In the famous climax of Abhimaan (1973), Jaya Bhaduri and Amitabh Bachhan reunite on-stage for an emotional rendition of “Tere Mere Milan Ki.”
Today we showcase the lyrics and full English translation of “Tere Mere Milan Ki” from the 1973 hit film Abhimaan. Based loosely on the life of famous playback singer Kishore Kumar and his first wife, Ruma Ghosh, the film centers around a talented newlywed couple whose marriage is threatened by professional jealousy. When high-rolling pop singer Amitabh Bacchan marries innocent country girl Jaya Bhaduri, her newly-discovered musical prowess steals his limelight with alarming disharmony.
The show-stopping number “Tere Mere Milan Ki” is a song of reconciliation in the film’s finale. Flowing with tenderness and hope, the enchanting duet gives Amitabh Bacchan and Jaya Bhaduri another chance to love each other. Is their marriage worth saving? Read more about the film’s story and behind-the-scenes gossip in our earlier review of Abhimaan!
Amitabh Bachhan humbly begins his performance alone and ashamed in Abhimaan (1973).
Rightfully earning S.D. Burman the 1973 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, “Tere Mere Milan Ki” is a classic example of Rabindra-sangeet in Bollywood. The song dazzles with Majrooh Sultanpuri’s poetic nuances, a metaphorical glimpse into the creation of a family. He describes the lover’s eyes as “chanchal,” which can mean playful, but also implies something that does not remain in one spot, a certain liveliness in spirit. With every “dekho na,” he directs that gaze back toward the night of their union, while she looks toward what lies ahead and the family they will begin together.
Jaya Bhaduri mourns her miscarried child backstage of her husband’s performance in Abhimaan (1973).
For me, this song has always glowed. Lata Mangeshkar’s voice resonates after the opening stanza like an angel descending from heaven. But it was only after seeing the film that I realized the heroine of the story had recently suffered a miscarriage. Thus the lines “nanhaa sa gul khilegaa a.Nganaa” are more than a hope for the future, but a true reflection of their family’s dream deferred. The entire song changed its meaning for me, and became if possible, even more poignant.
We hope you enjoy our English translation and lyrics to “Tere Mere Milan Ki” from Abhimaan (1973) below! Follow along with the video here.
Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina Lyrics and Translation:
Male:
Tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
On the night of your and my union
Nayaa koi gul khilaayegi
A new rose will bloom
Tabhi to chanchal hai tere naina
That is why your eyes are playful
Dekho na! Dekho na, tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
Look! Look at the night of your and my union
Female:
Nanha sa gul khilegaa a.Nganaa
A small rose will bloom upon our balcony
Suunii baiyaa sajegii, sajnaa
She will decorate my lonely arms, beloved
Male:
Jaise khele chandaa baadal mei.N
Just as the moon plays with the clouds
Khelegaa woh tere aa.Nchal mei.N
She will play in the folds of your saari
Female:
Chandaniyaa gungunaayegi
The rays of the moon will sing
Tabhi to chanchal hai tere naina
That is why your eyes are playful
Dekho na! Dekho na, tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
Look! Look at the night of your and my union
Male:
Tujhe thaame kaii hatho.N se
I will hold your hand many times
Miluu.Nga madbharii raato.N mei.N
I will meet you many intoxicating nights
Female:
Jagaake aansuunii si dhaDkan
By awakening this unfamiliar heartbeat
Balamwaa, bhar duu.Ngii teraa man
My beloved, I will fill your soul
Male:
Nayii adaa se sataayegii
With a new style you will torment me
Tabhi to chanchal hai tere naina
That is why your eyes are playful
Dekho na! Dekho na, tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
Look! Look at the night of your and my union
Both:
Nayaa koi gul khilaayegi
A new rose will bloom
Tabhi to chanchal hai tere naina
That is why your eyes are playful
Dekho na! Dekho na, tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
Look! Look at the night of your and my union
Glossary:
milan: meeting, union; rainaa: night; gul: rose; tabhi: this is why, hence; chanchal: restless, playful; nainaa: eyes; nanhaa: little, tiny; a.Nganaa: balcony; suunii: lonely; baiyaa: arms; sajnaa [verb]: to decorate; sajnaa [noun]: darling, beloved; chandaa: moon; baadal: clouds; aa.Nchal: the end of a saari (pallu) or dupatta; chandan: silver, rays of the moon; gungunaanaa: to hum, to sing; haath thaamnaa: to hold hands; madbharii: filled with intoxication; jagaanaa: to wake up; aansuunii: unfamiliar, unheard; dhaDkan: heartbeat; balamwaa: lover; man: soul, heart; adaa: style; sataanaa: to torment
Art mimics life as Amitabh Bachhan comforts Jaya Bhaduri in “Tere Mere Milan Ki” from Abhimaan (1973).
This lovely Lata-Kishore duet was requested by fan Dilip! Thank you for the beautiful request! For more songs from Abhimaan, check out our earlier post on the lovely Rafi-Lata duet “Teri Bindiya Re.”
– Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
So beautiful! I didn’t realize this was about Kishore’s life, I always love your behind the scenes gossip, it makes it so much more fun!
Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the film’s director, is said to have based the story on Kishore Kumar’s first marriage–which certainly makes his voice as playback singer in the film intriguing! However, the public commonly recognizes the relationship between the hero and heroine as a true reflection of Jaya and Amitabh’s marriage as well, albeit as popular actors and not singers!
Thanks for these lyrics. I am going to request you to give us “Meet naa milaa re man ka” next!!!
Your comment about the miscarriage added so much to the emotions when I listened to the song again! Thank you very much for the great interpretation and commentary.
Your very welcome, Dilip! It was great to get to know more about this song’s context and appreciate its deeper poetic subtleties. Beautiful request!
As usual you do such an awesome job. Your translation of the deeper meaning and finer points are exceptional – thanks! To me Kishore showed his mastery in evoking the true emotions of the lyrics and what the writer meant. I think this song is in Raag Khamaj and the Taal is Rupak for those trying to play it.
Thanks for the great details Rick! You’re right, this song is a particular Rupak taal favorite and is indeed composed in Raga Khamaj–one of the most common ragas of Hindi music and also one of the most romantic!
Have you seen the first version of this song? http://youtu.be/uvZXSyrsGNk
It has got a nice quality to it, exuberant and joyous. Only Kishore could have pulled off both versions!
Amitabh’s character is thumping away on the piano, dressed in a caramel coloured dressing gown, after one of their first nights as a couple. She comes in armed with a pile of laundry, fresh as a rose, the image of wedded bliss, and interrupts his song.
Such a lovely sequence and it sets the tone for the soulful version later. You can identify with Jaya later on because you know why Amitabh chooses that particular song and why she responds to it. Ah, love!
Great comments! The brief piano solo version is so beautifully filmed as you describe. Thank you for sharing it with our readers! It absolutely sets the tone for the reprisal at the film’s finale–both retain that fresh sense of hope, despite Jaya’s tears!
lovely translation!