PHOOLON KE RANG SE-TRANSLATED

Saying that Kishore's songs are beautiful is stating the obvious. That is why I rarely feature his songs as my endeavour is not to put up the most popular songs or the most heard songs. I try to bring songs which we may be forgetting. But today is an exception. This is one of Kishore's most evocative songs, wonderful poetry by Neeraj and enchanting music by the maestro S D Burman. The song has some beautiful shots of a train journey through Europe and I am reminded of a similar journey we had two years ago. In fact I had written this last year on the same day remembering Kishore on his birthday. Today I play it to commemorate World Poetry Day.

What would be our movies without this beautiful, soul uplifting poetry that eases all tensions at the end of a long day. In fact long after the movie plots become redundant and dated, these songs are here to stay, for they adapt and align themselves to very contemporary feelings that we all experience and admire every day. This song has that stamp of eternal love. I saw a glimpse of it up early this week, even if through a rather sad incident. We had gone to pay our respect to a brave and brilliant officer who passed away suddenly in prime health. Now we have known the couple for over 15 years and spent great times together. They really complemented each other- he was a gregarious, glib talker, the life of the party and very social, connecting with kids and ladies and men. She his calm, composed and rock steady counterfoil, shy but solid in times of stress and need, genuinely caring for anyone in trouble. It was harrowing to see her in a state of complete hysteria and trance as she could not even recognise anyone of us for two days we were there. Her mind had completely blanked out all other associations at her colossal loss. In a strange way such intensity and depth of love left us totally stunned and speechless, that we came back home quietly humbled. I could just pray that if at all there is a rebirth, they should be together again next time round too. May God give her the strength to endure the pain right now as she has two beautiful sons to care for. But the incident left me and I am sure many, aspiring to hope for that kind of devotion and love to a person. Well enjoy this beautiful song and be thankful that at least in the realm of our exquisite poetry, such love is celebrated all the time:)


A translation of this evocative song by Neeraj. Pardon a few poetic liberties:

Took some floral tints for a start,
And used the pen of my heart,
To write you a letter each day and vent,
A few words about how you torment
Me each and every moment.

I go to sleep dreaming of you.
I wake up and your memory uncurls.
I remain entangled in your thoughts,
Like the thread in a string of pearls.
Clouds and lightening, sandalwood and water.
That is how we are bound together.
There are many storms we have to weather.
We’ll have to take birth many times.
So intoxicating are this love’s rhymes,
So sweet it’s enchanting chimes.
We’ll have to take birth many times….

You are the music that I breathe,
The lilt of my heartbeat.
You are the swan song of my dreams-
Precious, one of a kind.
You are the bloom that gleams
And scents the lanes of my mind.
Whether it’s a short journey
Or a long sojourn.
Whether it’s a deserted cranny
Or a vibrant procession.
The moment I think you out aloud,
My heart is alone in a crowd.

North or south, east or west.
Your smile adds zest
to all directions.
And I do try my best,
Using all sense and inflections,
To avoid, evade and desist.
But it becomes more difficult to resist.
Storms stopped me, raging thunders curbed.
The world called me fondly away.
But I went on unperturbed.
A picture was enough to hold sway
For me to leave all and come your way.
We will have to take birth many times.
So intoxicating are this love’s rhymes,
So sweet it’s enchanting chimes….

SHOKHIYON MEIN GHOLA JAYE-TRANSLATED

Ever tried to define love? It is a tall order in this world where true love is getting to be a rare phenomenon, preoccupied as we are with getting along the tedious chore of just making a living. Well this song is a brave attempt by the poet Neeraj to atleast tabulate the ingredients of love for future generations so they could try and make the potion almost like a Chemistry lab experiment! And yeah kudos to Kishore, SD, Dev, Lata and Waheeda to give it vivid colours and feel and tune. You have to go touch, feel, taste and smell your love. And as alluring as it may appear, chances are you won't be able to do all of that to a computer screen;-)< A translation of this 'looooove'rly poem by Neeraj that has that special Kishore stamp. Have added a few lines to bring out the meaning here and there. Hope it helps some to zero in on their love:-)

Take a fair amount of mischief,
Some mirth and jokes in liberal showers,
Get the surge of the ocean from a coral reef,
And mix in the radiance of flowers.
Then add a small measure of liquor.
The state of giddy stupor
That you get from all the above
Is what we call love.

Love is like a childhood full of laughter.
It is like the weather gone off kilter.
May feel like an ember while you still flirt.
But as soft as dewdrops when you touch it in spurt.
And no matter where you are,
It could be a known place or somewhere far.
You could be in a crowd or all alone,
In the middle of a fete or in solo zone.
What lingers in your mind like a hand in a glove.
That is what we call love.

And if one had to identify that loved one,
His colour like molten gold is magnetic, bright,
Warming your world each day like the sun.
Her body would ooze the nectar of life
Softly purging your mind of all strife.
As if a tune buoyant and light
Played softly in the still of the night.
And no matter if it is sunny or gray.
What waits for you each moment while you are away,
With the peace and calm of a dove,
Is what we call love.

When you remember your love interest,
Loneliness too passes by with ease.
As if a flute plays and stays abreast
Breathing life into a town like the breeze.
And whatever be your worldly pursuits
The daze that consumes you and refuses to wane,
The intoxication that lightens your routes,
The colour that permeates each lane,
As if cascading from the heavens above,
That'S what we call love.