Naina Thag Lenge (Omkara)

Omkara is a tale of love, passion, loyalty and betrayal. If you haven't watched this movie, let me also pitch in my recommendation here - because this is one Bollywood movie that absolutely must be watched. All those who are allergic to swear words (like my mom :D) can stay away, though. But even for them, once you begin to overcome the initial shock of these words, this movie is like poetry. It's heartbreaking and it'll also make you angry. It'll grab your attention from the first scene and hold it till the end credits roll.

Coming to the song in question, it beautifully complements (and sums up) the movie. The lyrics are majestic in their simplicity. For once, Gulzar has stayed away from ornate words and seems to have consciously chosen stark severity to complement the movie's complexity. 

Lyrics, and translation

Naino ki mat maaniyo re, naino ki mat suniyo

Naino ki mat suniyo re

Naina thag lenge 

Naina thag lenge, thag lenge, naina thag lenge 

[[Don't trust your eyes, do not listen to them

They'll con you.

Don't trust everything your eyes show you. Because sometimes appearances fool us, and things are not what they seem to be on the first look.

'Thagna' is such a nifty little word. It combines deceiving and stealing. So basically you trust someone and they con you - it hurts more than when an unknown person steals from you.]]

Jagte jaadu phookenge re, jagte-jagte jaadu

Jagte jaadu phookenge re, neenden banjar kar denge

Naina thag lenge

[[When awake, they'll cast a spell on you.

And then even sleep will desert you.

These eyes will fool you.

You'll have respite neither sleeping nor awake, since when you're awake you're under their spell and you'll have no dreams to comfort you in your sleep.]]

Bhala-manda dekhe na, paraya na saga re

Naino ko to dasne ka chaska laga re

Naino ka zahar nasheela re

[[They'll not differentiate between good or bad, a stranger or their own

Since they have become addicted to biting

And their venom is intoxicating.

Dasna is basically snake-bite. So just like a snake doesn't care who it is biting, eyes can also deceive their owner. Add to that, once you have fallen prey to their deception, you only take things at face value and lose your sense of right or wrong.]]

Baadlon mein satrangiyaan boyein, bhor talak barsaavein

Baadlon mein satrangiyaan boyein, naina baavra kar denge

Naina thag lenge

[[They'll sow rainbows in the clouds, and make it rain till the morning

They'll surely drive you crazy.

These eyes will cheat you.

I don't know what these lines mean, but I'll try. If we associate it with the previous line (naino ka zahar nasheela re (their venom is intoxicating)) - you know, how when you're inebriated, everything seems more psychedelic and beautiful and colorful. Similarly, these eyes will make you see rainbows in the clouds. -- What do you think these lines mean?]]

Naina raat ko chalte chalte swarga mein le jaavein

Megh-malhar ke sapne beejein, hariyali dikhlaavein

[[These eyes will transport you to Utopia

They'll sow dreams of rain and it would appear as if everything is perfect.

Rains and greenery is associated with prosperity and happiness. Plus swarg (heaven/Utopia) is an imaginary   place where there're no worries and everything is well. Your eyes will make you see good things when there are none.

Again, this may be in continuation to the previous para (baadalon mein satrangiyaan boyein)]]

Naino ki jabaan pe bharosa nahin aata

Likhat-padhat, na raseed na khaata

Saari baat hawaai hai 

[[Don't take their word for anything

Because there's no written agreement, no receipt or record to hold against them

Everything they say is just hot air.

- My favorite lines. These eyes cannot be held accountable for anything, because you have nothing in writing against them. Everything they say is just empty talk.]]

Bin baadal barsaayein saawan, saawan bin barsaata

Bin baadal barsaayein saawan, naina baavra kar denge

[[They'll make it rain when there're no clouds

They'll surely drive you crazy

These eyes will cheat you.]]

Special mention

I love the poster design of this movie. In various posters, each major character is identified along with their primary characteristic. It's very different and creative, and IMO pretty awesome! (I've spent some time in finding all these poster, so  direct some appreciation towards me as well :P )

(click to enlarge)

Assorted (Pukhraj)

As promised in the last post Chhaiyya-chhaiyya, here are a few lines from various poems from Pukhraj, with slight or pronounced devotional undertones. In these poems, the beloved is made out to be sacred enough to be worshiped.

1. From the poem Raat-din (रात-दिन)
तेरी आँखें हैं या सजदे में हैं मासूम नमाज़ी

पलकें खुलती हैं तो यूं गूँज के उठती है नज़र
जैसे मंदिर से जरस की चले नमनाक सदा
और झुकती हैं तो बस जैसे अज़ान ख़त्म हुई हो

[Teri aakhein hain ya sajde mein hain masoom namaazi

Palkein khulti hain to yoon goonj ke uthti hai nazar
Jaise mandir se jaras kee chale namnaak sada
Aur jhukti hain to bas jaise azaan khatm hui ho]

2. From the poem Takhleek (तख़लीक़)

मैं अपने होठों से चुन रहा हूँ तुम्हारी साँसों की आयतों को
कि जिस्म के इस हसीन काबे पे रूह सजदे बिछा रही है

[Main apne hothon se chun raha hon tumhari saason ki aayaton ko
Ki jism ke is haseen kaabe pe rooh sajde bichhaa rahi hai]

3. From the poem Sparsh (स्पर्श)
तुम्हारे हाथों को चूमकर, छूके अपनी आँखों से आज मैंने
जो आयतें पढ़ नहीं सका, उनके लम्स महसूस कर लिए हैं

[Tumhare haathon ko choomkar, chhooke apni aakhon se aaj maine
Jo aayatein padh nahin saka, unke lams mahsoos kar liye hain]

4. Guzaarish (गुज़ारिश)

मैंने रखी हुई हैं आँखों पर
तेरी ग़मगीन-सी उदास आखें
जैसे गिरजे में रक्खी ख़ामोशी
जैसे रहलों पे रक्खी अन्जीलें

एक आंसू गिरा दो आँखों से
कोई आयत मिले नमाज़ी को
कोई हर्फ़-ए-कलाम-ए-पाक मिले

[Maine rakhi hui hain aankhon par
Teri gamgeen-si udaas aankhein
Jaise girje mein rakkhi khamoshi
Jaise rahlon pe rakkhi anjeelein

Ek aansoon gira do aankhon se
Koi aayat mile namaazi ko
Koi harf-e-kalaam-e-pak mile]