429. Rafi's Romantic Song: Tumse Izhaar-e-Haal Kar BaiThe...

Movie: MERE MEHBOOB (1963)
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Music: Naushad

Romantic Rafi’s Sweet Melody: Tumse Izhaar-e-Haal Kar BaiThe...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original Urdu-Hindi Lyrics:

aaj furqat kaa Khwaab, TooT gayaa
TODAY, THE DREAM OF SEPARATION HAS SHATTERED,

mil gaye tum, hijaab TooT gayaa...
AS WE FOUND YOU, THE CURTAIN HAS PARTED...

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe,
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU,

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe,
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU,

beKhudee me.n, kamaal kar baiThe
BEING BESIDES OURSELF, WE’VE DONE WONDERS,

beKhudee me.n, kamaal kar baiThe,
BEING BESIDES OURSELF, WE’VE DONE WONDERS,

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe...
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU...


kho gaye husn kee baharon me.n,
AMONG BEAUTY’S BLOSSOMS, WE LOST OURSELF,

keh diya raaz-e-dil ishaaron me.n,
IN GESTURES, THE HEART’S SECRET WE EXPRESSED,

kaam hamm be-,misaal kar baiThe
AN INCOMPARABLE DEED WE’VE DONE!

kaam hamm be-,misaal kar baiThe
AN INCOMPARABLE DEED WE’VE DONE!

beKhudee me.n, kamaal kar baiThe
BEING BESIDES OURSELF, WE’VE DONE WONDERS!

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe....
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU...


kitne majboor ho gaye dil se hoy,
OH, HOW MUCH DID THE HEART COMPEL US!

kitne majboor ho gaye dil se,
OH, HOW MUCH DID THE HEART COMPEL US!

soche samjhe baghair qaatil se
WITHOUT REFLECTING, TO THE SLAYER...

soche samjhe, baghair qaatil se,
WITHOUT REFLECTING,TO THE SLAYER

zindagi kaa, sawaal kar baTthe
WE POSED THE QUESTION OF THE LIFETIME,

beKhudee me.n, kamaal kar baiThe
BEING BESIDES OURSELF, WE’VE DONE WONDERS,

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe,
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU,

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe,
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU,


yeh adaaye.n yeh shokhiyaa.n taubaa,
THESE CHARMS, THESE JINKS, GOOD GRACIOUS!

bas Khuda hee Khuda hai us dil kaa,
ONLY GOD WILL HELP THAT HEART

jo tumhaara, khayaal kar baiThe
THAT INDULGES IN YOUR THOUGHTS,

jo tumhaara, khayaal kar baiThe
THAT INDULGES IN YOUR THOUGHTS,

beKhudee me.n, kamaal kar baiThe
BEING BESIDES OURSELF, WE’VE DONE WONDERS,

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU,

aaaaa~~~

tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baiThe.
WE’VE REVEALED THE AFFAIR TO YOU.
NASIR

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.

lyrics
translation

WITNESSING RAFI SAHAAB'S LIVE RECORDING

WITNESSING THE LIVE RECORDING OF RAFI SAHAAB’S SONG: "TUMSE IZHAAR-E-HAAL KAR BAITHE.. AT THE MEHBOOB STUDIOS, BANDRA, MUMBAI.

It was in 1954 that Mehboob Studios was built near Hill Road, Bandra, Mumbai, by the legendary Mehboob Khan who had founded his own production house in 1942. The plot was in fact purchased as early as 1951 from one Jafferbhai, a Bohri Muslim. Spreading over 4.2 acres of land, Mehboob Studios features five huge shooting stages and a recoding theatre. It was a very popular venue for the leading film-makers of the golden age that was the Bombay Film Industry which is now commonly called the Bollywood. After Mehboob Khan’s death in 1964, the Mehboob Studios has seen ups and downs and was even rumoured that it was offered for sale. According to an insider information, it appears that the Khoja Jamaat Khana had offered to purchase the Studios at the price of Rs.220 crores, a decade and a half ago when money had much greater value then it has today. Of late, the Studio has been used by the film-makers of Saawariya and Bhootnath – to name just a couple.

Coming to our subject, a friend of mine, Mr. Sayyad, came to Bombay from Bhopal in early 1962-1963. He had a relative who used to look after and supervise the lighting arrangements at the Mehboob Studios. One day, having nothing better to do, he set out to meet him there. It was late morning. He noticed that the Studio was a very busy place. The two landscape gardens were full of people. Strangely, he noticed that one garden was full of women only. The other garden was occupied by men. All were talking gaily about something or the other. Perhaps they were the junior artistes who waiting for their daily chores. The canteen was jam-packed too. In the hallway, he recognised some seasoned artistes such as Jayant, Anwar Hussein, Mukri and others who were discussing the shoots they had done recently.
Thereafter, Mr. Sayyad walked up the flight of stairs and happened to enter the Recording Studio.

Little did he anticipate that he was about to witness the live recording session of one of the beautiful songs from H.S. Rawail’s romantic-musical movie called “Mere Mehboob”. It may be remembered that the Music Director Naushad had recorded the title track of Mere Mehboob with just six instruments. Mr. Sayyad saw some twenty-five people occupying the visitors chairs in the hall. He recognized one of them as the famous Bollywood villain, Hiralal. The visitors were sitting just at a distance of 15-20 feet from the musicians and were keenly watching the on-goings of the musicians who were located at one end of the hall. There were sections of musical instrument, notably violins and others. A lone, swarthy Tabla player was conspicuous by his white ‘Kurta” and Pajama. He was sitting sort of aloof from the other musicians. Naushad Saab was not around. His Assistant, Mohammed Shafi, stood facing the musicians. He used to point his baton at each section of musician in turn, which then played their piece of music. While the arrangement and embellishments were being tested by Mohammed Shafi, the sound quality was being supervised by the eminent Sound Recordist, Kaushik at the other end.

As Mr. Sayyad began to wonder who the singer would be, in walked Mohammed Rafi Sahaab with his ingratiating smile, and making Salaams to those present there. He wore a white pants and a white short-sleeves shirt. On seeing him, the entire Recording Studio came to life with happy anticipation. Rafi Sahaab had his Song- Diary with him. Mohammed Shafi asked him whether he needed a rehearsal. Rafi Sahaab said that it was not necessary and pulled up a chair to sit.

Thereafter Mohammed Shafi turned towards the visitors and began to ask who they were. He had this way of snapping his fingers and asking each visitor their business and then asking him to leave. He turned out at least six visitors out of the Recording Studio. Looking at Hiralal he asked him how did he find his way here. My friend sat motionless, fearing that he would be sent out. Finally, Mohammed Shafi snapped his finger at him. But before he could ask him the question, Mr. Sayyad himself got up and asked him, “Kyaa Main Bhee Baahar Jaaoon?” (“Whether I, too should go out?"). He, however, allowed him to sit. There were still last-minute instructions to be given. Looking towards the entrance, he signalled one watchman to go out and caution people against making any noise. Another watchman who got the signal picked up a stick to fend off the crows, if any, from the window sill and ledges. Clearly, there was a qualitative difference between the old and the modern Recording Studios.

At last Naushad Saab made an entry from the same entrance from where Rafi Sahaab had come. It looked as if there was a special entrance for the artistes and another common entrance for the visitors. He went up to Mohammed Shafi. Whispering something in his ears, he went out through the same entrance. My friend was not sure where he went, i.e. whether he had left the Recording Studio, or whether he had just gone to some other part of the recording studio.

Then there was a hush! Rafi Sahaab got up and went to up to the mike. In one hand he had his open Song-Diary. Looking into it, Rafi Sahaab began: Aaj Furqat ka Khwaab Toot Gayaa...
Mil Gaye Tum Hijaab Toot Gayaa...
Tumse Izhaar-e-Haal Kar Baithe
Bekhudi me.n kamaal kar Baithe.

And so the song went on. Rafi Sahaab was singing so effortlessly, with one hand raised in gestures to indicate the nuances of the words such as “Yeh Adaayen,” “Yeh Shokhiyaa.n”. The beat of the Tabla was prominent among the harmony of the other musical instruments. The ecstasy was short-lived as the song came to an end. Thereafter, with the same niceties as before, Rafi Sahaab left the Recording Studio. Surely, he had another recording session somewhere since the early Sixties was the time when he was at the zenith of his singing career. The musicians collected their instruments.

The visitors began leaving the Recording Studio. Mr. Sayyad, too, came out with the pleasant experience that he would never forget - the experience that he would narrate to me some Forty-Five years later in details. After a few days he did get another opportunity to witness a live recording at the same place. This was the duet from Leader: “Teri Husn ki kya Taareef Karoo.n...” But that’s another story.

NASIR.

160. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Mere Mehboob Tujhe....

From: MERE MEHBOOB (1963)
Music: Naushad Sahaab.
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni.


Rafi Sahaab, in the best song of 1963, reminds us in his charming voice the longing, and pathos about the pangs of pure, virgin romance that comes our way once in a lifetime: Mere Mehboob Tujhe....


Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:



Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam,
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam,
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE,

Phir mujhe nargisi, ankho. n ka, sahaara de de
GIVE ME THE SUPPORT OF THE BEAUTIFUL EYES AGAIN,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen, nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Ay mere khwaab ki taabeer, meri jaan-e-ghazal,
O DEFINER OF MY DREAM, MY POEM’S LIFE-BLOOD,

Zindagi meri tujhe, yaad kiye jaati hai,
MY LIFE KEEPS ON REMEMBERING YOU,

Raat din mujhko sataata, hai tasavvur tera
YOUR VISION HAUNTS ME DAY AND NIGHT,

Dil ki dha.dkan, tujhe awaaz diye jaati hai,
THE HEARTBEAT KEEPS ON CALLING YOU,

Aa mujhe apni, sadaao. n ka, sahaara de de,
COME, GIVE ME THE SUPPORT OF YOUR ARTICULATIONS,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen, nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Bhool sakti nahi.n aankhe.n, voh suhaana manzar,
THE EYES CAN NEVER FORGET THAT PLEASANT VIEW,

Jab tera husn mere ishq se, takraaya thaa,
WHEN YOUR BEAUTY AND MY LOVE HAD A COLLISION COURSE,

Aur phir raah me.n , bikhre theh hazaaro.n naghme.n,
AND THEN THOUSANDS OF MELODIES LAY STREWN ON THE PATH,

Mai.n woh naghme.n, teri awaaz ko de aaya thah,
THOSE MELODIES I HAD LEFT BEHIND FOR YOUR VOICE,

Saz-e-dil ko, un hee geeton ka sahaara de de ,
GIVE SUPPORT OF THOSE MELODIES TO THE HEART’S CHORDS,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen, nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Yaad hai mujhko meri, umr ki pehli voh gha.di,
I REMEMBER THAT INITIAL MOMENT OF MY YOUTH,

Teri aankho.n se koi, jaam piyaa thah maine,
I HAD IMBIBED SOME WINE FROM YOUR EYES,

Meri ragg ragg me.n koi, barq si lehraaee thi,
SOME LIGHTNING HAD FLASHED THROUGH MY VEINS

Jab tere marmari, haathon ko chhua thah maine,
WHEN I HAD TOUCHED YOUR MARBLE-WHITE HANDS,

Aa mujhe phir, unhi haathon ka, sahaara de de ,
COME, GIVE ME THE SUPPORT OF THOSE VERY HANDS AGAIN,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen, nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Maine ik baar teri, ek jhalak dekhi hai,
I’VE HAD YOUR GLIMPSE BUT ONCE,

Meri hasrat hai ke mai.n, phir tera deedar karoo. n,
‘TIS MY DESIRE TO SEE YOU AGAIN,

Tere saaye ko, samajh kar mai.n haseen Taj Mahal,
ASSUMING YOUR SHADOW TO BE THE BEAUTIFUL TAJ MAHAL

Chandni raat me.n, nazron se tujhe pyaar karoon,
TO CAST LOVING GLANCESS ON YOU IN THE MOONLIT NIGHT,

Apni mehki hui, zulfon ka, sahaara de de
GIVE ME THE SUPPORT OF YOUR FRAGRANT TRESSES,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Dhoond tha hoon tujhe, har raah me.n har mehfil me.n
I LOOK FOR YOU ON EVERY PATH, IN EVERY GATHERING,

Thak gaye hai.n, meri majboor tamanna ke qadam,
TIRED ARE THE FEET OF MY CONSTRAINED DESIRE,

Aaj ka din meri, umeed ka hai aakhri din,
TODAY’S THE LAST DAY OF MY HOPE,

Kal na jaane, mai.n kahaan, aur kahaan tu ho sanam,
WHO KNOWS TOMORROW WHERE Y0U AND I’D BE SWEETHEART,

Do gha.di apni, nigaahon ka sahaara de de
FOR COUPLE OF MOMENTS GIVE ME THE SUPPORT OF YOUR GLANCES,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.


Saamne aa ke zaraa parda, utha de rukh se,
FACING ME, UNVEIL YOUR FACE AWHILE,

Ik yahi mera ilaaj-e-, ghum-e-tanhaai hai,
‘TIS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR MY DEPRESSION

Teri furqat ne, pareshaan kiya hai mujhko,
YOUR ABSENCE HAS CAUSED ME DISTRESS,

Ab to milja ke meri jaan pe, ban aayi hai,
MEET ME FOR NOW SINCE MY LIFE’S AT STAKE,

Dil ko bhooli hui, yaadon ka, sahaara de de
GIVE TO THE HEART, THE SUPPORT OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES,

Mera khoya hua, rangeen nazaara de de ,
RESTORE THE MISSING ELEGANCE OF MY SIGHT,

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam.
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON THE OATH OF MY LOVE.

Mere mehboob tujhe....
O BELOVED OF MINE....

NASIR.

All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee to me.
~William Shakespeare, "Sonnet XLIII"

15. Translation of Rafi song: MERE MEHBOOB TUJHE.

14. From: MERE MEHBOOB (1963)
Music: Naushad Sahaab.
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni.
Eternally Romantic Rafi sings the most romantic song of 1963: Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat ki qasam..
English Transliteration/Translation of the original lyrics:




Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON MY LOVE….

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON MY LOVE,

Phir mujhe nargisi ankhon ka sahaara dede
LEND ME THE SUPPORT OF THE WINE-DARK EYES AGAIN,

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Ae mere khwaab ki taabeer meri jaan-e-ghazal,
O DEFINER OF MY DREAM, MY LIFE-BLOOD OF POEM,

Zindagi meri tujhe yaad kiye jaati hai
MY LIFE KEEPS ON REMEMBERING YOU,

Raat din mujhko sataata hai tasavvur tera
NIGHT AND DAY YOUR VISION HAUNTS ME

Dil ki dhadkan tujhe awaaz diye jaati hai
THE HEARTBEAT KEEPS ON CALLING YOU,

Aa mujhe apni sadaaon ka sahaara de de
COME LEND ME THE SUPPORT OF YOUR VOCAL SOUNDS

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Bhool sakti nahin aankhen woh suhana manzar
THAT PLEASANT SIGHT NEVER THE EYES CAN FORGET

Jab tera husn mere ishq se takraaya tha
WHEN YOUR BEAUTY AND MY LOVE HAD A COLLISION COURSE,

Aur phir raah mein bikhre teh hazaron naghmen
AND THEN THOUSANDS OF MELODIES LAY STREWN ON THE PATH,

Mein woh naghmen teri awaaz ko de aaya tha
THOSE MELODIES I HAD LEFT FOR YOUR VOICE,

Saz-e-dil ko un hi geeton ka sahaara dede
LEND SUPPORT TO THE HEART’S CHORDS WITH THOSE VERY MELODIES.

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Yaad hai mujhko meri ‘umr ki pehli woh ghadi
I REMEMBER THE INITIAL MOMENT OF MY YOUTH

Teri aankhon se koi jaam piya tha maine
FROM YOUR EYES I HAD DRUNK SOME WINE

Mere rag rag mein koi barq si lehraaee thi
THROUGH MY VEINS SOME LIGHTNING HAD FLASHED

Jab tere marmari haathon ko chhua tha maine
WHEN THE MARBLE-SMOOTH HANDS OF YOURS I HAD TOUCHED,

Aa mujhe phir unhi haathon ka sahaara dede
COME LEND ME THE SUPPORT OF THOSE HANDS AGAIN

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Maine ik baar teri ek jhalak dekhi hai
I’V HAD YOUR GLIMPSE ONCE

Meri hasrat hai ke mein phir tera deedar karoon
'TIS MY DESIRE TO SEE YOU AGAIN,

Tere saaye ko samajh kar mein haseen Taj Mahal
ASSUMING YOUR SHADOW TO BE THE BEAUTIFUL TAJ MAHAL

Chandni raat me nazron se tujhe pyaar karoon
ON THE MOONLIT NIGHT - TO LOVE YOU WITH MY GLANCES,

Apni mehki hui zulfon ka sahaara de de
OF YOUR FRAGRANT TRESSES LEND ME THE SUPPORT.

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Dhoond tha hoon tujhe har raah mein har mehfil mein
I LOOK FOR YOUR ON EVERY PATH, EVERY GATHERING

Thak gaye hain meri majboor tamanna ke qadam
THE FEET OF MY HAPLESS DESIRE ARE TIRED,

Aaj ka din meri umeed ka hai aakhri din
TODAY’S THE LAST DAY OF MY HOPE,

Kal na jaane mein kahaan aur kahaan tu O sanam
TOMORROW, WHO KNOWS WHERE I AND YOU WOULD BE O SWEETHEART,

Do ghadi apni nigahon ka sahaara dede
FOR COUPLE OF MOMENTS LEND ME THE SUPPORT OF YOUR EYES.,

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


Saamne aa ke zara parda utha de rukh se
APPEARING BEFORE ME UNVEIL YOUR FACE AWHILE

Ik yahi mera ilaaj-e-ghum-e-tanhaai hai
‘TIS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR MY DEPRESSION

Teri furqat ne pareshaan kiya hai mujhko
YOUR ABSENCE HAS CAUSED ME DISTRESS

Ab to milja ke meri jaan pe ban aayi hai
MEET ME FOR NOW SINCE MY LIFE’S AT STAKE,

Dil ko bhooli hui yaadon ka sahaara dede
TO THE HEART LEND THE SUPPORT OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES,

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….

Mere mehboob tujhe, meri mohabbat ki qasam
O BELOVED OF MINE, UPON MY LOVE,

Phir mujhe nargisi ankhon ka sahaara dede
LEND ME THE SUPPORT OF THE WINE-DARK EYES AGAIN,

Mera khoya hua rangeen nazaara dede
GIVE BACK MY LOST PAGEANT OF COLOURS,

Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki qasam….
O BELOVED OF MINE UPON MY LOVE….


NASIR.