Namak (Omkara)

[When I told Rahul that I have written a blog post about 'Namak isk ka', his first words were "But isn't that a controversial song?" I said that's why I was writing about it, to clear away at least some of the controversy.

Sure, the song may throw a few double entendres your way, but I think it was meant to be racy, what with its being filmed on a village dancer. I've heard a few songs old women in villages sing, and they are so risqué they can make our urban ears burn.

Another reason behind posting this song was the fact that the already available translations are so bad, they ruin the whole song.]




In recent years, we have had item numbers galore. Sure, they pull in the crowd, but is that all they are supposed to do? Unfortunately, most producers think so. A bimbo, in barely-there clothes, gyrating to a zingy soundtrack does the trick for most. Hello, what about the lyrics, some of you may ask? Just make a mishmash of random English, Punjabi and Hindi words - and you're all set to go. Better still, throw in some Zandu Balm for good measure while you're at it.

No such frivolities for Gulzar, though. The lady dancing to the beat may do as the choreographer asks her to (or what sells these days), but Gulzar does what he always does - write something that has a meaning, a theme, a soul - even when the meaning might not get translated on screen.

In the jargon of an MBA (which I'm not), I'd say - With 'Namak isk ka' he had the opportunity to write an item song for an item girl (well, Bipasha was one in Omkara, essentially). But his challenge was to keep it sensuous; not vulgar or raunchy. Does he succeed? I think so! But you can decide for yourselves.

A note before we begin:

What is a meal without salt? Tasteless, unpalatable etc.? A life without love is similar. It's still a life, but not a very interesting one. Hence 'Namak isk ka'. (You'll also come across many other things related to food/taste in the song.)

Lyrics, and translation:

मैं चाँद निगल गयी (Main chaand nigal gayi)

 हाँ जी मैं चाँद निगल गयी दैया रे (Haan ji main chaand nigal gayi daiya re)

[['Main chaand nigal gayi' literally means 'I swallowed the moon'. Now, the whole para can be interpreted in two ways. The common one says, that because she swallowed the moon, that's why she's feeling the spice/heat. But I think that since the moon is considered to be cool, so these lines could mean "I swallowed the moon to draw away some of heat I am feeling".]]

भीतर-भीतर आग जले, बात करूँ तो सेंक लगे (Bheetar-bheetar aag jale, baat karoon to senk lage)

हो मैं चाँद निगल गयी दैया रे (Ho main chaand nigal gayi daiya re) 

अंग पे ऐसे छाले पड़े (ang pe aise chhaale pade)

[[There is a fire burning within me, and every time I talk, I can feel the heat coming through.

I swallowed the moon, ('cause) I had such bad blisters all over my body.]]

तेज़ था छौंका क्या करूँ, सी-सी करती मैं मरूं (Tez tha chhaunka kya karoon, si-si karti main maroon) 

[[What could I do, the tempering was really spicy. Now I can but lament.]]

ज़बां पे लागा जी लागा जी रे (Zubaan pe laaga ji laaga ji re)

ज़बां पे लागा, लागा रे - (Zubaan pe laaga, laaga re -) 

नमक इस्क का, तेरे इस्क का (Namak isk ka, tere isk ka)

[[I can't help it, now that I've got a taste of your love]]

बलम से माँगा माँगा रे, बलम से माँगा रे (Balam se maanga maanga re, balam se maanga re)

बलम से माँगा माँगा रे - (Balam se maanga, maanga re -)

नमक इस्क का, तेरे इस्क का (Namak isk ka, tere isk ka)

[[And now that I've got a taste of it, I keep asking for more.]]

सभी छेड़े हैं मुझको सिपहिये बांके छमिये (Sabhi chhede hain mujhko, sipahiye baanke chhamiye)

उधारी देने लगे हैं, गली के बनिये-बनिये (Udhaari dene lage hain gali ke baniye-baniye)

[[Everyone has been teasing me - the policemen and the thugs alike

Even the biggest miser on the street has started offering me loan]]

कोई तो कौड़ी तू भी लुटा दे, कोई तो कौड़ी (Koi to kaudi tu bhi luta de, koi to kaudi*)

थोड़ी-थोड़ी शहद चटा दे, थोड़ी-थोड़ी (Thodi-thodi shahad chata de, thodi-thodi)

[[* = I'm not sure about these lyrics. But I'd translate nevertheless!

Can't you spare a few dimes on me as well, and get me some honey? (To reduce the heat)]]

तेज़ था छौंका क्या करूँ, सी-सी करती मैं मरूं

रात भर छाना रे, रात भर छाना छाना रे (Raat bhar chhaana re, raat bhar chhaana chhaana re)

नमक इस्क का, तेरे इस्क का (Namak isk ka, tere isk ka)

[[I looked for a taste of your love the whole night.]]

ऐसी फूँक लगी जालिम की, कि बांसुरी जैसी बाजी मैं 

(Aisi phoonk lagi jaalim ki, ki baansuri jaisi baaji main)

[[While literally 'phoonk lagna' means blowing air, so that the first line would mean 'He played me like a flute'. But 'phoonk lagna' also means 'to perform some kind of magic', so that the line could also mean 'He had such an effect on me, that I did whatever he asked me to do.']]

जो भी कहा उस चन्द्रभान ने, फट से हो गयी राजी मैं 

(Jo bhi kaha us Chandrabhaan ne, phat se ho gayi raaji main)

[[Chandrabhaan = One who has a moon on his forehead = Lord Shiva. Omkara is also a name for Lord Shiva. So this line could mean that whatever he (Omkara) asked me to do, I did it without batting an eyelid. Or not! Your views?]]

कभी अखियों से पीना, कभी होठों से पीना 

(Kabhie akhiyon se peena, kabhie hothon se peena)

कभी अच्छा लगे मरना, कभी मुश्किल लगे जीना 

(Kabhie achchha lage marna, kabhie mushkil lage jeena)

[[At times drinking in with eyes, at others with lips

Sometimes it makes even dying seem pleasant, at other it makes life tough to go through]]

करवट-करवट प्यास लगी थी, करवट-करवट (Karvat-karvat pyaas lagi thi, karvat-karvat)

बलम की आहट पास लगी थी, बलम कि आहट (Balam ki aahat paas lagi thi, balam ki aahat)

[[As the sound of his footsteps came near, my desires started tossing and turning.]]

तेज़ था छौंका क्या करूँ, सी-सी करती मैं मरूं

डली भर डाला जी डाला जी रे (Dali bhar daala ji daala ji re)

डली भर डाला, डाला रे, नमक इस्क का, तेरे इस्क का (Dali bhar daala, daala re, namak isk ka, tere isk ka)

[[I had put in but a pinch of your salt.]]

ज़बां पे लागा, लागा रे - नमक इस्क का, तेरे इस्क का

Let me sign-off by saying, that Gulzar wrote item songs in such a way that the one had something to listen to and think about, over and above the ogling for which the songs were obviously made. As for me, I'd any day go for the salty love of Gulzar's words than the sweet one of 'Tere isak se meetha kuchh bhi nahin'. On a separate note, do you think the latter one was on some level inspired from the first one? :P