Satrangi Re (Dil Se)

In my opinion, Satrangi Re's distractingly beautiful cinematography and a stunning Manisha Koirala take away from it. Because the song in itself is so incredibly exquisite, it ought to be heard in isolation as well.

At the hostel in Banasthali, we used to shut all doors and windows of our room and make it pitch black. Then we played this song on full volume. That took the song to another dimension altogether. Today before writing the post, I recreated that atmosphere. And I must tell you, we were not crazy back then. Go, give it a try!

A 'Satrangi Re' montage.

All the songs of Dil Se are a league apart. But sadly, Satrangi Re's more illustrious album-mates (Chhaiya-Chhaiya, Dil se re, Ae Ajnabi) have somehow overshadowed it, if only a little. With Satrangi Re, three of current music scene's stalwarts - AR Rehman, Gulzar and Sonu Nigam - have come together to create a song that's an absolute triumph. To say that it's my all time favorite wouldn't be an overstatement.

Coming to the lyrics of Satrangi Re - they are much more than just words. There is a philosophy in work here. It is said that there are seven stages of love. This song is a journey through these:

1. Hub (Attraction)
2. Uns (Infatuation)
3. Ishq (Love)
4. Aqidat (Reverence)
5. Ibaadat (Worship)
6. Junoon (Obsession)
7. Maut (Death)

These 7 stages have been so deftly woven in the lyrics, they're almost unnoticeable. But once you get to know they're there, you can't help but feel thrilled about the secret message, much like the secret codes in Da Vinci's paintings.

Lyrics, with English translation:

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, satrangi re

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, manrangi re

[[You, of many colors
You color my soul like no one else has]]

Dil ka saaya humsaaya, satrangi re, manrangi re

[[You, of my soul's color, 
Like a shadow to my heart; my soul mate]]

Koi noor hai tu, kyun door hai tu

Jab paas hai tu, ehsaas hai tu

Koi khwaab hai ya parchhayi hai, satrangi re

[[You are like a light (for my darkness), why then are you so distant?

Even when you're near me, you're like a a fleeting feeling

Are you a shadow or a dream, (oh you, of many colors!)]]

Is baar bata, muhzor hawa, thehregi kahan?

[[Tell me where this gale will finally stop...]]

Ishq par zor nahin, hai yeh woh aatish Ghalib

Ja lagaye na lage, aur bujhaye na bane

[[Love can't be tamed, it's like a fire that overpowers everything else

It doesn't start when forced; but once started, it's impossible to extinguish]]

Aankhon ne kuchh aise chhua, halka halka uns hua

Halka halka uns hua, dil ko mehsoos hua

[[The touch of your eyes sparked an infatuation (that my heart felt)]]

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, jeene ki saari khushbu

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, aarzoo aarzoo

Tere jism ki aach ko chhoote hi, mere saans sulagne lagte hain

Mujhe ishq dilaase deta hai, mere dard bilakhne lagte hain

[[You are like the fragrance of life itself, you are what I desire

Your feverish touch ignites my very breath

My pain cries out for you, while love consoles me]]

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, jeene ki saari khushbu

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, aarzoo aarzoo

Chhooti hai mujhe sargoshi se, aankhon mein ghuli khamoshi se

Main farsh pe sajde karta hoon, kuchh hosh mein kuchh behoshi se

[[You are like the fragrance of life itself,

You're the desire that touches me with a whisper; nothing but silence in your eyes

I bow to you, only partly conscious of myself]]

Teri raahon mein uljha-uljha hoon, teri baahon mein uljha-uljha

Suljhane de hosh mujhe, teri chaahon mein uljha hoon

[[I'm enchanted by your ways, I am entangled in your embrace

Let me disentangle my senses, 'cause my desire for you is driving me insane]]

Mera jeena junoon, mera marna junoon

Ab iske siva nahin koi sukoon

[[My life is now an obsession, and so I will be till I die - 

there is no respite for me]]

(Repeat: Tu hi tu, tu hi tu satrangi re...)

Mujhe maut ki god mein sone de

Teri rooh mein jism dubone de

Mujhe maut ki god mein sone de, satrangi re, manrangi re

[[Let me sleep in the lap of death,

Let me drown my body in your soul

Let me sleep in the lap of death... You, of many colors! You, of my soul's color!]]

Point to ponder:

'Ghalib' means 'victorious' or that which/who overcomes everything. So in the sher - 'Ishq par zor nahin, hai yeh woh aatish Ghalib' - the word 'Ghalib' not only refers to the poet's name, but also the fact that love is like an unconquerable fire.

Sonu Nigam, oh Sonu Nigam! The kind of mad passion you've brought to this song is out of the world. It really makes me want to drown or cry or fall in love all over again. Mujhe maut ki god mein sone de, indeed!

Gham mein hasti ka 'Asad', kis se ho juz-marg ilaaj,

Shama har rang mein jalti hai, sahar hone tak

(-Ghalib)