Meena Kumari pines for an unseen admirer in “Mausam Hai Ashiqana” from Pakeezah (1971).
We revive our popular Pakeezah series and bring you the lyrics and English translation to “Mausam Hai Ashiqana” from Pakeezah (1971) in honor of Meena Kumari’s 80th birthday today! This beautiful melody rendered, of course, by none other than Lata Mangeshkar carries the sense of gently waking up from a dream. Indeed, “Mausam Hai Ashiqana” is sung just as Meena Kumari discovers the abode of her secret admirer–and is filled with joy and hope for the future. The song is one of Pakeezah‘s finest (what does that even mean though, when EVERY song from Pakeezah is a crown jewel?!), and focuses heavily on scenic imagery and the landscape. Perhaps this too is because of Meena Kumari’s growing sickness as filming of Pakeezah became more and more delayed (see our post on behind-the-scenes drama!)
Meena Kumari passes the long hours daydreaming of her beloved in Pakeezah (1971).
The sounds of birds chirping are even woven into the opening of the musical track with a shot of silhouetted birds flying across the sunrise: a symbol of Pakeezah’s new freedom. The whole effect is feel-good and tender–especially coming after the traumatic elephant attack of the previous scene. Unlike the other semi-classical Lata solos in the film, “Mausam Hai Ashiqana” is pure filmi bliss outside the mujra setting. At last, Pakeezah is able to express a sincere and true anticipation for her beloved’s arrival–sentiments that Pakeezah had before only pretended to feel when dancing before an audience. Queen of her own realm, Pakeezah eagerly explores the new landscape for once without the fetters of a cruel society. Find the lyrics and translation to “Mausam Hai Ashiqana” below and follow along on youtube!
Mausam Hai Aashiqana Lyrics and Translation: Let’s Learn Urdu Hindi
Mausam hai aashiqaanaa
The season is amorous
Aye dil kahii.N se unko aise mei.N DhoonD laanaa
Oh my heart, find him somewhere and bring him to me
Kehna ki ruth jawaan hai
Tell him that the atmosphere is youthful
Aur hum taras rahe hai.N
And that I am pining for him
Kaali ghaTaa ke saaye
The shadows of dark clouds
Phir humko Das rahe hai.N
Are once more attacking me
Dar hai na maar Daale
I am afraid they will kill me
Saawan ka kya Thikaanaa?
What shelter can there be from the rains?
Suraj kahii.N bhii jaaye
The sun may go anywhere
Tum par na dhuup aaye
But let sunlight not fall upon you
Tumko pukaarte hai.N in gesuuo.N ke saaye
The shade of my tresses calls out to you
Aa jaao, mai.N bana doo.N palkon kaa shaamiyaanaa
Come, I will make a tent for you from my eyelids
Phirte hai.N hum akele
I wander about alone
Baaho.N mei.N koi lele
Let someone take me in their arms
Aakhir koii kahaa.N tak tanhaaiiyo.N se khele?
After all, for how long can one play with loneliness?
Din ho gaye hai.N zaalim
The days have become cruel
Raate.N hai.N qaatilaanaa
The nights are murderous
Yeh raat yeh khamoshii
This night, this silence
Yeh khwaab se nazaare
These visions from my dreams
Jugnuu hai.N ya zameen par utre hue hai.N taare?
Are these fireflies or stars that have fallen to Earth?
Bekhwaab merii aankhe.N
My eyes are without dreams
Madhosh hai zamaanaa
But the world seems intoxicated
Mausam hai aashiqaanaa
The season is amorous
Aye dil kahii.N se unko aise mei.N DhoonD laanaa
Oh my heart, find him somewhere and bring him to me
Glossary:
mausam: season; aashiqaanaa: amorous; ruth: atmosphere; jawaan: youthful, young; taras rehna: to be pining; ghaTaa: cloud; saayaa: shadow; Dar: fear; maar Daalnaa: to kill; saawan: rains; Thikaana: shelter; suraj: sun; dhuup: sunlight; gesuu: tresses of hair; shaamiyaanaa: tent; tanhaaii: loneliness; zaalim: cruel; qaatilaanaa: murderous; khamoshii: silence; khwaab: dream; jugnuu: firefly; madhosh: intoxicated
Waiting for Rajkumar to return home, Meena Kumari sings a song of longing in Pakeezah (1971).
Can we also talk about how Meena Kumari is seen to be wearing an oversized khaki button down during bits of this song, as in, she is wearing his shirt! I never put that together before. Oh, it’s the little things! For more translations from the musical epic that is Pakeezah, check out our English translation of Chalte Chalte!
-Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
I saw the update on facebook and rushed to read what you’ve written about the song. Yes, Freedom is the word! Just like the birds flying back home with the setting sun, there’s happiness in her for having found a home finally. Anticipation, hope, dreams for future is so amazingly blended.
Undoubtedly a beautiful melody. I would call it a hauntingly beautiful melody because the echoes of this song linger behind long after you’ve finished listening to it.
Great tribute to her on this special day! May her soul rest in peace.
P.S : I too love the sounds of birds chirping in the beginning.
Beautiful song and lyrics, and amazingly shot. One wishes that Meena was as beautiful in the latter part of the film, as she was in the first half. All the romantic scenes bear the stamp of her illness and deterioration (I think some of the inflections of tone and acting are also reflective of the demeanour and gravity of an older woman..not the 17 year old she is playing)…Anyways, it’s one of those things that can’t be helped…Thank God they still decided to complete the film (kudos to Sunil and Nargis Dutt for their intervention)…For Meena Kumari, completing the film in her condition (she was virtually a dying woman) was no mean feat, and must have required tremendous will power…great tribute to her… I also like the effect produced by the fact that she is in his shirt.
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Lovely website. If I may point out, the sixth line ought to read “birhan ko dans rahe hain” (and not “phir humko”). I may be mistaken but birhan comes from ‘birha’ or ‘lament of separation’ to mean ‘one who is suffering from the pangs of separation’.
my favorite favorite couplet of this song is – Bekhwaab meri aankhein.. madhosh hai zamaana… superbly awesome.
Oh My God! Urdu, though I know not even a word!, is …….. a profound language. My sincere thanks to you for this accomplishment. May Khuda bless you.
Raveendra
Saawan ka kya Thikaanaa?
What shelter can there be from the rains?
I grew up in India within a UP Hindi speaking family. (for my bonafides).
Methinks this translates to ‘the rainy season (or perhaps referring to the storm) is unpredictable”
Very nice effort Mr&Mrs 55.
I’d like tobpoint out a correction.
You have written :
Kaali ghaTaa ke saaye Phir humko Das rahe hai.N
Pls change that to:
Kaali ghaTaa ke saaye Birhan ko Das rahe hai.N