAVE HOPE IN LIFE! saaNchi ho lagan, jo mann meN, IF THE PASSION IN THE HEART BE TRUE, dukh dard miTe, pal chhin meN… THE SORROW AND PAIN WILL END INSTANTLY! jis maa ne hameN hai janam diyaa, THE MOTHER WHO GAVE US BIRTH, us maa kii agar, ho jaye dayaa, IF WE RECEIVE THAT MOTHER' BLESSINGS, jis maa ne hameN… THE MOTHER WHO GAVE US…. jis maa ne hameN hai janam diyaa, THE MOTHER WHO GAVE US BIRTH, us maa kii agar, ho jaye dayaa, IF WE RECEIVE THAT MOTHER'S BLESSINGS, Mit jaaye andheraa, aaye saweraa, DARKNESS WILL TERMINATE, MORNING WILL DAWN, aasha rakh jeewan meN, HAVE HOPE IN LIFE! saaNchi ho lagan, jo mann meN, IF THE PASSION IN THE HEART BE TRUE, dukh dard miTe pal chhin meN. THE SORROW AND PAIN WILL END INSTANTLY! TRANSLATED BY NASIR ALI.
Movie: CHA CHA CHA (1964) Maiden Release: Alankar Cinema, Bombay. Music: Iqbal Qureshi Lyrics: Neeraj Rafi’s Melodious Devotional number in Raga Bageshwari: Ek lali ghar se chali… Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the Hindi filmy lyrics: aaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaa aaaaaa meeTHi meeTHi, SWEET, TENDER, madhur madhur, HONEYED, MELODIOUS, jaise hi goonji taan, AS SOON AS THE TUNE ECHOED, kachche dhaage se bandh ke, TIED WITH A SLENDER THREAD lo aaye, kisii ke praan, SOMEONE GOT ANIMATED! ek lali, ghar se chali, A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME, ek lali ghar se chali, A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME, tan saNwaar ke, gajraa Daar ke ADORNING HER BODY, WEARING A FLORAL BAND, tan saNwaar ke, gajraa Daar ke, ADORNING HER BODY, WEARING A FLORAL BAND, apne shyaam ki DHooNDHe gali, SEEKING HER SHYAM’S LANE! ek lali, ghar se chali A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME, ek lali, ghar se chali… A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME! shyaam vireh ko seh naa sakii voh, SHYAM’S ABSENCE SHE COULDN’T ENDURE, gup chup ghar meN reh naa sakii voh, NOR COULD SHE REMAIN SILENT AT HOME, aaaaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaa shyaam vireh ko seh naa sakii voh, SHYAM’S ABSENCE SHE COULDN’T ENDURE, gup chup ghar meN reh naa sakii voh, NOR COULD SHE REMAIN SILENT AT HOME, mann meN jo meeTHe sapne theh, THE SWEET DREAMS THAT SHE’D IN MIND, man mein jo meeTHe sapne theh, THE SWEET DREAMS THAT SHE’D IN MIND, apne muNh se keh na saki voh, SHE COULDN’T UTTER FROM HER MOUTH, apne munh se, keh na saki voh, SHE COULDN’T UTTER FROM HER MOUTH, chali dauR ke, laaj chhoR ke ABANDONING MODESTY, HURRIEDLY SHE PACED, chali dauR ke, laaj chhoR ke, ABANDONING MODESTY, HURRIEDLY SHE PACED jab madhuban meN shaam Dhali, THROUGH THE ’MADHUBAN’, AS THE EVEN DECLINED! ek lali, ghar se chali A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME, ek lali, ghar se chali…. A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME! gaalon pe poonam ki chhaTaa thiih, ON HER CHEEKS GLIMMERED THE FULL-MOON BEAMS, baalon meN saawan ki ghaTaa thiih, DARK AS THE RAINY CLOUD WAS HER HAIR, gaalon pe poonam ki chhaTaa thiih, ON HER CHEEKS GLIMMERED THE FULL-MOON BEAMS, baalon meN saawan ki ghaTaa thiih, DARK AS THE RAINY CLOUD WAS HER HAIR, kaari kajraari doh ankhiyaaN, THE TWO EYES LINED WITH BLACK KOHL, kaari kajraari doh ankhiyaaN, THE TWO EYES, LINED WITH BLACK KOHL, jaise neel kamal ki pankhiyaaN, LIKE THE PETALS OF BLUE LOTUS, jaise neel, kamal ki pankhiyaanN, LIKE THE PETALS OF BLUE LOTUS, gol ang thaah, goraa rang thaah, SUPPLE WAS THE BODY, THE COMPLEXION, FAIR, gol ang thaah, goraa rang thaah SUPPLE WAS THE BODY, THE COMPLEXION, FAIR, chanda ki kirnoN meN palii, NURTURED BY THE MOONBEAMS! ek lali, ghar se chali A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME, ek lali, ghar se chali… A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME! raas rachegaa jamuna taT pe, A FESTIVE DANCE HE’LL HOLD ON THE BANK OF JAMUNA, naTkhaT jhapTegaa ghoongaT pe, THE NAUGHTY ONE’LL POUNCE ON THE VEIL, raas rachegaa jamuna taT pe, A FESTIVE DANCE HE’LL HOLD ON THE BANK OF JAMUNA, naTkhaT jhapTegaa ghoongaT pe, THE NAUGHTY ONE’LL POUNCE ON THE VEIL, gar pakre chuuriyaan karkengi, IF HE GRABS, THE BANGLES WILL CRACK, gar pakre churiyaan karkengi, IF HE GRABS, THE BANGLES WILL CRACK, chhaliyaa chhupaa hai bansibaT pe, THE TRICKSTER’S HIDING AT THE FLUTE-TREE*, chhaliyaa chhupaa hai, bansibaT pe, THE TRICKSTER’S HIDING AT THE FLUTE-TREE, bandhi Dor se, chit ke chor se TIED BY THE STRING TO THE STEALER OF SENSES, bandhi Dor se, chit ke chor se, TIED BY THE STRING TO THE STEALER OF SENSES chali bhaNwar ke paas chali NEAR THE VORTEX SHE WENT! ek lali, ghar se chali, A LASS WALKED OUT OF HER HOME! ek lali - A LASS - Note: BansitaT=The tree where Krishna used to play his flute. TRANSLATED BY NASIR ALI
