On June 12, 2016, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history took place at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This tragedy took the lives of 49 innocent victims and wounded at least 53 more. The majority of victims targeted in this violent massacre were LGBT people of color. We stand in solidarity with Orlando and pay tribute to the lives lost in this hate-fueled tragedy through the translation of a timeless song from Mughal-E-Azam (1960): “pyaar kiyaa to Darnaa kyaa?”
Madhubala’s portrayal of Anarkali in Mughal-E-Azam (1960) is widely considered to be her greatest work.
Mughal-E-Azam (1960), directed by K. Asif, narrates the story of forbidden love between Anarkali (played by Madhubala) and Salim (Dilip Kumar). Salim, prince of the Mughal empire, falls in love with Anarkali, a beautiful dancer in the royal court. Emperor Akbar, Salim’s father, is outraged by his son’s relationship with a lowly courtesan. The ensuing conflict between Akbar and Salim, with Anarkali caught in the middle, results in a war between father and son that culminates in a tragic conclusion on all sides.
Although the love story of Salim and Anarkali has been dramatized several times over the decades, this depiction has become immortalized as a masterpiece in the realm of Hindi cinema. This film is considered a crowning glory of the careers for several of the artists involved, especially actress Madhubala, playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, music director Naushad, and lyricist Shakeel Badayuni.
With poignant eloquence, “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya?” embodies the spirit of bravery in love. Indeed, this song expresses a universal message that originates from the time of Mughal emperors yet still resonates today. It inspires us to fight for those we love, to have courage in the face of adversity, and to live our lives freely without fear.
In light of the recent tragedy, let it also be a reminder that love can be expressed in many different ways. Those who love differently from the norm should not be afraid of expressing themselves simply for being who they are. By promoting tolerance over hate, we must come together and take a stand against the persecution of the LGBT community in today’s society.
After all, we cannot forget that love is love.
-Mr. ’55
Madhubala brazenly defies societal norms in the royal court of Emperor Akbar in Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya: Lyrics and English Translation
insaan kisii se duniyaa me.n ek baar muhabbat kartaa hai
An individual only falls in love once in this world.
is dard ko lekar jiitaa hai, is dard ko lekar martaa hai
He lives with this pain, and he dies with this pain.
pyaar kiyaa to Darnaa kyaa?
If I have loved, then why must I be afraid?
pyaar kiyaa koii chorii nahii.n kii
I have simply loved; I have committed no theft.
chhup chhup aahe.n bharnaa kyaa?
Then, why must I heave these sighs of pain in secrecy?
aaj kahe.nge dil kaa fasaanaa
Today, I will narrate the story of my heart,
jaan bhii le le chaahe zamaanaa
even if the world takes my life.
maut vahii jo duniyaa dekhe
If death is only accepted when witnessed by the world,
ghuT ghuT kar yuu.n marnaa kyaa?
then why must I die by suffocating alone?
unkii tamanna dil me.n rahegii
My desire for him will continue to grow in my heart.
shamma isii mahfil me.n rahegii
The flame will continue to burn in this gathering.
ishq me.n jiinaa, ishq me.n marnaa
After living in love and dying in love,
aur hame.n ab karnaa kyaa?
what else remains for me to do?
chhup na sakegaa ishq hamaraa
My love cannot be hidden,
chaaro.n taraf hai unkaa nazaaraa
it can be seen in all four directions.
pardaa nahii.n hai jab koii khudaa se,
If I do not wear a veil in front of God,
bando.n se pardaa karnaa kyaa?
why must my love remain veiled from society?
pyaar kiyaa to Darnaa kyaa?
If I have loved, then why must I be afraid?
Glossary
insaan: person, human; dard: pain; Darnaa: to fear; chorii: theft; aahe.n bharnaa: to heave sighs; fasanaa: story; zamaanaa: society, world; maut: death; ghuTnaa: to suffocate; tamanna: desire; shamma: flame; ishq: love; nazaaraa: sight; pardaa: veil: banda: person, human.
Mughal-E-Azam (1960) became the first Hindi feature film to be digitally colorized for re-release in theaters in 2004.
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
There is no room for hatred in this world! Another wonderful post and reminder that we should all be more tolerant and less judgemental.
Thank you for the timely translation! The picturization, music, lyrics, and singing all come together to create a memorable classic song.
Great translation and a timeless reminder that love always prevails over hate
Although all the various religions we subscribe to preach this message but somehow we can’t incorporate this very simple principle into our daily lives
pardaa nahii.n hai jab koii khudaa se, bando.n se pardaa karnaa Kyaa?
The acme of social disobedience and declaration of bhakthi, all rolled into one. In a public school vocabulary, when the headmaster knows all, why should anyone be bothered to hide things from the tutors and prefects.
If everybody appeals to the ultimate authority, then, social mores might fall but Truth and Harmony might prevail.
Thanks for this translation guys.
I’ve seen both black and white and color versions of this movie. Was it filmed in color, or was it colorized.
It was filmed in B&W because in those days there was not enough money to make a color version. Even so it was the biggest budget film of its day.
❤
So proud of your stand against hatred of the LGBT community.
May I take the opportunity to unequivocally condemn the epidemic of rape in our mother country India? I saw Ghar as a 21 year old in Bandra, Bombay in 1979. The theater, I believe was the same one outside of which Rekha was filmed being brutally raped. I listen to Phir Wohi Raat Hai Kwaab ki. Beautiful poignant song. Also, very sad since both Kishore and Vinod Mehra died so young.
Until we Indians learn to treat women with equality, respect and dignity, we will never truly progress as a country.
Ahh back to the good old bad old days of forbidden love – as expressed in so many songs of old.
You would hold these old songs close to you if your own family cant understand why and who you love.
My support goes to all Queer LGBT, out of caste, out of religion or out of race folk, who know how to LOVE.
As in the other Mughal-e-azam song Yeh Mohabbat Zindabad!!
From the song I mentioned above .. some very apt lyrics for the atrocity in America
Zindabad! Zindabad!
Long live!
Ae mohabbat zindabad!
Long live love!
Pyaar ki aandhi ruk na sakegi nafarat ki deewaron se
The breeze of love shall not be stopped by the walls of hatred
Khoon-e-mohabbat ho na sakega, khanjar se talavaro se
The blood of love shall not be spilled With the daggers and the swords
Mar jaate hai aashiq zinda rah jaati hai yaad
Lovers die but their memories remain alive
Zindabad! Zindabad!
Long live!
Ae mohabbat zindabad! (x2)
Long live love!
aandhi is translated as Storm. 🙂
Thank you for this perfect translation. I’m so proud that you stand against the hatred in its every forms.
Four years later and it still hurts to think about Orlando. My parents listened to Aae Mohabbat Zindabad all the time, and I never knew what the song meant. It was around the time of Orlando when I first read the translation of this song; the first thing I thought of was the LGBTQ community. I won’t ever know the experiences of people in these communities but I know they suffer greatly because society refuse to accept them. I’m reminded of this every time I listen to Aae Mohabbat Zindabad and Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya. Both songs are reminders that people need to accept love and kindness over everything else!
Thank you for those thoughtful comments! We completely agree and hope that we can learn from what happened as a community!
Thank you for the enlightment. I have been trying to get the lyrics and meaning of some popular old songs but I always get the response to use other title or name. I am african a Nigerian and don’t have knowledge of Hindi language. How do I get the list of all translated film songs of the 50s 60s 70s and 80s in particular or those you chose to translaue ?
Hello! We have a comprehensive list of all our English translations to classic Bollywood songs here: https://mrandmrs55.com/hindi-lyricsong-translations/alphabetical-by-name/