Some amusing words in French language...humor

 

I thought of sharing some observations which I found amusing and somewhat humorous related to the French language, especially certain words. Undoubtedly, there are some stand-up comedy clips on foreign accents (such as Russian/ German/ French) and or British comical clips on play with words or their sounds which can be found. I was particularly amused by few sounds of certain words.

I think that the French always like to think one step ahead, for example, when you hear the sound of the specific word, you can know that sound signals what would come next, so essentially, the sound is almost like in a  different time zone ahead (like the US and India, where India is ahead by almost half a day)..

See the list of following French words in particular. I have listed the English meaning (in parenthesis) and then explained that when spoken, they sound like some Hindi words that actually mean something or an event ahead of time....

1. Je (I): So what the French actually meant when they say "Je", which sounds like alphabet J which is literally the NEXT alphabet after "I".

2. hier (yesterday): What they mean yesterday, is in fact now (like here and now) as hier sounds like here.

3. bougie (candle): The pronunciation of bougie literally sounds like "बुझी" in Hindi, which in Hindi means "extinguished", which is we all know what comes after candle is burned, as after that its extinguished...

4. chanter (sing): The word chanter when spoken, sounds like the Hindi word "शांति" which is what comes after one is singing, as music can bring peace or it could happen after the person has sung as then there is peace or silence after song ends..:)

5. mange (eat): The sound of "mange" is similar to the Hindi word "माँझे" which means to clean, as we say in Hindi "बर्तन माँझे" which translates to utensil is being cleaned. It's funny how the action which should be after one eats (cleaning dishes), but the French make sure you are ahead of it..:)

6. blesser (hurt): This word sounds like English word "bless" which is what one needs AFTER one is hurt 

7. lâche (coward): this word sounds like Hindi word "लाश" which actually means a dead person/corpse. No wonder one who is coward is considered dead anyways (at least symbolically) as he cannot be alive to the beauty of the world or take a stand against injustice or fight so not better than dead... 

 8. guerrier (warrior): The word guerrier literally sounds like the Hindi word "गिरिये", which means commanding someone to fall down. which is what is the fate of any warrior as he will command the enemy to fall down or cause their fall down.

9. ennemie (enemy): This French word sounds like English words "In me", and we know that someone who is an enemy, eventually finds its way into the person's mind and psyche, meaning the enemy occupies the person's mind and interior and consumes him, and so "in me" is what would eventually happen for those who are enemies

10. Chemin (path): The sound of chemin is same as Hindi word "शमा", which actually means light or flame. And we know that the path is what leads one to light or we walk towards light.

11.  échec (failure): This word sounds like Urdu word "इश्क़".  So what the French mean as "failure" comes across as "ishq" when heard, and the one who has truly failed (failure) can then be the right candidate for ishq and be turned towards ishq (ishq-e-haqiqi here)..:)

12. naissance (birth): The sound of this word literally sounds like English word "nuisance" and for many (if not all), after birth, it's not easy as a newborn can become a nuisance for some parents (in terms of their care). Or for some with philosophical bent of mind, they know being born on Earth (mrityulok as per Vedic texts), one is going to not have it easy and be annoyed in life a lot)

  

    So, now it's apparent, why I earlier said that the French were ahead of their time and when they speak these words, you know the original word would mean a step back in time than its sound:)

        But in other aspects, I actually found some words, that are right on target, with perfectly aligned meaning, which is actually beautiful. Check these words:

cygne (swan): the word cygne sounds like Hindi word "सीने" which means chest, or can also refer to heart, which fits perfect as the swan is the symbol of true love of the heart.

prière (prayer): this word has sound of Hindi word "प्रिय" which makes sense as prayer is considered a pure thing and its Hindi sound means "beloved", perhaps referring to prayer to God.

doigts (fingers), mains (hands)" Doigts and mains have the sound of Hindi words "दुआ" and "माँ", respectively. Interestingly, we know the dua made by a mother using the fingers on the hand (and the hand), so the sounds are so perfectly matched :)

père (father): the word's pronunciation is same as Hindi word "पर", which means "not mine", or another's.   mère (mother): The sound of this French word actually sounds like Hindi word "मेरे" which means mine/close. Moreover, this is one of the words whose sound is similar to another French word (mer) which means "sea" after translating. So, the French seem to be very connected to their mother figures, as indeed a mother's love is vast like the sea, and it is common for some children to feel closeness to the mother (hence the meaning of मेरे) and not the father :).

 I smiled at this interesting play of words and sounds and meanings....

Divine Sufi Kalams woven in divine poetry

 

Very recently, I heard some Sufi songs on YouTube (posted by DervishBeats channel), and I was glued to its music and poetry. Interestingly, the words of the poetry resonated so much and were so sublime, that I had to find the name of the poet, and he was an Indian poet, Jigar Moradabadi. Interestingly, I had listened few shayaris or kalams by that poet here and there (including the very famous lines of "yeh ishq nahin aasaan, aag ka dariya hai aur doob ke jana hai" familiar to many as its often common in some Bollywood movies).

I had known of few beautiful lines (see below) and found out they were actually written by Jigar Moradabadi..

"दिल गया रौनक़-ए-हयात गई

ग़म गया सारी कायनात गई"- Jigar Moradabadi

I am posting (link and lyrics/poetry) of few songs I heard, and they are so captivating, with even the music very soothing (with heavy use of Middle eastern instruments)..The lines I found particularly close, are highlighted..The first song link is a masterpiece of Sufi poetry (by Peer Naseeruddin Naseer), the second by another poet (Zaheen), while the others are poetries of Jigar Moradabadi, woven in music, like a qawwali...

The channel has so many more songs to explore...

1.

Meri Zindagi To Firaaq Hai | In Separation, The Soul Finds Its Beloved | Devotional Sufi Kalam

"मिरी ज़िंदगी तो फ़िराक़ है वो अज़ल से दिल में मकीं सही

वो निगाह-ए-शौक़ से दूर हैं रग-ए-जाँ से लाख क़रीं सही

 

हमें जान देनी है एक दिन वो किसी तरह वो कहीं सही

हमें आप खींचे दार पर जो नहीं कोई तो हमीं सही

 

ग़म-ए-ज़िंदगी से फ़रार क्या ये सुकून क्यूँ ये क़रार क्या

ग़म-ए-ज़िंदगी भी है ज़िंदगी जो नहीं ख़ुशी तो नहीं सही

 

सर-ए-तूर हो सर-ए-हश्र हो हमें इंतिज़ार क़ुबूल है

वो कभी मिलें वो कहीं मिलें वो कभी सही वो कहीं सही

 

न हो उन पे जो मिरा बस नहीं कि ये 'आशिक़ी है हवस नहीं

मैं उन्हीं का था मैं उन्हीं का हूँ वो मिरे नहीं तो नहीं सही

 

मुझे बैठने की जगह मिले मिरी आरज़ू का भरम रहे

तिरी अंजुमन में अगर नहीं तिरी अंजुमन के क़रीं सही

 

तिरे वास्ते है ये वक़्फ़-ए-सर रहे ता-अबद तिरा संग-ए-दर

कोई सज्दा-रेज़ न हो सके तो न हो मिरी ही जबीं सही

 

मिरी ज़िंदगी का नक़ीब है नहीं दूर मुझ से क़रीब है

मुझे उस का ग़म तो नसीब है वो अगर नहीं तो नहीं सही

 

जो हो फ़ैसला वो सुनाइए उसे हश्र पर न उठाइए

जो करेंगे आप सितम वहाँ वो अभी सही वो यहीं सही

 

उसे देखने की जो लौ लगी तो 'नसीर' देख ही लेंगे हम

वो हज़ार आँख से दूर हो वो हज़ार पर्दा-नशीं सही"

-पीर नसीरुद्दीन नसीर

https://sufinama.org/kalaam/mirii-zindagii-to-firaaq-hai-vo-azal-se-dil-men-makiin-sahii-pir-naseeruddin-naseer-kalaam-20?lang=hi

2.

Ishq ka Anjaam Kya hai - محّبت کیا ہے | A Soulful Heart Touching Kalam | Qawwali

“mohabbat ġham hai to ārām kyā hai

hameñ ārām se phir kaam kyā hai

 

samajh meñ dil kī bāteñ kuchh na aa.eñ

na jaane 'ishq kā paiġhām kyā hai

 

mohabbat hī mohabbat hai zamāna

mohabbat ḳhaas hai to 'aam kyā hai

 

nigāhoñ meñ hai mastī kī haqīqat

tirī āñkhoñ ke aage jaam kyā hai

 

safar meñ zindagī kī manzileñ haiñ

nahīñ to subah kyā hai shaam kyā hai

 

har achchhe naam se un ko pukārā

ḳhudā mā'lūm un kā naam kyā hai

 

'zaheen' un ke chale jaane se pahle

na jaane 'ishq kā anjām kyā hai”

-ZAHEEN SHAH TAJI

 

3.

Ik Aag Si - اِک آگ سی | Sufi Kalam — A Devotional Journey Through Fire

"आँखों में बस के दिल में समा कर चले गए

ख़्वाबीदा ज़िंदगी थी जगा कर चले गए

 

हुस्न-ए-अज़ल की शान दिखा कर चले गए

इक वाक़िआ' सा याद दिला कर चले गए

 

चेहरे तक आस्तीन वो ला कर चले गए

क्या राज़ था कि जिस को छुपा कर चले गए

 

रग रग में इस तरह वो समा कर चले गए

जैसे मुझी को मुझ से चुरा कर चले गए

 

मेरी हयात-ए-इश्क़ को दे कर जुनून-ए-शौक़

मुझ को तमाम होश बना कर चले गए

 

समझा के पस्तियाँ मिरे औज-ए-कमाल की

अपनी बुलंदियाँ वो दिखा कर चले गए

 

अपने फ़रोग़-ए-हुस्न की दिखला के वुसअ'तें

मेरे हुदूद-ए-शौक़ बढ़ा कर चले गए

 

हर शय को मेरी ख़ातिर-ए-नाशाद के लिए

आईना-ए-जमाल बना कर चले गए

 

आए थे दिल की प्यास बुझाने के वास्ते

इक आग सी वो और लगा कर चले गए

 

आए थे चश्म-ए-शौक़ की हसरत निकालने

सर-ता-क़दम निगाह बना कर चले गए

 

अब कारोबार-ए-इश्क़ से फ़ुर्सत मुझे कहाँ

कौनैन का वो दर्द बढ़ा कर चले गए

 

शुक्र-ए-करम के साथ ये शिकवा भी हो क़ुबूल

अपना सा क्यूँ न मुझ को बना कर चले गए

 

लब थरथरा के रह गए लेकिन वो ऐ 'जिगर'

जाते हुए निगाह मिला कर चले गए"

-जिगर मुरादाबादी

 

4.

Ek Lafz-e-Mohabbat | The Burning of Ishq | A Soulful Devotional Sufi Kalam

"इक लफ़्ज़-ए-मोहब्बत का अदना ये फ़साना है
सिमटे तो दिल-ए-आशिक़ फैले तो ज़माना है

ये किस का तसव्वुर है ये किस का फ़साना है
जो अश्क है आँखों में तस्बीह का दाना है

दिल संग-ए-मलामत का हर-चंद निशाना है
दिल फिर भी मिरा दिल है दिल ही तो ज़माना है

हम इश्क़ के मारों का इतना ही फ़साना है
रोने को नहीं कोई हँसने को ज़माना है

वो और वफ़ा-दुश्मन मानेंगे न माना है
सब दिल की शरारत है आँखों का बहाना है

शाएर हूँ मैं शाएर हूँ मेरा ही ज़माना है
फ़ितरत मिरा आईना क़ुदरत मेरा शाना है

जो उन पे गुज़रती है किस ने उसे जाना है
अपनी ही मुसीबत है अपना ही फ़साना है

क्या हुस्न ने समझा है क्या इश्क़ ने जाना है
हम ख़ाक-नशीनों की ठोकर में ज़माना है

आग़ाज़-ए-मोहब्बत है आना है न जाना है
अश्कों की हुकूमत है आहों का ज़माना है

आँखों में नमी सी है चुप चुप से वो बैठे हैं
नाज़ुक सी निगाहों में नाज़ुक सा फ़साना है

हम दर्द-ब-दिल नालाँ वो दस्त-ब-दिल हैराँ
ऐ इश्क़ तो क्या ज़ालिम तेरा ही ज़माना है

या वो थे ख़फ़ा हम से या हम हैं ख़फ़ा उन से
कल उन का ज़माना था आज अपना ज़माना है

ऐ इश्क़-ए-जुनूँ-पेशा हाँ इश्क़-ए-जुनूँ-पेशा
आज एक सितमगर को हँस हँस के रुलाना है

थोड़ी सी इजाज़त भी ऐ बज़्म-गह-ए-हस्ती
आ निकले हैं दम-भर को रोना है रुलाना है

ये इश्क़ नहीं आसाँ इतना ही समझ लीजे
इक आग का दरिया है और डूब के जाना है

ख़ुद हुस्न-ओ-शबाब उन का क्या कम है रक़ीब अपना
जब देखिए अब वो हैं आईना है शाना है

तस्वीर के दो रुख़ हैं जाँ और ग़म-ए-जानाँ
इक नक़्श छुपाना है इक नक़्श दिखाना है

ये हुस्न-ओ-जमाल उन का ये इश्क़-ओ-शबाब अपना
जीने की तमन्ना है मरने का ज़माना है

मुझ को इसी धुन में है हर लहज़ा बसर करना
अब आए वो अब आए लाज़िम उन्हें आना है

ख़ुद्दारी-ओ-महरूमी महरूमी-ओ-ख़ुद्दारी
अब दिल को ख़ुदा रक्खे अब दिल का ज़माना है

अश्कों के तबस्सुम में आहों के तरन्नुम में
मासूम मोहब्बत का मासूम फ़साना है

आँसू तो बहुत से हैं आँखों में 'जिगर' लेकिन
बंध जाए सो मोती है रह जाए सो दाना है"

 -जिगर मुरादाबादी

The Tune of Tenderness- one of my poems that received honorary mention (NCPLS) in 2016

 

I stumbled across one of my poems (in English) that I wrote almost ten years ago, and it got into honorary mention (just after the top 3 finalists) in the prestigious Nassau County Poet Laureate Society (NCPLS) in the year 2016. That was one of the poems which was inspired directly from music (or rather a musician) so-to-speak and when I composed it (in a coffeeshop in Stony Brook, New York), I had the faintest idea that it would get accolades or get accepted. Unfortunately, I did not have any printed version or book version of that year (perhaps it may not have been released), where the poetry could be found, hence I thought now is the best time to post it and share it on my blog, especially as its already published. 

I remember when I read it during the award ceremony (when the certificate was given to the winners and the honorary candidates), I did reveal the source or the muse of my poem. I thought it's apt to share it here too. But first of all, here is the poem:

Tune of Tenderness

 

I see the way you comfort

The trembling cello.

You rock it delicately,

Gently,

Soothing its

Tense strings.

The motion-

One of calmness,

Motherliness,

Loveliness.

 

The cello,

Like the fearful child,

Disperses her fears,

Pain and hurts,

In the tunes-

The tune of tenderness

 

And I am assured-

When I come to you,

I will not be disappointed.

-Shilpi Goenka

So, as its obvious, the focus of my poem was a man playing the cello, and truth be told, I was listening to the music of the popular band -2Cellos which has two amazing musicians from Croatia, namely, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. I was trying to find out which particular video I listened to which evoked that emotion which I channeled in words, however, I could not locate the exact video, but I think it must have been one of these videos only (12 years ago). 

2CELLOS - Gabriel's Oboe (The Mission)

Gypsy Airs (Concert for Japan) - LUKA SULIC

2CELLOS - Benedictus (by Karl Jenkins) [LIVE at Arena Zagreb]

(88) 2CELLOS - Fields of Gold [LIVE at Arena Pula] - YouTube 

Both the musicians are so gifted and humorous too, although Luka is less funny but more on a serious note, perhaps that may have been the muse for me. I think his beauty and grace and passion inspired the emotion which I transformed into simple words, which eventually did find familiarity with the judge(s) who selected it.

                                                                           Shot of the musician Luka playing his cello...

"99 songs" movie....music is duniya ka ek aakhri bacha hua jadoo hai....

 I had watched a Hindi movie (99 songs) almost a year ago, that was released in 2021 and had been wanting to write my thoughts on it but kept on procrastinating. I heard the soundtrack of this movie and was in awe of it and was not surprised that it was composed by AR Rahman; however, what was intriguing was that AR Rahman also wrote the script and co-produced it. I am of the view that any person who is sensitive to music or is a musician should watch this movie and understand why its a masterpiece....

    The story of the movie is about a musician (played by the newcomer Ehan Bhat), compelled to create 100 songs prior to marrying the woman he loves (played by a foreign actress Edilsy Vargas), who embarks on a profound and emotional odyssey through his music. The father of the actress is a controlling and arrogant person and puts forth a condition to the actor (who is a struggling singer and musician) that he can only allow him to marry his daughter if he can compose 100 songs for her. This comes as a response when the actor claims that music has the power and even one song can change the world...The actress is depicted as mute girl in the movie who cannot communicate via words but is shown to communicate via her art and paintings. As the actor sets out on his journey to compose the 100 songs, he travels away and comes across difficult experiences which change the course of his life. 

One thing which is the highlight of the movie (and is shown in flashes) is that his own father is an abusive man who always prevented him to go anywhere near to music or play musical instruments or any kind or even buy them. But the actor in his childhood days just could not delete the intense attraction for music and sounds. So much so that he would often sneak away and try to rebel but only to be met with violent outbursts from his controlling father...Such was his pure desire for music, that in one scene of the movie (which particularly stays with me) he requested his father to buy a guitar for his birthday at a store but he instead gets him some kites to fly. Such is a purity of his longing for music, that he is shown flying six kites by the boat and then sits by the boat where all the six strings can be actually played like the string of a guitar due to the wind making them taut..The scene is both poignant and brilliant and leaves one to think from the eyes of a child who seems to find that bliss by himself (see scene shots below):

    Interestingly, the mother figure of both the actor and the actress are absent in the movie. We do not get to know about the mother of the actress, but the mother of the actor was shown to die just after childbirth. And in the early half of the movie, one assumes that his father's anger towards the child could stem from him holding the child as inauspicious and the cause of his wife's death. However, the reason for this is revealed later in the movie's plot, which is also the turning point of the movie. As the actor lands in prison due to the mistake of his best friend (who redeemed him in the end), with no fault of his own, he is seen to come to terms with his own soul and his own self. The scene where he draws the keys of the piano on the prison wall and plays them is very beautiful. A psychotherapist (played by actress Manisha Koirala) is shown to enter the prison and acts like a mentor and tries to help him heal and play music again and believe in the magic of music. Her words "Music is duniya ka ek aakhri bacha hua jadoo hai..."are indeed sublime...And then there is the moment of truth when someone from his deceased mother's family comes to the prison and reveals the hidden secret about his mother's life and her death.  It turns out that his mother was a gifted and famous singer (who would sing devotional songs of God) and it was her voice and singing that actually won the heart of his father who married her, but later due to the rising jealousy and his own insecurity, he turned violent towards her so much so that he asked all the musical instruments to be thrown out of the house or shut off. But the mother who was carrying her child (the actor) would secretly sing to the unborn son a melody and one fine day was caught by the abusive husband, who physically assaulted her which led to some medical complications, and we are revealed that she perhaps gave birth to the son and died due to trauma.  This revelation of the actor who had been missing the mother figure in his entire life and the realization of the origin of his passion for music leave him both broken yet healed in a way. The scenes where his mother's spirit visits him and urges to play music and sing are the soul of the movie. We are shown that the actor had composed 99 songs by them, and was short of 1 song (to fulfil his supposed promise to win the woman he loved), and he is then shown to almost hear the voice of his own soul and compose a song and a melody (which happens to be the same melody his mother would sing to him when he was in her womb)...He sings that song with no desire to go live or public with it or any attachments, he just sings it in the prison before being released on the last day, and we are shown his friend (who was guilty of ruining his friends' life by landing him in prison) secretly recording the song and sending it to Indian radio stations where it becomes live on radio. 

    And the turn of events is such that, we are shown that one influential political minister (who was actually very corrupt) is travelling in his car and hears the song and is almost captivated by it, when all of a sudden the car crashes (and we are shown a beautiful moment when all the bribe money in his briefcase is circling his face in that death experience), yet miraculously he escaped alive although his driver is dead...With scratches and wounds, he has a change of heart and understands that he was not being true to the country and his motherland (India)..Somehow, the words of the song by the actor (where he is calling to his mother's love) awakened the love he should have had for his motherland.. And we are shown that he atones for his past sins by revealing names of all corrupt nexus in power, almost a redemption...

        Towards the end, we see that the actor actually goes back to his mother's home after the 100th song (but one song for the world) and has no desire for the woman (actress) for whom he first set out on this journey, as he almost found his niche and contentment and was transformed and healed. However, we are shown the actress finding him and reconciling (as she was also under a misunderstanding about him earlier) and in the movie we are shown they both compose music together. Essentially, the actress is shown holding a wand like structure and waving it and the actor in the background plays the grand piano. Probably this could mean the actress is the one who gives words (via the wand symbolic of pen) to the musical compositions of the actor.

        So, it did turn out that his promise of one song that can change the world indeed came true but in an unusual way. But it took 99 songs (inspired by the love of a romantic nature) to get to that state of one song (inspired by the love of the missing mother figure) ...And one wonders why the title of the movie would be "99 songs" instead of "100 songs". Moreover, the idea of banning music completely and throwing off musical instruments in the house of the actor by his father can hint to rigidity that is often heard in the religion of Islam, where some believe that music is haram in the religion and any instrument should not be played...Well, the story was written by AR Rahman, who himself was born a Hindu, but adopted Sufism as his religion, and his music and songs are heavily inspired by it, it's almost that he channels divinity through his music in the world....My interpretation is that the character of the actor's father might be inspired by a similar character AR Rahman may have known or come across, hinting at the rigidity of some religions...Moreover, in the key song, the lines talk of "hooron ki chaahat mein amrit piya", which indeed refer to the Islamic idea where 72 hoors are promised to the momin (believer) after the death and judgment....Moreover, Islam has 99 names of Allah, and I think that the title of this movie seems to be inspired from that idea...After watching this movie, I had a feeling that I understood perhaps, why there are 99 but not 100 names of God in Islam...It is because, perhaps the 100th name is that for the mother who is on earth here- referring to the mother's love, and as we know someone said that "god could not be everywhere so he made mothers" seem to resonate...No wonder, the key song (100th song) is in fact calling out to the mother after God...That song literally feels like a Sufi poetry, and I could not stop listening to it for such a long time...

Interestingly, the name of the actress in the movie is Sophie (that actually sounds like Sufi)...Plus, the idea of one song taking over the world by the protagonist who has an abusive father but who undertakes a journey to heal his soul in this movie is very reminiscent of the true story of MercyMe band whose song "I can only imagine" MercyMe - I Can Only Imagine (The Movie Session - Official Music Video took over the world in Gospel Music, and the story of that movie (by the same name and its melodious song is I Can Only Imagine Movie | Song Performance) bears some similarity to the movie 99 songs although there are different on many aspects otherwise. This song is also so beautiful, and the funny part is that I actually heard it in a car myself when I was being driven by a good woman (Julie), when she took me for Bible lessons back in Ohio., though the car did not need to crash for me to value the music and its words.

The 100th song (or the SONG that is the highlight of the movie) can be heard here and lyrics are after that:

O Aashiqa - (Film Version) 99 Songs|@A. R. Rahman|Ehan Bhat|Edilsy|Shashwat 

"O ashiqa tune kya dil diya
Dil lene ke liye hi dil diya
Hooron ki chaahat mein amrit piya
Toh kya piya, o pyaseya

O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Agar aise toh yaara kya jiya
O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Hisaabo mein yaara kya jiya

Ki sabke Khuda se bas apni duaa
Ye kaisi dua ki, o jogiya
Gira ke imaan banaya mahal
Toh kya banaya o karigara

O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Agar aise toh yaara kya jiya
O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Hisaabo mein yaara kya jiya

Khuda ki koi ishq ki kahe
Baat koi Maa ki keh na sake
Kya bole Kabira, kya Bullah kahe
Maa na mile toh Khuda naa mile

O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Agar aise toh yaara kya jiya
O jiya, tu jiya, tu jiya
Hisaabo mein yaara kya jiya.

O Maa kaise pukaarun
Kaise karz chukaaun
Tera diya, kaha bhi na jaaye
Tere sadke, jaan bhi meri jaaye
Khwaab tere, mere dil mein dhadke
O Maa, Rab ki saari duaayein barse

Maa.."

Check out other songs of this movie, all are brilliant, especially these one too:

Jwalamukhi - Official Lyric Video|99 Songs|@A. R. Rahman|Ehan Bhat|Edilsy Vargas

(amazing tune with sounds of hangdrum)

Teri Nazar - Official Music Video | 99 Songs | A R Rahman | Shashwat Singh | Ehan B | Edilsy V

(very melodious)

 

Love Songs of longing: Beautiful similarities

 

I am sharing some of very beautiful melodies (all Hindi), particularly as there is a common chord in all of them as they all are songs based on longing and search for the one (Beloved) by the other one (who has not yet crossed paths with the other). The first two are from the eyes of the female (as in searching incessantly for the other half) while the remaining are from the eyes of the male. Interestingly, all songs are the ones I have always listened to and thought of putting them together as the lyrics illustrate the depth of emotions and are one of the finest poetries I have come across.

1. 

Nazren Dhoondhe Saajan Ko {HD} Video Song | Hameshaa | Saif Ali Khan, Kajol | Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun

This song is from an amazingly haunting movie (which has one of the most melodious soundtracks I have heard) and as per the storyline, it is based on the heroine's incessant longing for the beloved. The lyrics are simple and profound...

The lyrics are:

"nazre nazre dhunde dhunde sajan ko
hay hay ram dhunde dhunde sajan ko
ye bindiya bole aaja, ye kangna bole aaja
payaliya bole aaja aaja
na tarsa apni sajni ko

pawan ke jhoke goli mare
pee ki yaad dilaye
sajna se ye sawre badra
sawan me ghir aaye
holi aaye holi jaye
ab jali holi holi
rang baithi hu sajna ke rang me
apni chunariya choli
aayi diwali sabke bhawan me
lakho deep jalaye
nainan deep jalakar baithi
bina palak jhapkaye
rahi re dhunde dhunde sajan ko
hay hay ram dhunde dhunde sajan ko
ye nathni bole aaja, ye mehndi bole aaja
ye kajal bole aaja aaja
na tarsa apni sajni ko
nazre dhunde dhunde sajan ko
hay hay ram dhunde dhunde sajan ko.."

 2. 

Intezaar Anuradha Paudwal , Paap 2003

This song present at the very start of the captivating movie Paap (2003), is a poetry in motion, such a depth of words....The song is  illustrating the longing of the heroine (played by Udita Goswami) who is working in a monastery to train for a monk but deep down is a poet who values true love and wants to take the path of love instead of renouncing it (as per Buddhist traditions), and actually illustrates the purity of her emotions (contrary to the title of the movie which can be misleading). 

 The soulful lyrics are as follows:

"Meri subahon ko teri shaamon ka

Meri shaamon ko tere vaadon ka

Meri raaton ko tere khwaabon ka

Meri neendon ko teri baahon ka

Mere jazbon ko teri chahon ka

Behki behki si kuch khataon ka

Khoobsurat se kuch gunaahon ka

Intezaar, intezaar, intezaar, intezaar



Apne dilbar ka, apne humdum ka,

apne jaanam ka intezaar

Surkh phoolon se mehka rasta hai

Dil toh mera magar zard patta hai

Paas aankhon ke sabz manzar hai

Dil ka mausam toh phir bhi banjar hai

Mehki mehki si kuch hawaon ka

Bheegi bheegi si kuch ghataon ka

Intezaar, intezaar, intezaar, intezaar

Apne baadal ka, apni baarish ka, apne saawan ka intezaar

Apni dhadkan ka, apni saanson ka, apne jeene ka intezaar



Koi badli kabhi is tarah aayegi

Pyaas sadiyon ki pal mein bujh jayegi

Tujhko lauta ke meri aagosh mein

Dekhna waqt ki nabz tham jayegi

Aisa hone ki kuch duaon ka

Umr bhar joh mile un panahon ka

Intezaar, intezaar, intezaar, intezaar

Tere aane ka, tujhko paane ka, phir na jaane ka intezaar

Tere aane ka, tujhko paane ka, phir na jaane ka

Intezaar………"

 The lyrics with English translation can be found here: Intezaar Lyrics Translation | Paap | Hindi Bollywood Songs

Khamoshi ya awaaz-- which one do you hear...

I had to blog this particular post since a long time and finally I found the time to post this. I had listened to some songs and noticed intriguing similarities in some of their lyrics.  Moreover, I stumbled upon the poetry of Allama Iqbal whose poetry also resonated with a similar idea and found this very fascinating. 

        In the first song (Tanha Tanha) the lyrics urge one to not be silent as everything in nature is communicating with each other hence for the sake of love, the person should not remain silent, yet in another song (Humein jabse mohabbat), the lyrics express that when a person is in love, everything falls silent in nature including the river and its bank, and in that silence the lovers find solace of each other's company... In the third song (Khamoshiyan), it again reinforces that everything in nature is silent, yet the lyricist reiterates that silence is in fact the voice which can be heard with the ears of love...

        While in the fourth song (Voice without words), the lyrics urge the human to listen as in nature everything is communicating and speaking out of the burning desire of love...

And then the poetry I stumbled upon, talks of the silence of nature and its creations, and thus asks the heart to also turn silent (as its overflowing with grief) ...

So, what I interpret from these expressions is that nature is always communicating to us despite appearing silent on the surface, we need to still our heart and listen deeper and perhaps when love is found, the creations of the nature (river, trees, etc.) all fall silent as if to honor the lovers as there is no need any more as the lover then can hear the sounds of the Beloved and communicate. And yet, when the heart is grieving, silence may be the best response, yet even in silence, the lover should be able to decipher the silence and hear what was never spoken....

1. The first song (Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena - Lyrical | Rangeela | AR Rahman | Urmila, Jackie Shroff | Asha Bhosle  ) is from an old Hindi movie (Rangeela, 1995), its specific lyrics (see below) 

"Zameen Aasmaan Se To Kuchh Keh Rahi Hai

Lehrein Bhi Saahil Se Kuchh Keh Rahi Hain

Chaandni Bhi Chaand Se Kuchh Keh Rahi Hai

Chaandni Bhi Chaand Se Kuchh Keh Rahi Hai

Kisi Na Kisi Se Koi Kuchh To Keh Raha Hai

Tu Dil Ki Baat Keh De Kehne Mein Kya Hai

Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena Ye Koi Baat Hai

Koi Saathi Nahin Tera Yahaan To Ye Koi Baat Hai

Kisi Ko Pyaar Dede

Kisi Ka Pyaar Lele

Is Saare Zamaane Mein Yehi Pyaari Baat Hai"

2. The second song (a very melodious and beautifully penned song) (Hamen Jab Se Mohabbat - Lyrical | Border | Akshaye Khanna & Pooja Bhatt | 90's Hindi Romantic Songs ) from the Hindi movie Border (1997); part of lyrics is as follows:

"Hai lipti dhund mein dilkash nazaare

Nadi khaamosh hai chup hain kinaare

Hai ek chhoti si kashti aur hum hain

Chale jaate hain lehron ke sahaare

Suhaani ab lo sangat ho gayi hai

Ye duniya khoobsoorat ho gayi hai

Humein jabse mohabbat ho gayi hai"

3. Song Khamoshiyan (Khamoshiyan (Title Song) Lyrics | Arijit Singh | Rashmi S , Jeet G | Ali Fazal , Sapna P & Gurmeet C) 

Read this particular part of lyrics:

"नदियां का पानी भी खामोश बहता यहां

खिली चांदनी में छिपी लाख खामोशियाँ

बारिश की बूंदों की होती कहाँ हैं जुबां

सुलगते दिलों में है खामोश उठता धुंआ

खामोशियाँ आकाश है

तुम उड़ने तो आओ ज़रा

खामोशियाँ एहसास है

तुम्हें महसूस होती है क्या

बेकरार है बात करने को

कहने दो इनको ज़रा

खामोशियाँ

तेरी मेरी खामोशियाँ

खामोशियाँ

लिपटी हुई खामोशियाँ"

4. This song (in English) a soft composition by AR Rahman (The Voice Without Words) from the beautiful movie (99 Songs) that asks to listen to the voices in nature, describing how everything is sentient and speaks, almost the idea that music is present everywhere in the universe...

The lyrics:

"Do you hear it

The earth calls to the sky

Do you hear it

The ocean sings to the moon

Do you hear it

There are voices that speak without words

Listen

Listen

Listen

Listen

There are fires that flame without a flame

Such a burning

Such a burning

Listen

Listen

Such a burning is 

love..."

5. The poetry lines (by Allama Iqbal) on the other hand talks about the khamoshi of the nature, its creations, and the human heart, and asks one to be silent and withdraw in silence

"Taron Ka Khamosh Karwan Hai

Ye Qafla Be-Dra Rawan Hai

Khamosh Hain Koh-o-Dasht-o-Darya

Qudrat Hai Muraqbe Mein Goya

Ae Dil! Tu Bhi Khamosh Ho Ja

Aghosh Mein Gam Ko Le Ke So Ja."

Allama Iqbal Poetry کلام علامہ محمد اقبال: (Bang-e-Dra-081) Aik Sham

A beautiful Hindi song- So gaye hain dil ke afsaane

 

Sharing a lesser-known song from the Hindi movie Zubeidaa (2001), the music composed by the legendary AR Rahman. This song is particularly captivating as its music and poetry are deeply divine, the music is almost like listening to a classical orchestral piece...The lyrics are poignant, and the actress reminisces and the lines where she likens herself to a puppet (kathputli) but which is not free and under control of strings...are very beautifully expressed. In short, it's a lament of the ailing heart of a woman...

The song can be heard here: @A. R. Rahman - So Gaye Hain Audio Song|Zubeidaa|Karisma Kapoor|Lata Mangeshkar

The lyrics of the song are:

"So gaye hain, kho gaye hain,

dil ke afsaane,

Koi to aata phir se

Kabhi inko jagaane 

So gaye hain, kho gaye hain dil ke afsaane

Saans bhi leti hain jo kathputliyaan 

Unki bhi thaame hain koi doriyaan 

Aansuon mein

Bheegi hain khaamoshiyaan

So gaye hain, kho gaye hain dil ke afsaane 

Dil mein ek parchhaayi hai lehraayi si

Aarzoo meri hai ek angdaayi si 

Ek tamanna hai kahin sharmaayi si 

So gaye hain, kho gaye hain dil ke afsaane .."

Chahat na hoti kuch bhi na hota----poetry of Nida Fazli

 

I came across a poignant poetry by the Indian Urdu poet Nida Fazli, and I was listening to an old Hindi song the other day that is so simple yet so profound in its simplicity of explanation of what love is, and I realized that its lyrics were penned by the same poet. 

I am sharing a lovely poetry and a different song (Chahat) both written by Nida Fazli. 

1. 

"देखा हुआ सा कुछ है तो सोचा हुआ सा कुछ

हर वक़्त मेरे साथ है उलझा हुआ सा कुछ

होता है यूँ भी रास्ता खुलता नहीं कहीं

जंगल सा फैल जाता है खोया हुआ सा कुछ

साहिल की गीली रेत पर बच्चों के खेल सा

हर लम्हा मुझ में बनता बिखरता हुआ सा कुछ

फ़ुर्सत ने आज घर को सजाया कुछ इस तरह

हर शय से मुस्कुराता है रोता हुआ सा कुछ"--Nida Fazli

2.  The song can be heard here:

And lyrics of the song (simple yet profound poetry) are as follows: (the ones I highlighted in different color are so deep lines)....

(87) Chaahat Na Hoti | Alka Yagnik, Vinod Rathod | Chaahat | Shah Rukh Khan, Pooja Bhatt - YouTube 

"Chahat nadiya chahat saagar

Chahat dharti chahat ambar

Chahat radha chahat girdhar

Dil kaa dhadkna yahi chahat hai
Neend na aanaa yahi chahat hai
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Main bhee naa hotee, tu bhee naa hota
Main bhee naa hotee, tu bhee naa hota

Tum mujse alag kab ho
Main tumse juda kab hoon
Pani mein kanval jaise
Rahete ho mujhi mein tum
Dekhun to tumhen dekhun
Sochoon to tumhen sochoon
Saagar mein nadi jaise
Behate ho mujhi mein tum

Chaahat khushboo, chaahat rangath
Chahat murat chahat kudarat
Chaahat ganga, chaahat jamunaa
Hosh ganvaana yahi chaahat hai
Jaan se jaanaa yahi chaahat hai
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Main bhee naa hotee, too bhee naa hota
Too bhee naa hotee, main bhee naa hota

Jab tu nahin hota hai
Us waqt bhee har shay mein
Har geet mein, har lay mein
Tu hi nazar aata he
Bikharaa ke kabhi zulfen
Chamakaa ke kabhi cheharaa
Tum hee meri duniyaa ke
Din raat sajaate ho

Chaahat ghunghat, chaahat darpan
Chaahat sajani, chaahat saajan
Chaahat puja, chaahat darshan
Aankh bhar aanaa yahi chaahat hai
Jee ghabraanaa yahi chaahat hai
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Chahat naa hoti kuch bhi naa hota
Main bhee naa hotee, too bhee naa hota
Too bhee naa hotee, main bhee naa hota..."

 

 

 

Some more beautiful Shayaris from the internet...

 

Sharing some of sublime poetries with beautifully woven words and depth...Each one of them is so beautiful that I decided to gather them and post here..Well, I usually blog post on Hindi/Urdu poetries of others as I do not want to post the numerous poetries I have penned as of now (as they all are unpublished yet, and hopefully have them published in my book in near future) ...

The recitation/description of the poetries and the words are below them:

1.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPQj90wDsgT/?igsh=MXc5Z3poN2N6YXZ4bw%3D%3D

"मज़हब अगर बेनाम हो जाये, तो सुकून मिले।
ख़ुदा हर (हरि) में, हर ख़ुदा में है,
ये बात अगर आम हो जाए तो सुकून मिले॥
नज़र का उठना, कुछ कहना, लाज़मी है।
हर नज़र अगर पाक हो जाए, तो सुकून मिले॥
चांद, तारे, सूरज, नदियाँ सब के सब, सबके साँझे हैं
इंसान अगर इंसान का हो जाए तो सुकून मिले॥"

 

 2.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNqNHoXI7GJ/?igsh=MWt5ODBsMXZwNDhtNQ%3D%3D

 "झूठ कहते हैं लोग की संगत का असर होता है,

काँटों को आजतक महकने का सलीका नहीं आया…"

 

3.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DObdOg2CUvK/?igsh=YXVoZGRteHNvbHQy

"हकीकत यह है गर्दिश में सितारा चल रहा है

गुजारी जा रही है बस गुजारा चल रहा है

मै काफी देर से कुछ तय नहीं कर पा रहा हु

ये कस्ती चल रही है या किनारा चल रहा है"

 

 4.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRK4g82iLbu/?igsh=czN3M2dkYzE4NGkz

"Muddatein guzar gai hisaab nahi kiya,

Na jaane kiske dil main kitne reh gaye hum…"

 

 5.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN0nM5A5FVi/?igsh=MTd1OTJtZzd6eGNubA%3D%3D

"Jaane kis haal me hum hai ki hame dekh ke log
Ek pal ke liye rukte hain guzar jaate hai"
~Ahmad Faraz

 

6.

Mein Khwahishon Ke Azaab Le Kar Chala - Mawraa.com

“Mein chhor kar apni raah takti udas aankhen
Jo bach gaye thay woh khwab le kar chala gaya hoon

Jis pe mein ne mohabbaton ki wahi likhi thi
Woh aik mamnooa kitaab le kar chala gaya hoon

Bas ik ujal ko suna gaya hoon jo dastaan thi
Mein zindagi se hisaab le kar chala gaya hoon

Mein qaflun ko dikha gaya hoon nishan-e-manzil
Mein raston ke sarab le kar chal gaya hoon

Unhein kaho keh mein dhoondne se nahi milon ga
Mein gird-e-rah ki niqab le kar chala gaya hoon

Mein khwahishon ke azaab le kar chala gaya hoon
Woh dil woh khana kharab le kar chala gaya hoon”-Poet: Khalil Ur Rehman

7.

 "sehra main dhoondta hoon samundar ki adaayein

mujhko mere mizaaj ki duniya na mil saki"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLq7mjFJShh/?igsh=MWRmdWk2Mm01bGlseg%3D%3D

 

8. 

"लफ्जों की तरह मुझसे किताबों में मिला कर 

दुनिया का तुझे डर है तो ख्वाबों में मिलाकर 

और फूलों से तू खुशबू का ताल्लुक है जरूरी 

तू मुझसे महक बन के गुलाबों में मिलाकर"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNz5b3m5CtI/?igsh=cHVsdDhieDdvcWYw

9.

"Main Khud Bhi Nahin Apni Haqiqat Ka Shanasa

Gehra Hai Mere Behr-e-Khiyalaat Ka Pani

Mujh Ko Bhi Tammana Hai Ke ‘Iqbal’ Ko Dekhun

Ki Iss Ki Juddai Mein Bohat Ashak Fishani

Iqbal Bhi ‘Iqbal’ Se Agah Nahin Hai

Kuch Iss Mein Tamaskhar Nahin Wallah Nahin Hai"-- Allama Iqbal