Zeehal-e-muskin (Ghulami)

This was inevitable. I know I have done (read translated) this song to death, but I have two reasons to do it again, on this blog.

1. Previosly I had only translated the mukhda, since that was the only part in Persian, and that was what people wanted to know (not that I know Persian, but I had read the translation on net before many around me did :P). Here, I can attempt the full song. 
2. This is a blog about Gulzar's songs, and this one is as awesome as they get.

Since I haven't watched the movie, I'll not go into the the background of, and intentions behind the song; and instead jump right to the translation part :)

Movie: Ghulami (1985)

Music Director: Lakshmikant-Pyarelal

Lyricist: Gulzar

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar

Lyrics, and translation

Zihal-e-muskeen maqun ba-ranjish, 

Bahaal-e-hijra bechara dil hai

[[Word meanings (Persian to English): Zihal = To notice or see, Muskeen = Poor, Maqun = Do not, 

Ba-ranjish = With enmity/anger, Bahaal = Recently, Hijr = Seperation

In Hindi: Is gareeb/laachaar (miskeen) dil ko jab dekho (zeehal), to gusse se (ba-ranjish) nahin (maqun),

is bechare dil ko haal hi mein (ba-haal) apne mehboob se judai (hijr) ka gham mila hai

In English: Don't look at this poor heart with enmity,

It (the heart) is fresh with wounds of separation.]]

Sunaai deti hai jisaki dhaDakan

Tumhara dil ya hamara dil hai

[[I can only hear but two heartbeats - yours and mine

(Everything and everyone else fades into nothingness)]]

Wo aake pehloo mein aise baiThe

Ke shaam raNgeen ho gayi hai

Zaraa zaraa si khilii tabeeyat

Zaraa si gamgeen ho gayi hai

[[When he/she comes and sits by my side, the evening takes on a whole new color

There's a feeling of part happiness, and part melancholy.]]

Ajeeb hain dil ke dard yaaron

Na ho to mushkil hai jeena iska

Jo ho to har dard ek heera

Har ek gham hai nageen iska

[[There's a strange relationship between the heart and pain, 

A heart without pain is as good as dead.

For the heart, every pain is like a diamond and grief is like its jewel]]

Kabhi kabhi shaam aise Dhaltee hai

Jaise ghooNghaT utar raha hai

Tumhaare seene se uThta dhuaaN

Humaare dil se guzar raha hai

[[Sometimes, the sunset seems like a veil is coming off

And I can feel the smoke rising from your bosom, wafting through my heart

(I feel the same emotions that you are feeling)]]

Ye sharm hai ya hayaa hai kya hai

Nazar uThaate hi jhuk gayi hai

tumhaari palakoN se girke shabanam

hamaari aaNkhoN meiN ruk gayi hai

[[Is this embarrassment or demureness that's making you cast your eyes down?

I've caught with my eyes, the droplet that fell from your eyelids]]

Points to ponder

1. In para "Ajeeb hain dil ke dard...", he's perhaps talking about the pain caused by love. The moments of love, even when they cause pain, are invaluable like diamonds and other such jewels.

2. The line "Kabhi kabhi shaam aise dhalti hai jaise ghoonghat utar raha hai" holds a special imagery, since a Hindu bride's dress is usually some shade of red, just like the the various shades of red at evening. In continuation, the next line could mean that "On such evenings, I know you're also thinking about our future together".

3. In the last para, the line "Tumhari palkon se gir ke shabnam...", could mean "I have kept your dreams in my eyes, and they're now my dreams as well."

4. The mukhda of the song is inspired by the a poem by Amir Khusro. The first few lines of which are,

       "zihaal-e-miskeen mukon taghaful, 

       doraaye nainaan banaye batyaan

       ke taab-e-hijraah nadarum-e-jaan,

       na laihyo kaahe lagaye chatyaan"

Meaning, "Do not overlook my misery, by fluttering your eyes, and weaving tales; My patience has over-brimmed. O sweetheart, why do you not take me to your bosom?" (Source - Also find the full poem and translation here)

If you liked this post, please read my novice attempt at poetry - "Dilli", on my other blog Rozaana.