Our next Hindi lyric translation is the classic Rafi-Lata duet “Bekhudi Mein Sanam” from the film Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1968). The movie soundtrack is probably the only reason you would ever want to watch this film. Sure, the plot description is intriguing: two men (who happen to both be Shashi Kapoor) fall in love with the same woman (the unbearable Babita). One Shashi Kapoor is soft-spoken and romantic, while the other is an aggressive jokester who is spurned by our heroine. But then! War with China! Both men are called to duty, and when only one returns, Babita can’t tell if he is truly the man she loves–or his rival!

So you’re lured in, egged on by a few other vaguely recognizable Rafi numbers (“O Dilbar Janiye,” anyone?), and think you’re getting yourself in for a long Hum Dono-esque genre twin film with a swinger bent.

Oh, but how wrong you’d be.

Haseena Maan Jaayegi is a painful free-falling bucket of awkward sauce that is weighed down by Babita’s insufferably thick voice, static characters, and an unfocused plot that never quite pulls together it’s obvious loose ends. I mean, seriously Babita? We need to spend two hours watching you try to decide if there is nothing unique about the man you married? Furthermore, what the heck, Shashi? Couldn’t you have convinced the scriptwriter to at least throw in just one line explaining why you guys look so similar? At least turn out to legitimately be twins separated at birth! There’s no way God would just magically make two Shashi Kapoors in this world. A lot of Indian women would be a lot happier if so.

Really, nothing gets my goat more than a twin movie that doesn’t acknowledge that they’re supposed to actually be twins. Do yourself a favor by skipping this cheese-flavored package of dry histrionics, and just youtube the songs because they’re awesome. Of particular note in “Bekhudi Mei.N Sanam” is Babita’s puffy white fur Santa hat and teal blue jumpsuit. This is just in case any audience member had lost their mind and started to make the mistake of taking her seriously. Check out the youtube link for the song here and follow along with the lyrics and translation below to this this otherwise beautiful ode of love!

Bekhudi Mein Sanam Lyrics and Translation

Bekhudi mei.N sanam, uTh gaye jo qadam
Unaware of my self, as I started walking
Aa gaye, aa gaye
I arrived
Aa gaye paas hum, aa gaye paas hum
I arrived nearer to you

Aag yeh kaisii man mei.N lagii hai?
What kind of fire is aflame in my mind?
Man se badhii to tan mei.N lagii hai
Yet, even bigger than that in the mind, is the one burning my body
Aag nahii.N yeh dil ki lagii hai
This is not a fire, its the heart’s desire
Jitnii bujhaayii, utnii jalii hai
However much you try to put it out, it will keep burning

Dil ki lagi na ho to, kya zindagii hai?
Without this desire of the heart, what is life?
Saath hum jo chale miT gaye faasle
When we walk together, all that separates us disappears
Aa gaye, aa gaye
I arrived
Aa gaye paas hum, aa gaye paas hum
I arrived nearer to you

Khoyii nazar thii, soye nazaare
The vision was lost, and the sights were asleep
Dekhaa tumhe to jaage yeh saare
On seeing you, all of them were awakened
Dil ne kiye jo dil ko ishaare
As one heart signaled to the other
Milke chale hum saath tumhaare
We met and walked together

Aaj khushii se meraa dil yeh pukaare
Today my heart calls out with joy
Teraa daaman milaa, pyaar meraa khilaa
In finding your embrace, my love has blossomed
Aa gaye, aa gaye
I arrived
Aa gaye paas hum, aa gaye paas hum
I arrived nearer to you

Dil kii kahaanii pahunche zubaa.N tak
The story of my heart is on my tongue
Kisko khabar ab pahunche kahaa.N tak?
Now who knows where it will reach?
Pyaar ke raahii aaye yahaa.N tak
Travelers of love have arrived here
Jaaye.Nge dil ki had hai jahaa.N tak
They will go to the limits set by their hearts

Tum paas jo to chale hum aasmaan tak
With you at my side, we will reach the sky
Dil mein armaan liye laakh toofaan liye
With a heart full of desires and beset by storms

Aa gaye, aa gaye
I arrived
Aa gaye paas hum, aa gaye paas hum
I arrived nearer to you

Bekhudi mei.N sanam, uTh gaye jo qadam
Unaware of my self, as I started walking
Aa gaye, aa gaye
I arrived
Aa gaye paas hum, aa gaye paas hum
I arrived nearer to you

Glossary:

bekhudi: unaware of oneself, in a trance; qadam: footsteps; aag: fire; man: mind; tan: body; faasle: separation, distance; ishaaraa: signal; daaman: embrace; zubaa.N: tongue, language; khabar: news, knowledge; had: limit; aasmaan: sky; armaan: desire; toofaan: storm

I can’t really explain it, but I’ve always really liked with the way Shashi Kapoor starts his first line walking forward toward her with his hands folded behind his back. It’s bashful, the way Indian men in love were meant to be.

This song translation was done by request from our reader “Beloved”! We hope you enjoyed, and if you’d like to see your name on our blog, send us an email with your burning Bollywood request or leave us a comment on our “Requests” page!

– Mrs. 55