We are not worthy of Waheeda Rehman glistening in head-to-toe teal in “Aaj Phir Jeene Ki” from Guide (1965).
Today we present the English translation and lyrics to “Aaj Phir Jeene Ki” from the cult classic film Guide (1965). A stirring exploration of the Vedic transformation from materialism to freedom from worldly attachments, Guide is routinely listed among the greatest Bollywood films ever made. Based on the classic novel by R.K. Narayan “The Guide,” the film unearths profound depths beneath a glittery surface of a scandalous romance: Raju (played by Dev Anand) is a smooth-talking tour guide who is mesmerized by a vivacious young dancer, Rosy (played by Waheeda Rehman), the wife of an elderly archaeologist. Trapped in a loveless marriage of convenience, Rosy dreams of becoming a famous performer while masking her shame of being the daughter of a courtesan. While her lofty ambitions and enchanting on-screen presence initially propel Rosy to the foreground of the narrative, Raju’s nuanced, reflective character is the real star of the film whose philosophical awakening bestows the film its larger-than-life greatness.
Waheeda Rehman finds a renewed zeal to live with the support of Dev Anand in Guide (1965).
Raju observes with quiet fascination Rosy’s marital discord as he leads her and her husband on a tour of historical caves. His curiosity quickly blossoms into something more as her despair leads to attempted suicide as Rosy’s husband carries on an affair with a local villager. Raju finds himself assuming the role of her protector, whisking Rosy to the city where she purchases a set of ghungroos (dancing bells) from a street stall. The bells transform her instantly into capricious, joyful young woman who realizes how much she has to life for. As she prances back to the countryside, swirling through the Rani Padmini Palace and Chittorgh Fort in Rajasthan along the way, Waheeda Rehman’s “Aaj Phir Jeene Ki” (sung by Lata Mangeshkar) is a song of rebirth.
Guide is a landmark for its ceiling-smashing plot and careful, stunning cinematography that keep pace with its stellar soundtrack composed by S. D. Burman. Follow along with the video here to see how director Vijay Anand cuts between high-angle and low-angle shots that brilliantly mirror the unpredictable oscillations of Rosy’s mood.
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamana Lyrics and Translation:
Kaa.Nto.N se khee.Nch ke yeh aa.Nchal
I pulled my saari away from thorns
ToD ke bandhan baandhe paayal
I broke my shackles when I tied these anklets
Koii na roko dil ki udaa.N ko
Let know no one stop the soaring of my heart
Dil woh chalaa aa aa aa aa aa…
There goes my heart…
Aaj phir jeene ki tamannaa hai
Today I have the desire to live again
Aaj phir marne ka iraadaa hai
Today I intend to die again
Apne hii bas mei.N nahii.N mai.N
I have no control over myself
Dil hai kahii.N to huu.N kahii.N mai.N
My heart is somewhere and I am somewhere else
Ho jaane kya paa ke merii zindagii ne ha.Ns kar kahaa
Who knows what my life gained as it said laughing
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…
Aaj phir jeene ki tamannaa hai
Today I have the desire to live again
Aaj phir marne ka iraadaa hai
Today I intend to die again
Mai.N huu.N ghuubaar yaa tuufaa.N huu.N?
Am I a dust storm or a rain storm?
Koii bataaye mai.N kahaa.n huu.N
Someone tell me where I am
Ho Dar hai safar mei.N kahii.N kho na jaauu.N mai.N rastaa nayaa
I fear that I may get lost somewhere in this journey upon a new path
Aa aa aa aa aa…
Aaj phir jeene ki tamannaa hai
Today I have the desire to live again
Aaj phir marne ka iraadaa hai
Today I intend to die again
Kal ke andhero.N se nikal ke
I emerged from the darkness of yesterday
Dekha hai aankhe.N malte malte
I rub my eyes and finally see
Ho phuul hi phuul zindagii bahaar hai, tay kar liyaa
Flowers are everywhere and life is like Spring, I have decided
Aa aa aa aa…
Aaj phir jeene ki tamannaa hai
Today I have the desire to live again
Aaj phir marne ka iraadaa hai
Today I intend to die again
Glossary
kaa.Ntaa: thorn; khee.Nchnaa: to pull; aa.Nchal: end of a saari; toDnaa: to break; bandhan: shackle; paayal: anklet; koii: someone; roknaa: to stop; dil: heart; udaa.N: soaring, flight; aaj: today; phir: again; jeenaa: to live; tamannaa: desire; marnaa: to die; iraadaa: intention; bas mei.N: self-control; kahii.N: somewhere; jaane kyaa: who knows what, wonder what; paanaa: to gain; zindagii: life; ha.Nsnaa: to laugh; ghuubaar: dust storm; tuufaa.N: rain storm; bataanaa: to tell; Dar: fear; safar: journey: kho jaanaa: to become lost; rastaa: path; nayaa: new; andheraa: darkness; nikalnaa: to emerge; malnaa: to rub; phuul: flower; bahaar: Spring; tay karnaa: to decide
The depth of field in the shot allows the viewer to appreciate Dev Anand lagging behind in the background of the Rani Padmini palace in Rajasthan, India where “Aaj Phir Jeene Ki” was filmed on location.
This lovely Lata Mangeshkar solo was requested by fan Yahya. Did you know there was an English-language version of Guide that was even more daring and true to the novel, but never made it to large audiences? More on its fascinating back-story and how American Nobel laureate Pearl S. Buck and Dev Anand became unlikely co-producers in a future post!
Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand reunited five years later for the film Prem Pujari (1970) that also boasted a gorgeous soundtrack, including the hit love duet “Shokhiyon Mein Ghola.” However, the film failed to capture the magic of their earlier hits and flopped at the box office. Dev Anand would go on to say in many interviews that working on Guide remained the highlight of his career.
-Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
Perhaps one of the greatest movies ever made! A plot that was far advanced for its day, characters with great depth, and that incredible music that only served to further the plot lines. It is timely even today!
I put this song on repeat at the end of every semester. One of the greatest feel good songs of all time in any language!
Thanks for this translation! It’s one of my favourite. This song also always reminds me of a poem written by Meena Kumari. Below is the poem:
kitna halka-sa, halka-sa tan ho gaya
jaise sheeshe ka sara badan ho gaya
gulmohar ke-se phoolon mein bikhari huee
kahkashan ke-te raste pe nikhri huee
meri palkon pe moti ki jhalar saji
mere balon ne afshan ki chadar buni
mere aanchal ne aankhon pe ghoonghat kiya
meri payal ne sabse palat kar kaha –
ab koee bhi na kanta chubhega mujhe
zindagani bhi degi na tana mujhe
shaam samjhaye bhi to na samjhoongi main
raat bahlaye bhi to na bahloongi main
saans uljhaye bhi to na uljhoongi main
maut bahakaye bhi to na bahakoongi main
meri rooh bhi jala-ye-watan ho gaee
jism sara mera ek sehan ho gaya
kitna halka-sa, halka-sa tan ho gaya
jaise sheeshe ka sara badan ho gaya,
A great song and a great plot. I’ll be curious to watch the English version even though it was not as popular.
The complete English version of “Guide” has never been released up-to-day. It appears Dev Anand’s son, Suneil Anand, not interested in releasing the English version.
I can attest that the English version was released — or at least made available for public viewing — in the U.S. in the summer-fall of 1966, because I saw it in Sacramento, California, while in training for the Peace Corps. I don’t believe the English version was ever given a general release in India, probably because it was, for its day, far too explicit for Indian censors. I’ve read that the only surviving print of the English version belonged to Dev Anand himself and that he didn’t want it released.
We’re so jealous! We wish we could get a copy of that film or that it could be released by Criterion for the public to enjoy and analyze. Thanks for reading!
I always translated the first 2 lines slightly different “pulling my sari off thorns, breaking off bandhan (shackles/relationships of the world); I tied paayal (ready to dance)”
(not trying to be *that* internet jerk/troll .. I love your blog and usually lurk.. was just surprised by this translation and I particularly love this song 🙂
Great point, Dev! In our original translation, I had translated it with an implied “badhe hue paayal,” however this way of translating the first two lines is just as if not more poetic–I have slightly altered it accordingly! Thanks for reading!
Thank you Mr. & Mrs. 55 for your continuous efforts on translation of some of the everlasting Hindi songs.
I thought sharing some of the following info might be helpful for people who follow up your website.
Currently there are 2 books available on the movie the “Guide.”
1- Dev Anand’s book titled, “Romancing with Life (2007)” provides a lot of information a bout the movie. It begins from page 183 to 207.
2 – Waheeda Rehman’s book titled “Conversation with Waheeda Rehman (2014).” It provides lots of information about the movie. Both books were published by VIKING.
It is very important to know that Waheeda Rehman was the first Indian actress who won award at the Chicago Film Festival in 1967 for the English Guide in the USA. And why Dev Anand and Tad Danielewski didn’t tell Waheeda Rehman about her winning award, is another story! The story can be read from page 120 to 121.
R.K.Narayan in his book “A WRITER’S NIGHTMARE” on “LATTER ESSSAYS” titled “Misguided ‘Guide'” (Page 206) has an interesting story about the making of the movie “the Guide.” Indeed, all above mentioned books are mind blowing.
Thanks.
Thank you Yahya for the great insights. “Romancing with Life” is an incredible read for fans of Dev Anand everywhere. I have yet to get a chance to read “Conversation with Waheeda Rehman,” but look forward to it!
You folks inspired me to take a stab at translating my favorite Hindi movie numbers. This is the song I started with. Its emancipatory spirit speaks to me. Our translations are pretty close. Here’s the link: http://muse.mythicflow.com/2018/01/today-again-its-desire-to-live.html
About the first line of the third stanza… I hear it as “maiM hU.N GubAr yA tUfA.N hU.N” (मैं हूँ ग़ुबार या तूफ़ाँ हूँ) — GubAr/ग़ुबार meaning blowing dust, as in “kArvA.N guXar gayA, GubAr dekhte rahe” (कारवाँ गुज़र गया, ग़ुबार देखते रहे).
Great translation and post! I listened to the song again and agree with you that ghubaar (dust storm) may be the actual original lyric instead of hubaar (intoxicated)–thanks for the clarification!