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: JAWAAN MOHABBAT (1971) Music: Shankar-Jaikishan Lyrics: Shailendra Rafi’s Peppy Song: zulmo sitam ko bhii hamm toh adaa samjhe…. Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the Urdu-Hindi filmy lyrics: zulm-o-sitam ko bhii, hamm toh adaa samjhe, I CONSIDERED EVEN HER REPRESSION AS ELEGANCE, par merii chaahat ko, jaane voh kyaa samjhe, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE TOOK MY AFFECTION FOR! KHud ko bhalaa jaanaa, SHE CONSIDERED HERSELF GOOD, mujh ko buraa samjhe, ME, SHE CONSIDERED BAD! par merii chaahat ko, jaane voh kyaa samjhe… BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE TOOK MY AFFECTION FOR! laayaa thaa dil ko nazar karne, MY HEART I’D BROUGHT TO PRESENT HER, qurbaaN yeh jaan-o-jigar karne, FOR SURRENDERING MY LIFE AND SOUL, un ke binaa meraa haal hai kyaa, WHAT’S MY CONDITION IN HER ABSENCE aayaa thaa un ko KHabar karne, I’D COME TO INFORM HER, aayaa thaa un ko KHabar karne, I’D COME TO INFORM HER, Taal diyaa lekin, mujh ko balaa samjhe, BUT IGNORING ME, SHE CONSIDERED ME A CALAMITY! zulm-o-sitam ko bhii, hamm toh adaa samjhe… I CONSIDERED EVEN HER REPRESSION AS ELEGANCE… haay dil mere, bure hai.n din tere, O MY HEART, ALAS, DREADFUL ARE YOUR DAYS! ke maar hii naa Daale, kisii kii be-dilii LEST SOMEONE’S CALLOUSNESS MAY KILL YOU, un kaa muskuraanaa, galii se aanaa-jaanaa, HER SMILE, AND FREQUENTING THE LANE, hamaaraa luT jaanaa, hamaarii Galtii MY BEING ROBBED, MY BLUNDER jaan ke dushman ko, jaan-e-vafaa samjhe, IN CONSIDERING MY MORTAL ENEMY, AS LOYAL FOR LIFE! zulm-o-sitam ko bhii, hamm toh adaa samjhe… I CONSIDERED EVEN HER REPRESSION AS ELEGANCE… kyaa hai mohabbat, pyaar hai kyaa, WHAT’S LOVE, WHAT’S TENDERNESS, koyii unheN batlaaye zaraa, LET SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO HER AT LEAST, husn Gazab kaa husn sahii, MAYBE THE BEAUTY IS ASTOUNDING, jaan jo le dil-daar hai kyaa, THE ONE WHO ELIMINATES LIFE CANNOT BE KIND, jaan jo le dil-daar hai kyaa, THE ONE WHO ELIMINATES LIFE CANNOT BE KIND, baat voh karte haiN, baat binaa samjhe, SHE DOES TALK, BUT WITHOUT BEING INDULGENT! zulm-o-sitam ko bhii, hamm toh adaa samjhe, I CONSIDERED EVEN HER REPRESSION AS ELEGANCE! par merii chaahat ko, jaane voh kyaa samjhe, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE TOOK MY AFFECTION FOR! KHud ko bhalaa jaanaa, SHE CONSIDERED HERSELF GOOD, mujh ko buraa samjhe, ME, SHE CONSIDERED BAD! Translated by Nasir Ali
Movie: PATANGA (1971) Music: Shankar-Jaikishen Lyrics: Neeraj Rafi’s peppy Song: jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil… Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the Hindi-Urdu filmy lyrics: jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jaise koyii bachpan ki kahaani, AS IF SOME CHILDHOOD’S STORY yaad bhii ho, aur bhool bhii jaaye, IS REMEMBERED, AND ALSO FORGOTTEN! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jaise koyii bachpan ki kahaani, AS IF SOME CHILDHOOD’S STORY yaad bhii ho, aur bhool bhii jaaye, IS REMEMBERED, AND ALSO FORGOTTEN! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil… O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY… pardaa uTHaa de husn ki zid hai, THE BEAUTY’S ADAMANT TO LIFT THE VEIL pardaa giraa de ishQ ki zid hai, THE LOVE’S DETERMINED TO DROP THE VEIL, pardaa uTHaa de husn ki zid hai, THE BEAUTY’S ADAMANT TO LIFT THE VEIL pardaa giraa de ishQ ki zid hai, THE LOVE’S DETERMINED TO DROP THE VEIL, dil hai hamaaraa, aisaa diyaa jo, MY HEART’S IS SUCH A LAMP THAT
jal bhii naa paaye bujh bhii naa paaye, CANNOT BE LIT NOR PUT OUT! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jaise koyii bachpan ki kahaani, AS IF SOME CHILDHOOD’S STORY yaad bhii ho, aur bhool bhii jaaye, IS REMEMBERED, AND ALSO FORGOTTEN! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil… O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY… hastii miTaa de KHud ko bhulaa de, WIPE OUT YOUR EXISTENCE, FORGET YOURSELF, apnaa safiinaa aap Dubaa de, YOUR OWN SHIP, SINK IT YOURSELF, hastii miTaa de KHud ko bhulaa de, WIPE OUT YOUR EXISTENCE, FORGET YOURSELF, apnaa safiinaa aap Dubaa de, YOUR OWN SHIP, SINK IT YOURSELF, DHuund kinaaraa woh ke jahaaN par, SEARCH FOR SUCH SHORE WHERE chayn toh aaye hosh naa aaye, PEACE YOU MAY FIND, NOT AWARENESS! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jaise koyii bachpan ki kahaani, AS IF SOME CHILDHOOD’S STORY yaad bhii ho, aur bhool bhii jaaye, IS REMEMBERED, AND ALSO FORGOTTEN! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil… O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY… hoTH pe nagmaa aaNkh meN paanii, SONG ON THE LIPS, TEARS IN THE EYES, ek haQiiQat ek kahaani, ONE FACT, ONE FICTION, hoTH pe nagmaa aaNkh meN paanii SONG ON THE LIPS, TEARS IN THE EYES, ek haQiiQat ek kahaani ONE FACT, ONE FICTION, KHushii kaa daaman GHam kaa kafan hai, THE ROBE OF HAPPINESS IS A SHROUD OF SORROW, donoN baraabar niind jo aaye BOTH ARE THE SAME IF SLEEP OVERCOMES! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil, O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY THAT raat toh guzre subhaa naa aaye THOUGH THE NIGHT MAY PASS, NO DAWN MAY RISE, jaise koyii bachpan ki kahaani, AS IF SOME CHILDHOOD’S STORY yaad bhii ho, aur bhool bhii jaaye, IS REMEMBERED, AND ALSO FORGOTTEN! jhoom ke gaa yuuN aaj mere dil… O MY HEART! SING WITH SUCH A SWING TODAY… TRANSLATED BY NASIR ALI
Movie: NALAYAK (1979) Music: Kalyanji-Anandji Lyricist: Verma Malik Rafi’s Peppy Song: dunya ne mujh ko hai samjhaa naakaaraa… Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the Hindi/Urdu filmy lyrics: Hey hey hey hey hey ... dunya ne mujh hai samjhaa naakaaraa, THE WORLD THINKS OF ME AS A USELESS BUMPKIN, dunya ne mujh ko hai samjhaa naakaaraa, THE WORLD THINKS OF ME AS A USELESS BUMPKIN, naalaayak naalaayak keh ke pukaaraa, THEY CALLED ME STUPID AND GOOD FOR NOTHING, aur koi kuch bhi kahe buraa nahiiN maanuugaa, I WON’T MIND SOMEONE ELSE SAYING ANYTHING, aur koi kuch bhi kahe buraa nahiiN maanuugaa, I WON’T MIND SOMEONE ELSE SAYING ANYTHING, tuune kahaa toh zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa, IF YOU UTTER IT, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! tuune kahaa toh zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa, IF YOU UTTER IT, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! Hey hey hey hey hey hey dunya ne mujh ko hai samjhaa naakaaraa THE WORLD THINKS OF ME AS A USELESS BUMPKIN, naalaayak naalaayak keh ke pukaaraa…. THEY CALLED ME STUPID AND GOOD FOR NOTHING! hey terii aaNkhoN meN hijaab, O THE MODESTY IN YOUR EYES! hijaab laajawaab, THE INCOMPARABLE MODESTY! O haye ye shabab, O THIS BEAUTY! shabab lajawab, THE INCOMPARABLE BEAUTY! pyaar ke sawaal ka ‘TIS THE QUESTION OF LOVE, de pyaar meN jawaab, ANSWER ME WITH LOVE, de pyaar meN jawaab, ANSWER ME WITH LOVE, O teri meri joRii hogii joRii laa-jawaab, OUR COUPLE WILL BE INCOMPARABLE, Oye aaNkheN hongIi merii aur tere honge KHwaab, IN MY EYES WILL BE YOUR DREAMS! tera meraa pyaar hogaa hogaa laa-jawaab YOUR LOVE AND MINE WILL BE UNIQUE, O hogaa laa-jawaab, …WILL BE UNIQUE! Thukraao naa DON’T SPURN ME, maan jaao naa SAY YES, Aur koi Thukarye buraa nahiiN maanuugaa IF SOMEONE ELSE SPURNS ME I WON’T MIND, Aur koi Thukarye buraa nahiiN maanuugaa IF SOMEONE ELSE SPURNS ME I WON’T MIND, tuune Thukraayaa zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa IF YOU SPURN ME I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! tuune Thukraayaa zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa IF YOU SPURN ME I’ILL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! hey hey hey hey hey dunya ne mujh ko hai samjhaa naakaaraa THE WORLD THINKS OF ME AS A USELESS BUMPKIN, naalaayak naalaayak keh ke pukaaraa…. THEY CALLED ME STUPID AND GOOD FOR NOTHING! hey zaraa suno toh huzuur HEY LISTEN M’LADY, naa jaao duur duur DO NOT GO FAR OFF, merii aNkhiyoN ke noor THE LIGHT OF MY EYES, karo naa yuuN Guruur DON’T BE PROUD, kisii naa kisii ko apnaaogii zuruur SURELY, YOU’LL MARRY SOMEONE, apnaaogii zuruur, SURELY, YOU’LL MARRY, ho teraa pyaar paauuNgaa I’LL GAIN YOUR LOVE, maiN paauNgaa zuruur SURELY I’LL GAIN IT, O chaahe badnaam yaa ho jauuN mash-huur EVEN IF I GET A BAD NAME OR BECOME FAMOUS, aaj tujhe saath leke jauungaa zuruur, I’LL TAKE YOU AWAY WITH ME FOR SURE, leke jauunga zuruur, I’LL TAKE YOU AWAY FOR SURE, zaraa aao naa, chhoR jaao naa, JUST COME, SEE ME OFF, aur koyii chhoR jaaye buraa nahiiN maanuugaa I WON’T MIND IF SOMEONE ELSE DUMPS ME, aur koyii chhoR jaaye buraa nahiiN maanuugaa I WON’T MIND IF SOMEONE ELSE DUMPS ME, tuune mujhe chhoRa zahar khaa ke mar jauungaa IF YOU FORSAKE ME, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! tuune mujhe chhoRa zahar khaa ke mar jauungaa IF YOU FORSAKE ME, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! dunya ne mujh ko hai samjhaa naakaaraa THE WORLD THINKS OF ME AS A USELESS BUMPKIN, naalaayak naalaayak keh ke pukaaraa THEY CALLED ME STUPID AND GOOD FOR NOTHING, aur koi kuch bhi kahe buraa nahiiN maanuugaa I WON’T MIND SOMEONE ELSE SAYING ANYTHING, aur koi kuch bhi kahe buraa nahiiN maanuugaa I WON’T MIND SOMEONE ELSE SAYING ANYTHING, tuune kahaa toh zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa, IF YOU UTTER IT, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! tuune kahaa toh zahar khaa ke mar jauuNgaa, IF YOU UTTER IT, I’LL CONSUME POISON AND DIE! NASIR ALI