Down the memory lane…

This second week is dedicated to another very old song from the movie ‘Hamraahi‘ released in 1963. I have to say that the movie has a lot of beautiful songs and almost all of them are quite popular and must have been so at that time as well. The songs of this movie have a certain sense of innocence in terms of the themes, the words and the melody. The lyrics are not very complicated and therefore easily understandable. No highly difficult Hindi or Urdu words to find among these lyrics.

This is one song you might have heard on the radio quite sometimes (if you ever listened to Bollywood songs on radio in the Vividh Bharati era). A jumpy, cheery tune with melodious voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi Sahab, this song takes you on a dive into the sea of nostalgia. It’s one of those songs which make you remember the good old days. Unsurprisingly, the theme of the song is nostalgia as well.

This song has been filmed on Mehmood (one of the greatest comedy actors in Bollywood, if ever) and Shobha Khote (also known for her comic timing), a couple which is many into marriage given their three kids. Mehmood plays the elder brother of the main protagonist Rajendra Kumar (or shall we say…Jubilee Kumar!) who is trying to rekindle the flames of romance with his wife by trying to send her down the memory lane to the start of their courtship. A coy and shy Shobha keeps evading his advances while the kids watch the spectacle with much interest.

For all those in love who feel like the charm and passion is not the same like before, this song is a good inspiration to light those flames again. Remember, love takes continuous efforts no matter how many years you have passed with your partner. The passion should be kept alive and in full swing. Enjoy these lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri (two of the best lyricists of the industry).

Male: Woh din yaad karo
Woh din yaad karo
Woh chhup chhup ke milna
Woh hasnaa hasaana
Woh din yaad karo

Female: Woh din yaad karo
Woh din yaad karo
Woh phoolon ki chhainyyaan
Woh mausam suhaana
Woh din yaad karo

English: Remember those days

Remember those days

That shade under the flowers

That charming weather

Remember those days

Male: Phirte thhe azaad ham to chaman mein
Chaand aur sooraj hain jaise gagan mein
Phirte thhe azaad ham to chaman mein
Chaand aur sooraj hain jaise gagan mein
Ab to yeh jeewan hai uljhan ki seema
Dhadkhe mera dil ab dheema dheema
Woh din yaad karo

English: We used to wander around freely among the flower gardens (more like the area where they live)

Just like the moon and the sun in the sky

Nowadays this life is the height of confusion

My heart beats slowly and slowly

Remember those days…

Female: Woh din yaad karo
Woh din yaad karo
Woh phoolon ki chhainyyaan
Woh mausam suhaana
Woh din yaad karo

English: Remember those days

Remember those days

That shade under the flowers

That charming weather

Remember those days

Female: Jab main kali thhi
Tab hi bhali thhi
Tab hi bhali thhi
Koyi na gham thha
Main manchali thhi
Main manchali thhi
Meri gali se teraa guzarnaa
Nainon ke raste dil mein utaarna
Woh din yaad karo

English: When I was only a flower bud

I was doing absolutely fine (more like that was the best time of my life)

I was doing absolutely fine

Had no sorrows

I was buoyant and free willed

I was buoyant and free willed

Your passing by my lane

Your descent into my heart through the path of my eyes

Remember those days

Male: Woh din yaad karo
Haay
Woh din yaad karo
Woh chhup chhup ke milna
Woh hansnaa hansaana
Woh din yaad karo

English: Remember those days

Remember those days

Those meetings in secret

Those laughs and making each other laugh

Remember those days

Male: Ham to wohi hain
Din woh kahaan hain
Dil to hamaare
Ab bhi jawaan hain
Ham to wohi hain
Din woh kahaan hain
Dil to hamaare
Ab bhi jawaan hain
Dil mein hi tadpe yeh armaan saare
Pyaase ke pyaase hain nadiyaa kinaare
Woh din yaad karo

English: We are still the same

Where are those days?

Our hearts though

Are still quite young

We are still the same

Where are those days?

Our hearts though

Are still quite young

All these desires only cause agitation in my heart

We are as thirsty as ever, even by the river bank

Remember those days

Female: Woh din yaad karo
Woh din yaad karo
Woh phoolon ki chhainyyaan
Woh mausam suhaana
Woh din yaad karo

English: Remember those days

Remember those days

That shade under the flowers

That charming weather

Remember those days

Together: woh din yaad…

English: Remember those days

Glossary:

1. Din: Day/Days
2. Yaad: To remember
3. Chhupna: To hide or in secret
4. Hasnaa: To laugh
5. Hasaana: To make somebody laugh
6. Phool: Flower/flowers
7. Chhainyyaan: Shade (a colloquial word)
8. Mausam: Weather
9. Suhaana: Charming, pleasant, agreeable
10. Azaad: Free
11. Chaman: Flower garden, little garden. In 60s Hindi songs, it mostly refers to the self expression of the world where the person is living
12. Gagan: Sky
13. Jeewan: Life
14. Uljhan: Confusion, complication, intricacy
15. Seema: Limit or boundary
16. Dhadkana: The verb for beating of the heart
17. Dil: Heart
18. Dheema: Slow/slowly
19. Kali: A flower bud
20. Bhali: Nice, fine, good
21. Manchali: Free willed. The word comes from two Hindi words Man + Chali i.e. Mind + Walking. So a person who follows his or her mind all the time is a manchala (male) or manchali (female). While in these lyrics, the word is used in a positive sense when somebody else gives you this title, it is mostly with a negative connotation.
22. Gali: Lane or street
23. Nain: Eyes
24. Rasta: Path or way
25. Jawaan: Young
26. Armaan: Wishes, desires
27. Pyasa: Thirsty
28. Nadiya: A colloquial word for a river
29. Kinara: Corner, bank of a river, sea shore (depends on whether it is used in the context of a river or the sea)