Chandan Sa Badan Lyrics and Translation: Let’s Learn Urdu-Hindi

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Today, we present the lyrics and English translation for “Chandan Sa Badan” from Saraswatichandra (1968).

Released during the glamorous Technicolor-filled decade of the ’60s, Saraswatichandra (1968) was one of the last black-and-white feature films of its time. Directed by little-known Govind Saraiya, the film is based on an eponymous Gujarati novel set in 19th-century India by author Govardhanam Madhavaram Tripathi. The story revolves around two star-crossed lovers – played by Nutan and Manish in the film – who repeatedly miss out on enjoying the fruits of physical intimacy due to constraining circumstances but remain spiritually and emotionally united for life.

Manish’s performance is largely passable and limited by his uncomfortable stiffness during moments that call for romance in the film.  As always, Nutan shines in a masterful performance by balancing her character’s opposing obligations to society and her love with nuance and a relatable vulnerability.

Kalyanji-Anandji’s National Award-winning soundtrack features a number of memorable songs penned by lyricist Indeewar. “Chandan Sa Badan,” sung in tandem male/female versions by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, stands out for its exquisite use of pure Hindi vocabulary. Note the deliberate use of Hindi words instead of more common Urdu alternatives such as chanchal (versus bechain), chitvan (versus nazar), dosh (versus qasuur), nayan (versus aankhe.n) and sundar (versus khuubsuurat).

And, finally, as for who sang it best? Mukesh makes a valiant effort, but he is no match for Lata’s effortless perfection as she croons through yet another one of her timeless masterpieces set to the lilting melody of raga Yaman Kalyan. In my opinion, she is no less than the classical virtuosos when she graces us with her renditions in this majestic and soul-stirring raga. Until next time…

-Mr. ’55

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Chandan Sa Badan (Male): Lyrics and English Translation

chandan-saa badan chanchal chitvan
Your sandalwood-sculpted body, your playful glances,
dhiire se teraa yeh muskaanaa
and your gentle smile
mujhe dosh na denaa jagvaalo
Citizens of the world, do not blame me
ho jaauu.n agar mai.n diivaanaa
if I fall madly in love with you

ye kaam kamaan bhave.n terii
Your eyebrows are arched beautifully like a bow
palko.n ke kinaare kajraare
The edges of your eyelids are lined with kohl
mathhe par sinduurii suurat
The vermillion decoration on your forehead
ho.nTho.n pe dehakte angaare
The smoldering embers on your lips
saayaa bhii jo teraa paD jaaye
Even if your shadow is cast upon it, 
aabaad ho dil kaa viiraanaa
my barren heart is cultivated to full bloom.

tan bhii sundar, man bhii sundar
Your body is beautiful, your mind is beautiful
tuu sundartaa kii muurat hai
You are an idol of beauty
kisii aur ko shayad kam hogii
Although others may not need you as much, 
mujhe terii bahut zaruurat hai
I need you eternally. 
pehle bhii bahut mai.n tarsaa huu.n
I have yearned deeply for you in the past, 
tuu aur na mujhko tarsaanaa
please do not make me yearn any longer.

chandan-saa badan chanchal chitvan
Your sandalwood-sculpted body, your playful glances

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Chandan Sa Badan (Female): Lyrics and English Translation

chandan saa badan chanchal chitvan
Your sandalwood-sculpted body, your playful glances,
dhiire se teraa yeh muskaanaa
and your gentle smile
mujhe dosh na denaa jagvaalo
Citizens of the world, do not blame me
ho jaaye agar dil diivaanaa
if my heart falls madly in love with you

ye vishaal nayan jaise niil gagan
Your large eyes are like the deep blue sky
panchhii ki tarah kho jaauu.n mai.n
Like a bird, I shall get lost with within them 
sirhaanaa jo ho terii baaho.n ko
When my head rests in the embrace of your arms, 
angaaro.n pe so jaauu.n mai.n
I am willing to sleep even on burning embers. 
meraa bairaagii man Dol gayaa
My recluse heart begins to sway with joy 
dekhii jo adaa terii mastaanaa
when I see your intoxicating charm.

tan bhii sundar, man bhii sundar
Your body is beautiful, your mind is beautiful
tuu sundartaa kii muurat hai
You are an idol of beauty 
kisii aur ko shayad kam hogii
Although others may not need you as much, 
mujhe terii bahut zaruurat hai
I need you eternally. 
pehle bhii bahut dil tarsaa hai
My heart has yearned deeply for you in the past, 
tuu aur na dil ko tarsaanaa
please do not make my heart yearn any longer.

chandan-saa badan chanchal chitvan
Your sandalwood-sculpted body, your playful glances

Glossary

chandan: sandalwood; badan: body; chanchal: fickle, playful; chitvan: glance; muskaanaa: to smile; dosh: blame; jagvaalo: citizens/residents of the world; kamaan: bow; bhave.n: eyebrows; palko.n: eyelids; kinaare: edge, shore; kajraare: kohl; sinduur: vermillion; dehaknaa: to burn; angaare: embers; saayaa: shadow; aabaad: cultivated, inhabited, blossomed; tan: body, man: mind; sundartaa: beauty; muurat: idol; zaruurat: need; tarasnaa: to yearn; tarsaanaa: to make someone yearn (causative form), vishaal: large; nayan: eyes; niil: blue; gagan: sky; sirhaanaa: headrest, headboard; baaho.n: arms, embrace; bairaagii: recluse; Dolnaa: to sway; adaa: charm; mastaanaa: intoxicating.

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Salaam-E-Ishq Meri Jaan Lyrics and Translation: Let’s Learn Urdu-Hindi

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Rekha nails the aadab in the introduction to salaam-e-ishq merii jaa.n from Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978)

Today, we present the lyrics and English translation of “Salaam-E-Ishq Meri Jaan” from Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978).

Directed by Prakash Mehra, the blockbuster film Muqaddar Ka Sikander became the third highest grossing movie of the ’70s (following Sholay and Bobby) for its mass appeal as a classic masala entertainer. With an all-star cast and a convoluted plot, the film portrays the trials and tribulations of Sikander (Amitabh Bacchan) as he navigates through life’s struggles – from an unfortunate childhood as a poor orphan to a troubled young man with a doomed love.

The soundtrack of this film, composed by the underrated duo Kalyanji-Anandji and penned by Anjaan (Lalji Pandey), was a hit when the movie released and remains popular to this day. Notable gems include rote hue aate hai.n sab by Kishore, o saathii re by Kishore/Ashaand dil to hai dil by Lata. However, the highlight of the film’s soundtrack is the Lata-Kishore duet salaam-e-ishq meri jaa.n, whose lyrics have interestingly been credited to the film’s director Prakash Mehra. Although Rekha’s role in the film is small, she shines in her performance of this mujra number and shares great on-screen chemistry with Amitabh. No one can play the sulking courtesan like Rekha can, am I right?

For the musically inclined, this song is based on Raga Yaman Kalyan with a touch of Puriya Dhanashri when Kishore sings the second antara.

This song was requested by one of our dear readers Salma – thank you! Until next time…

-Mr. 55
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Rekha looks great, but what was Amitabh’s costume designer thinking here?

Salaam-E-Ishq Meri Jaan: Lyrics and English Translation

ishqvaalo.n se na puuchho ki unkii raat kaa aalam
Do not ask lovers about how their nights
tanhaa kaise guzartaa hai?
pass in solitude.
judaa ho hamsafar jiskaa voh usko yaad kartaa hai
Those separated from their companions reminisce about them.
na ho jis kaa koii voh milne kii fariyaad kartaa hai
Those who are alone pray to meet their beloved.

salaam-e-ishq merii jaa.n zaraa qubuul kar lo
My dear, accept these greetings of love.
tum ham se pyaar karne kii zaraa-sii bhuul kar lo
Make the small mistake of falling in love with me.
meraa dil bechain hai hamsafar ke liye
My heart is restless for a companion.

mai.n sunaauu.n tumhe.n baat ik raat kii
I shall tell you the story of one night.
chaa.nd bhii apnii puurii javaanii pe thaa
The Moon was shining in full splendor.
dil me.n tuufaan thaa, ik armaan thaa
In my heart, there was a storm, a desire.
dil kaa tuufaan apnii ravaanii pe thaa
This storm in my heart raged with full vigor.
ik baadal udhar se chalaa jhuum ke
A cloud danced its way from afar
dekhte dekhte chaa.nd par chhaa gayaa
and cast its shadow over the Moon.
chaa.nd bhii kho gaya uskii aaghosh me.n
The Moon was lost in its embrace.
uff! yeh kya ho gaya josh hii josh me.n?
Oh! What has happened amidst such passion?
meraa dil dhaDkaa
My heart beat.
meraa dil taDpaa kisii kii nazar ke liye
My heart pined for someone’s glance.

KISHORE: is ke aage kii ab daastaa.n mujh se sun
Now hear the rest of the story from me.
sun ke terii nazar Dab-Dabaa jaayegii
After hearing it, your gaze will fall.
baat dil kii jo ab tak tere dil me.n thii
The innermost thoughts that have resided in your heart,
meraa daavaa hai ho.nTho.n pe aa jaayegi
I guarantee that they will surface to your lips.
tuu masiiha muhabbat ke maaro.n kaa hai
You are the Messiah for the lovestruck.
ham tera naam sun ke chale aaye hai.n
After hearing your name, I have come to your side.
ab davaa de hame.n yaa tuu de de zahar
Now give me your medicine or give me poison.
terii mahfil me.n ye diljale aaye hai.n
Many of your admirers have arrived in this gathering.
ik ahsaan kar apne mahmaan par
Do a favor for your guests,
de.n duaaye.n
for they will give you blessings.
de.n duaaye.n tujhe umr bhar ke liye
They will give you blessings for the rest of your life.

LATA: salaam-e-ishq merii jaa.n zaraa qubuul kar lo
My dear, accept these greetings of love.

Glossary:

aalaam: condition, atmosphere; fariyaad: prayer; salaam-e-ishq: greetings of love; qubuul karnaa: to accept; bhuul: mistake; bechain: restless; hamsafar: companion; javaanii: youth, splendor; tuufaan: storm; armaan: hope, desire; ravaanii: vigor; baadal: cloud; chhaa jaanaa: to cast a shadow; aaghosh: embrace; josh: passion; taDpaanaa: to pine; daastaa.n: story; Dab-Dabaa jaanaa: to sink, fall; daavaa: promise, guarantee; masiiha: Messiah; muhabbat ke maaro.n: the lovestruck; davaa: medicine; zahar: poison; diljale: admirer; ahsaan: favor; mahmaan: guest; duaaye.n: blessings; umr bhar: life-long.

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Of course, no mujra number is complete without some groveling from a drunk hero.

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas Lyrics and Translation: Let’s Learn Urdu-Hindi

Rakhee daydreams about the ever-handsome Dharmendra in Blackmail (1973)

Blackmail (1973) is considered to be one of Vijay Anand’s most romantic directorial ventures. Starring Dharmendra and Rakhee, this film has all the ingredients to make a great Bollywood film: bogus science,  outrageous costumes, and of course, a memorable soundtrack. This album’s shining jewel is none other than “pal pal dil ke paas,” a beautiful expression of love that is remembered today for Kishore Kumar’s romantic and sensitive rendition.

To understand this song in context of the film, let’s take a look at a brief synopsis of the plot. Kailash (played by Dharmendra) is in charge of operating a power plant that provides electricity to homes across India. His quirky uncle Dr. Khurana (played by Madan Puri) is a scientist that is researching novel approaches to generating electricity via solar sources–how innovative for the 1970s! A local man named Mr. Mehta is unhappy about these advances because solar-powered energy is likely to put an end to his battery business. His business partner Jeevan (played by Shatrugan Sinha) is aware of Dr. Khurana’s research because he is a dear friend of Kailash.

Jeevan is set to marry Asha (played by Rakhee), Mr. Mehta’s daughter, but things change once Kailash unknowingly confesses his love for Asha to him. Taking advantage of this situation, Jeevan plans to get Kailash and Asha married so that he can eventually use Asha to get access to Dr. Khurana’s profitable “formula.” Jeevan arranges to meet Asha in a beautiful garden, but he sends Kailash in his place. They have a conversation about their dreams and hopes, and Asha warms up to the sincerity and purity of Kailash’s heart. In a bold move, Kailash hands over a packet of love letters he has written to Asha over the years to express his deepest desires, and he subsequently flees the scene to avoid embarrassment.

At this point in the film, we hear “pal pal dil ke paas,” song composed by music director duo Kalyanji-Anandji and penned by Rajinder Krishan. Unlike many instances where the on-screen portrayal of a song fails to do it justice, director Vijay Anand has done an excellent job to ensure that this picturization enhances the beauty of the music in the context of the film. In a nutshell, this song describes the progression of love between Kailash and Asha over time. At the beginning, Asha expresses restrained pleasure as she begins to read Kailash’s letters with a coy smile; by the end, she is so smitten by the poetry in his letters that she cannot stop daydreaming about him.

Does the love story between Kailash and Asha reach a happy conclusion? You’ll have to watch the film to find out! Even if the plot doesn’t appeal to you, there’s a particularly steamy  scene between Dharmendra and Rakhee  during “mile mile do badan” that is worth watching for the scandal factor alone.  Enjoy, and remember to send us your requests for song translations — we haven’t received one in a while!

-Mr. 55

Does anyone even write love letters like this anymore?

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas: Lyrics and Translation

pal pal dil ke paas tum rahtii ho
You reside forever near my heart,
jiivan miiThii pyaas yah kahtii ho
And you call this life a sweet thirst.

har shaam aa.nkhon par teraa aa.nchal laharaaye
Every evening, the end of your sari flutters over my eyes. 
har raat yaado.n ki baaraat le aaye
And every night, it brings a parade of memories. 
mai.n saa.ns letaa huu.n, terii khushbuu aatii hai
With each breath, I smell your fragrance. 
ek mahkaa-mahkaa saa paighaam laatii hai
It brings along a scented message. 
mere dil kii dhaDkan bhii tere geet gaatii hai
Even my heartbeat sings a song for you. 
pal pal dil ke paas tum rahtii ho
You reside forever near my heart.

kal tujh ko dekhaa thaa, mai.ne apne aangan me.n
Yesterday, I saw you in my own courtyard. 
jaise kah rahii thii tum, mujhe baa.ndh lo bandhan me.n
It was as if you were saying, “Bind me in an eternal bond”
yah kaisaa rishtaa hai? ye kaise sapne hai.n?
What kind of bond is this? What kind of dreams are these?
begaane ho kar bhii kyo.n apne lagte hai.n? 
Despite being so foreign, why do I find them to be intimate? 
mai.n soch me.n rahtaa huu.n, Dar Dar ke kahtaa huu.n 
I remain in contemplation as I hesitatingly declare: 
pal pal dil ke paas tum rahtii ho
You reside forever near my heart. 

tum sochogii kyo.n itnaa mai.n tum se pyaar karuu.n
You might question why I love you so dearly.
tum samjhogii diivaanaa, mai.n bhii iqraar karuu.n
You might think I am crazy, and I would confess to that.
diivaano.n kii ye baate.n, diivaane jaante hai.n
Only a person crazy in love can understand the actions of another,
jalne me.n kyaa mazaa hai, parvaane jaante hai.n
And only moths understand the pleasure found in burning.
tum yuu.n hii jalaate rahnaa, aa aa kar khvaabo.n me.n
Please continue to ignite my passion as you come into my dreams.  
pal pal dil ke paas tum rahtii ho
You reside forever near my heart. 

Glossary

miiThaa: sweet; pyaas: thirst; aa.nchal: decorative end of a sari; laharaanaa: to flutter; baaraat: parade, procession; khushbuu: fragrance; mahka: scented; paighaam: message; aangan: courtyard; bandhan: bond; begaanaa: foreign, alien; Dar Dar ke: hesitaingly, fearfully; iqraar karnaa: to admit, confess; mazaa: pleasure; parvaanaa: moth;  jalaanaa: to ignite; khvaab: dream.

Dharmendra and Rakhee get cozy together in Blackmail (1973).