As the year draws to a close, the lyrics of “Maine Tere Liye Hi” from classic Bollywood film Anand (1971) seems a fitting note with which to reflect on everything that has passed. 2020 has been one of the most bizarre, tragic, and tiring years many of us have experienced. I say “many” to acknowledge that our grandparents, who actually survived far worse–whether the Partition of India or World War II–became among the greatest victims of the pandemic. As a physician, I always spend extra time with my elderly COVID patients who are alone just to talk, even when it’s hard to otherwise feel as motivated to dive into the abyss as we did in the Spring. If you haven’t called your grandparents this week, stop reading this post and call them now.
Finished your call? Did you tell them to watch The Crown and promise to eat a tablespoon of sugar before your next exam? Great. We’ll move on. “Maine Tere Liye” for me has the perfect blend of nostalgia, sorrow, and optimism to encapsulate the end of 2020. A truly must-see film (which I actually watched on zoom with a group of my non-Hindi speaking colleagues this year! A crowd-pleaser to say the least!), Anand (1971) unfolds the tale of a doctor (played by Amitabh Bachhan) whose cynicism of a failing medical system is dismantled by the joie-de-vivre of a patient (played by Rajesh Khanna) diagnosed with lymphosarcoma of the intestine. I was struck by how true Amitach Bachhan’s criticisms of healthcare delivery in 1971 India rang so painfully true in 2020 America: poor patients often cannot access the care they desperately need. Luckily, to balance out these profound, sobering thoughts, I was also struck by Rajesh Khanna’s impeccable comedic timing and, as always, his absolutely dashing good looks (why, yes, he drops his famous wink in this song so be ready to check your pulse!).
The soundtrack of Anand is as legendary as its performances, with hits like “Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli” and “Kahin Door Jab Din.” “Maine Tere Liye Hi” stands out uniquely as a poem of friendship: something everyone needs in 2020. With lyrics by Yogesh and music by Salil Chaudhary, playback singer Mukesh croons about relishing in memories of the past and awaiting a better future. We dedicate this song to all of our amazing readers with whom a deep love of music and film from a bygone era brings us together. We hope our English translation of “Maine Tere Liye” offers a bright moment to your day!
Maine Tere Liye Hi Lyrics & English Translation
Maine tere liiye hii saat rang ke sapne chune
I have chosen a dream of seven colors just for you
Sapne, suriile sapne,
Dreams, beautiful dreams
Kuch ha.Nsii ke, kuch gham ke,
Some with laughter, some with sorrow
Terii ankho.N ke saaye churaaye rasiilii yaado.N ne
These rich memories have stolen shadows of your eyes
Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke…
ChhoTii baate.N…
Small words…
ChhoTii chhoTii baato.N kii hai yaade.N baDIi,
Small words can leave big memories
Bhuule nahii.N biiThii huii ek chhoTii ghaDii
I haven’t forgotten even small moments that have passed
Janam janam se, aankhe.N bichaaye, tere liiye in raho.N mei.N
With every lifetime, my eyes are spread upon these paths for you
Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke…
Bhole-bhaale
Innocent
Bhole-bhaale dil ko behlate rahe
I kept amusing my innocent heart
Tanhaii mei.N tere khayalo.N ko sajaate rahe
In my loneliness, I kept adorning my thoughts of you
Kabhii kabhii to, aawaaz dekar, mujhko jagaayaa khwaabo.N ne
From time to time, my dreams called out to wake me up
Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke…
RuuThi raate.N
Upset nights
RuuThi huii raato.N ko manaayaa kabhi
Sometimes, I’m able to soothe the upset nights
Tere liye biiThii subaah ko bulaayaa kabhii
For you sometimes I call back the morning that has passed
Tere binaa bhii, tere liiye hii, diye jalaaye aaho.N ne
Ever when you are gone, for you alone, the lamps are lit by my sighs
Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke…
Glossary:
saat: seven, rang: color; sapnaa: dream; chunnaa: to choose; suriilaa: beautiful; ha.Nsii: laughter; gham: sorrow; aa.Nkh: eyes; saayaa: shadow; churaanaa: to steal; rasiilii: rich, delicious; yaade.N: memories; chhoTaa: small; baate.N: words; baDaa: big; bhuulnaa: to forget; biiThnaa: to pass; ghaDii: moment; janam: lifetime; bichaanaa: to spread, to lay; bholaa-bhaalaa: innocent, naive; dil behlaanaa: to amuse, to sweet talk; tanhaaii: loneliness; khayaal: thought: sajaanaa: to decorate, to adorn; kabhii kabhii: sometimes, occasionally; aawaaz: voice, jagaanaa: to wake up; khwaab: dream; ruuThaa: upset; raat: night; manaanaa: to placate, to soothe; subaah: morning; bulaanaa: to call; [kisii ke] binaa: without [someone]; [kisii ke] liye: for [someone]; diyaa: lamp; jalaanaa: to burn, to light: aah: sigh
This beautiful song was requested by long-time fans Prasad Sakhamuri and Sheza Iqbal. Thank you both for the very apt choice! As you’ve noticed, Mr. 55 and I have been busy in the hospitals this year, but we read all your requests and kind messages and respond as soon as we can! What classic Bollywood songs have inspired YOU in 2020? We’d love to know in the comments!
– Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
Classic song, classic film… so many little details in the movie that still resonate… and the minor characters too… Johnny Walker is so good!
Completely agreed! There are sometimes when Johnny Walker overdoes it, but in Anand, I laughed out loud during his entire performance!
Thank for such a sweet ending to 2020 and the reminder of what really matters!
Thank you for reading! We hope you have a safe holiday!
I haven’t seen this film since the 1970s as a child. You inspired me to watch it again. Reminded me of my beloved Nani.
There is so much in this film to lift our spirits, we highly recommend re-watching!
Dear Mr & Mrs 55Though my name is Inder Mohan, my mother tongue is telugu and I was born in Madras – now Chennai. I have very little knowledge of Urdu-Hindi but have always been addicted to Hindi Film songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. It’s sources like yours that have enabled understanding the songs that i have listened to. Please try to give us a translation of a song every week. I enjoyed the film Anand and your presentation of this song today promoted me to listen in again on YouTube. I can understand that you’re professionally busy but please consider my request. Keep up the good work. Thanks for your efforts.RegardsInder Mohan
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Thank you for your kind words, Mohan! We are so happy that you’ve been able to learn from our site and join us in our love of classic Bollywood films. We are definitely working to post more frequently as possible!
Very nice piece. This song is iconic- the fantastic blending of melody, meaning, emotion and very cultured acting. We cannot listen to this song without tears welling up. Good music ended in our Hindi movies with Rajesh Khanna.
There is one slip here. The lyricist is Yogesh, not Salil Chaudhary who is the composer.
You have touched on how unaffordable medical care is becoming in the US- well, in India too the situation is becoming the same. Medical practice is a business now. The concept of family physician has gone. We are also becoming a “developed” country!
This song somehow always brings to mind ‘Hamare dil se na jana” from Uran Khatola!
You are correct about the lyricist! I’ve amended the post. It is indeed amazing how the commentary in this film has not aged or lost its meaning across cultures! Thanks for reading!
Greetings the Mr. and Mrs. 55 team,
I’ve been following this blog assiduously since college, but this is my first (long overdue) comment.
First, thank you for your service as physicians. My best friend started residency this summer, and it’s with deep pride and a deeper pit in my stomach that I hear about the daily trials of practicing medicine during Covid. If the nation is burned out, y’all have it 10x worse.
Second, thank you for always bringing so much engaging verve to your analysis. One of my all-time favorite posts was your exploration of Lata- and Asha-ji’s highest notes, and your blog has been critical to my understanding of filmi music. I did SA A Cappella in undergrad, and through your research, I discovered nuggets like how/why old movie songs seem pitched higher than the album versions.
If it hasn’t been done already, I would love your musical take/translation on Saathi Re Bhool Na Jana from Kotwal Saab. It’s one of my favorite Asha songs, and it’s recently enjoyed a resurgence on the various singing shows.
Keep up the wonderful work, thank you for this incredible resource, and stay safe during your rounds! You guys are heroes in every sense!
Thank you for the sweet message, Nilesh! We appreciate your comments and love of music! We’ll add your request to our list! Stay safe and hope you have a wonderful new year!