Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim fall in love by the beautiful Mauritian beaches in Souten (1983).

Today we present the lyrics and complete English translation to the duet “Shayad Meri Shadi Ka Khayal” from the film Souten (1983). A landmark film for prominently portraying the lives of Indians in the island of Mauritius, Souten tells the story of Mauritian businessman Rajesh Khanna and his relationship with Tina Munim who uses the romantic landscapes to her advantage. The song “Shayad Meri Shadi Ka Khayal” is a playful age-old favorite, with back-and-forth witticisms between an eager young woman anxious to marry a reluctant bachelor.

From frolicking through a forest of palm trees to dancing upon a yacht in a sapphire blue ocean, the song highlights the island’s natural beauty as one of India’s favorite foreign tourist destinations. More exotic than Kashmir, but more familiar than Toyko, Southern Africa’s hidden gem, Mauritius, became the ideal dream-world for filmi escapsim. The bungalow in which much of the Mauritian scenes are filmed was none other than the then Prime Minister of Mauritius’ own house. While filming, Rajesh Khanna loved the set so much that upon his return to India, he modeled his own bungalow “Ashirwad” after the house in Mauritius!

Saawan Kumar Tak, director of Souten, recalls of working with Rajesh Khanna on the film,

“I did a great film like Souten with him. He was born to play that role and I was born to make that film. Such was our rare match. It was a memorable experience working with him. Souten was the first Bollywood film to be shot in Mauritius and since then the beautiful destination gained popularity.” 

Palm trees sway as Tina Munim playfully urges Mauritian businessman Rajesh Khanna to ask her parents for permission to marry in Souten (1983).

This song has a special parallel meaning for me and my fiancé, who is actually a Mauritian native who came to America for college where we met! Like the heroine in the film, I was all over trying to get him to marry me almost as soon as I heard his French accent the first time! I can totally relate to Tina Munim in this song. And he too went through an elaborate process of asking my parent’s permission to marry me, but unlike the couple in the film, we’ve been lucky. You have to see the movie to learn more about the troubles that follow the marriage of Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim’s characters in Souten–but the title of the film, (“Second Wife”) can perhaps give you a clue!

Now Souten was actually not the first Indian film to have been shot in Mauritius (Sanjay Khan’s Chandi Sona in 1977 had precedence), however the huge success of Souten is credited for giving Mauritian the popularity it deserved. Dozens of more recent films have taken advantage of the economically-friendly and culturally-similar atmosphere of a country whose citizens are largely of Indian ancestry themselves. In fact, the big blockbuster of the 90s, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was shot at my fiance’s own high school, Royal College Curepipe!

Sweet red visor, Rajesh! Show those locals how we do it in Bombay!

Composed by glass-ceiling shattering female music director, Usha Khanna, “Shayad Meri Shadi” is sung by dynamic duo Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. I hope our English translation of “Shayad Meri Shadi” opens up your horizons to the splendor of an island you perhaps otherwise would have never known. Follow along with our lyrics by watching the song here, and enjoy more sights of Mauritian beauty with some of our engagement pictures at Caselas Nature and Wildlife Park in Mauritius below!

Shayad Meri Shaadi Ka Khayal Lyrics and Translation:

Female:
Shaayad merii shaadi kaa khayaal dil mei.N aayaa hai
Perhaps the thought of my marriage came to her heart
Isii liye mummy ne merii, tumhe.N chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, my mother has called you over for tea

Male:
Kyaa kahaa? Phir se doharaanaa na
What did you say? Repeat it again

Female:
Shaayad merii shaadi kaa khayaal dil mei.N aayaa hai
Perhaps the thought of my marriage came to her heart
Isii liye mummy ne merii, tumhe.N chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, my mother has called you over for tea

Male:
Panchhii akelaa dekh ke mujhe, yeh jaal bichhaayaa hai
You saw me as a lone bird and set this trap
Isii liye mummy ne terii, mujhe chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, your mother has called me over for tea
Kyuu.N hai na?
Isn’t that right?

Female:
Nahii.N, nahii.N!
No, no!
Thiik tum, chaar baje, ghar chale aanaa
At precisely four o’clock, come to the house
Meraa haath maang lenaa, zaraa naa sharamaanaa
Do not feel embarrassed to ask for my hand

Male:
Saat phere mere sang sapne dekh rahi ho
You are seeing dreams of wedding rituals alongside me
Khili huii dhuup mei.N, taare dekh rahi ho!
In broad daylight, you are seeing stars!
Are nahii.N, nahii.N baabaa, chaaii nahii.n peenaa!
No, no, lady, I will not drink tea!

Female:
Kyuu.N, kyuu.N?
Why, why?

Male:
Taubaa merii taubaa, maaf kar denaa!
Oh my goodness, forgive me!

Female:
Inhii.N adaao.N par to haaye apnaa dil aayaa hai
Because of your pretenses, my heart is sighing
Isii liye mummy ne terii, mujhe chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, my mother has called you over for tea

Male:
Naa, naa, naa, naa!
No, no, no, no!

Female:
Dillagi na karo, chheDo na humko sanam
Do not play around, do not tease me, beloved
Haa.N kaho, ghar chalo, tumko meri qasam
Say yes, come to the house, swear by me

Male:
Jaan-e-man, maanaa ham tumpe marte hai.N
Darling, I accept that I have fallen for you
Pyaar to Theek hai, shaadii se Darte hai.N!
Love is fine, but I am afraid of marriage!
Shaadi se pehle to, sab achchhaa lagtaa hai
Before marriage, everything seems great
Saari umr ko phir, ronaa paDtaa hai!
But for the rest of my years, I will have to cry!

Female:
Inhii.N adaao.N par to haaye apnaa dil aayaa hai
Because of your pretenses, my heart is sighing
Isii liye mummy ne terii, mujhe chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, my mother has called you over for tea

Male:
O, panchhii akelaa dekh ke mujhe, yeh jaal bichhaayaa hai
You saw me as a lone bird and set this trap
Isii liye mummy ne terii, mujhe chaaii pe bulaayaa hai
For this reason, your mother has called me over for tea

Female:
Tumhe.N merii qasam aaoge, na?
You swear by me that you will come, right?

Male:
Nahii.N, bilkul nahii.N!
No, absolutely not!
Haa.N terii qasam, aauu.Ngaa!
OK, yes, I swear by you that I will come!

Glossary:

shaayad: perhaps; shaadi: wedding; khayal: thought; dil: heart; isii liye: for this reason; chaaii: tea; doharaanaa: to repeat; panchhii: bird, akelaa: alone; jaal: trap; Thiik chaar baje: at precisely four o’clock; [kisi ka] haath maangnaa: to ask [for someone’s] hand in marriage; sharmaanaa: to become embarrassed; saath phere: Hindu wedding ritual of seven circles around a ceremonial fire; sapnaa: dream; dhuup: sunlight; taaraa: star; maa’af kar dena: to give forgiveness; adaa: style, grace, pretense; dillagi: amusement; chheDnaa: to tease; [kisi ki] qasam: to swear by someone; jaan-e-man: mind of my soul, darling; maannaa: to accept, to agree; [kisi pe] marnaa: to fall in love with someone; Darnaa: to be afraid of; pehlaa: first, before; umr: years; ronaa: to cry

This song is dedicated to another Mauritian ex-patriot and fan of Mr. and Mrs. 55, Ayoob! Hope you enjoy the reminder of paradise glamourized as only Rajesh Khanna in an all-white jumpsuit can. My challenge to you, Mauritian fans: which Mauritian beach do you think this song is film at? Grand Baie, Péreybère, Belle Mar Plage, etc.? Let us know your insider opinion!

-Mrs. 55

Despite the close-call of an on-screen kiss between Tina Munim and Rajesh Khanna, the blue beaches of Mauritius steal the show in Souten (1983).

P.S. Speaking of shaadis, it’s T-minus 7 months to my wedding! Mr. and Mrs. 55 and I have been busily planning our “surprise item” for the Sangeet (non-surprising spoiler alert: it’s going to be a performance of an old Hindi film love song!), and I just returned from India for an epic shopping trip that resulted in more Sabyasachi lenghas than should be legal. We’ll keep posting more details in future posts as the wedding day approaches!