Clad in a tight kimono, Asha Parekh prances about Japan in Love in Tokyo (1966)
Next we will explore the lyrics and translation of the hit song “O Mere Shah-e Khuban” from Love in Tokyo. Shot on location in Japan shortly after the 1964 Olympics, Love in Tokyo (1966) is nothing short of an “exotic” tourist fantasy. The film is one of a trilogy of films I put in this category from the same era with Night in London (1967) and An Evening in Paris (1967). These are movies that dazzled Indian audiences with a glimpse into a lifestyle and culture outside the familiar homeland, and on occasion were almost laughably politically incorrect. Love in Tokyo stars Asha Parekh (playing an Indian woman raised Japanese) and Joy Mukherji who finds himself in Tokyo for reasons almost too complicated to discuss here (or probably anywhere outside a psychiatric ward).
But say what you want about the worth of the film’s plot, Love in Tokyo’s soundtrack is wonderful (the cheesy title song grows on you in spite of its lyrics). The real gem of the album is the love ballad “O Mere Shah-e Khuban”, with music by Shankar-Jaikishen. Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi each sing a version at different points in the film. I naturally prefer Rafi’s because of that deep sublime silky voice, but it’s open for argument. The lyrics have some rare Urdu vocabulary and is an example of probably the only time you will ever hear the “h” in “shaah” actually pronounced because of the “-e-” conjunct that follows! This Hasrat Jaipuri ghazal harkens to a famous couplet of Mughal era poet Momin Khan Momin: “Tum mere paas hote ho goyaa/Jab koi doosraa nahii.N hotaa.” The lines can be interpreted on several levels, literal and spiritual, and are a beautiful example of classical Urdu poetry’s rich legacy in contemporary music.
I loved the intro music to this song so much, I actually featured it in my Harvard thesis film. Enjoy our English translation of “O Mere Shah-e Khuban” below!
O Mere Shah-e Khuban Lyrics and Translation:
O mere shaah-e khubaa.N, o meri jaan-e janaana
Oh my beautiful ruler, the love of my life
Tum mere paas hote ho
You are beside me
Koi doosra nahi.N hota
Let no one else take your place
O mere shaah-e khubaa.N…
Kab khayaalo.N ki dhoop dhalti hai
When the sunlight fades from my thoughts
Har qadam par shamaa si jalti hai
Then with every step there is a light as if from a candle
Mera saayaa jidhar bhi jaataa hai
For wherever my shadow goes
Teri tasveer saath chalti hai
It goes with your image
O mere shaah-e khubaa.N…
Tum ho saharaa mei.N, tum gulistaan mei.N
You are in the desert, you are in the rose gardens
Tum ho zarron mei.N tum biyaabaan mei.N
You are in every particle, you are in the wilderness
Mai.N ne tumko kahaa.N kahaa.N dekha
I have seen you everywhere
Chhupke rehte ho tum rag-e-jaan mei.N
You are hidden within my very veins
O mere shaah-e khubaa.N…
Meri aankho.N ki justaju tum ho
You are that for which my eyes are searching
Iltijaa tum ho, aarzoo tum ho
You are my prayer, and you are my desire
Main kisi aur ko to kya jaanuu.N?
What could I know about anyone else
Meri ulfat ki aabroo tum ho
The honor of my love lies with you
O mere shaah-e khubaa.N…
Glossary:
Shaah: ruler; khubaa.N: radiant, beautiful; janaanaa: beloved; doosra: second, other; dhoop: sunlight; shamaa: light, candle; saayaa: shadow; tasveer: photograph, image; saharaa: desert; gulistaan: rose garden; zar: particle; biyaabaan: wilderness, desert; rag: vein, vessel; justaju: quest, search; iltijaa: request, prayer; aarzoo: desire; ulfat: love; aabroo: honor
As a bizarre bit of trivia, in the film Asha Parekh often does her hair in cutsy ponytails with a beaded elastic. The hairdo became known as “The Love in Tokyo” and was enjoyed a brief period of popularity among the masses. But men, don’t think you’re above this sort of fad–that classy plaid fedora from Jewel Thief? Sold-out in Indian stores across the nation after the film’s release. So let’s just try be grateful for what dignity we have.
Sweet ‘do, Asha. You totally blend in now!
-Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
Such a beautiful song…..
Really such a beautiful song. I did not know the words all these days. I was just singing the first two lines, and enjoyed it.. The lyrics also I enjoy,and it is really very emotional
This is great…one thing you did not comment on how ridiculous the comic element was in the form of Rajendra Nath
Also, this was the time when cheap Japanese electronic products, cameras, radios etc. had started sweeping markets around the globe and India finally woke up to the fact that there was a world worth discovering to its East as well.
Is Lata’s version really inferior? Or is it because Shankar-Jaikishan made her match Rafi’s scale? I would argue that it’s the latter–post about this to come soon!!
-Mr. 55
Spot on! Too often, Lata was made to sing in a scale unsuitable for her naturally lower scale. Undoubtedly, however, this ghazal was right up Rafi’s alley and he sang it masterfully.
Lata has admitted in her autobiography that most of the songs that Rafi and she have sung seperately were originally made for Rafi and she had difficulty singing those songs. Listen to the title song of “Jab pyar kisise hota hai “by
Lata and you will immediately know how strained her voice is , and how easily Rafi is able to sing that song.
when it comes to “yugal geet” there is no doubt that rafisaabs versions come out tops.
no disrespect intended
mostly, under the batons of shankar and jaikishen
A truly silky voice! Oh Mohammad Rafi!
I love the way Rafi’s voice kind of ‘slips’ after ‘tum mere’. The ‘paas’ is so very intimate! His rendition of the word janana makes me feel as if he is addressing me!
Haha yes! Rafi makes all his songs so personal–it’s hard to not fall in love with him–hence why he is my all-time favorite singer 😉
😉
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I was searching the meaning of Shah-e-khubaan since I first listen this lyricI consulted so many dictionaries and so many urdu-knowing persons but ;could not understand its meaning.Irritation overpowered me when this lyric was played.WEords fail me to express my gratitude to you for telling me the meaning of this word
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rafi is so superb and lata not even halfway..truly melodious n sweet sweet song…many spots rafi made it so romantic n tickling…I can hear this song over n over…
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I recently heard the Lata version on radio. The feel with she has sung needs and unbiased hearing. I thought the Lata version was fantastic and superb. In the past I had already been hearing Rafi version and we all love it. But after a long gap, hearing Lata’s version with bias allowed me to enjoy every bit of it.
Correction: ‘…hearing Lata’s version without bias….’
I have been an ardent of Rafi saheb.
I like this song so much that no power
on earth could prevent me from listening
to this sweet melodious song whenever
it is played within my reach
I saw this movie when i was hardly 5 yrs old but still I get moved whenever i hear this song.It i timeless gem
We totally agree! Thanks for reading!
Without sounding biased, most “yugal geet” featuring Lata or Rafi find favor with the latter
This one’s no exception
Great work. Hasrat
वाह। इस गाने का मतलब समझ कर तो “ओ मेरे शाह ए खुबा” गाना और भी अच्छा लग रहा है। जिसने भी इसका अनुवाद किया है, अच्छा किया है।
EXQUISITE RENDITION
EXQUISITE POETRY FROM THE PEN OF HASRAT
Magic created by Rafi Sahib, Hasrat Jaipuri and Shankar Jaykishan..अनहोनी को होनी कर दें होनी को अनहोनी ..एक जगह जब जमा हों तीनों अमर अकबर अंथोनी..The song is 24 carat gold and as beautiful as Shakespeare’s Cleopatra -Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety..(Antony and Cleopatra). More or less, the song seems steeped in a Sufi thought..a prayer to God !
Please keep on this noble profession of spreading the scent of song flowers !
over fifty years on, the magical voice of rafisaab, the lilting lyrichs of hasrat jaipuri are as fresh as ever………………………………
Can anyone identify which ‘raag’ is this beautiful song based on