English Translation: Ghoonghat mein chehra aapka…

This time we travel back to the colour films era. A very low-budget and flop movie from 1997, Ghoonghat, starring Inder Kumar (quite unknown) and Ayesha Julka (I used to think she is the wife of Jackie Shroff for a long time, until I found out it is some other Ayesha). Rest of the star-cast includes veterans like Satish Kaushik, Gulshan Grover, Tiku Talsania and others.

A special mention of the two shortest actors in the movie is warranted. These two are the unknown supporting actors whose names are very difficult to find in the mention of the star-cast on other websites (including IMDb). You will not find their names unless you watch the movie but these two literally have brought life and dance to an otherwise dull movie. Omkar Kapoor (the child artist who debuted as an adult actor in the movie Pyaar ka Punchnama 2) and King Kong (a Tamil dwarf character actor). An odd pair of a kid and an adult (solely based on their short heights), they showcase some fluent and energetic dance moves which is a delight to watch.

This movie can be purely described as a comedy. Right from the beginning, till the anti-climax, this movie is full of physical comedy and most of the supporting cast is already well-famed in this genre. Ayesha Julka is one under-hyped comedy actress, who, surprisingly has very good comic timing and expressions (in some other movies as well). Nonetheless, her misfortune that she never got recognition for her talent in comic roles. Everything else works well in this movie except the main lead Inder Kumar. Apart from a handsome, he hardly brings anything more to the table. The movie could have been substantial if the male character could have been removed and it could have been focused on the struggles of a village girl coming to a big city. But then, the director was not trying to make a meaningful movie. Inder Kumar can be described in a single word: overacting. And that is what never led to him gaining any success in Bollywood. That too, if he could have taken it to the extreme, at least the movie could have been too good because it was too bad. And one could have still laughed at his serious scenes.

The story is quite simple, but in case you want to watch the movie and want to avoid any spoilers, do not read any further. Most of the movie is shot in a film set of a residential society in Mumbai where the protagonist and his friends have been living together and struggling to get success in the dream city. The residents have their own shenanigans going on at the same time. The story takes a turn when the female lead is found by our hero, while running away from some Rajasthani goons. This girl is always dressed up in Rajasthani style dresses (you start wondering how heavy must her bag be, that she was carrying while running) and becomes a maid for the bachelors who gave her shelter in this strange city. Being a female character, she does show a strength of character unwarranted from her role in the 90s. Helps all the guys in achieving success while handling all the household efficiently and haggling with all the nosy neighbours as well, all the while trying to avoid the goons.

The hero and heroine fall in love eventually (don’t ask me how) and when the neighbours try to get them married to each other, it turns out that they were already married to each other in their village. But the hero couldn’t realize it all this time, because he had left her on the first night of their marriage without lifting her eponymous ghoonghat (veil). A very bad print of the whole movie can be found on YouTube.

This is the title song of the movie with very simple words. It comes quite early in the movie while the girl is seen running away from the goons in ghoonghat and the guy sings his heart out in the night. The movie has a few other good songs but this is my favourite song. The USP of this song is the suave voice of Hariharan which makes it better than any ordinary 90s song and elevates it to another level. That is something only Hariharan’s magic can do. Listen to his smooth voice here.

Male: Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka
Kuchh is tarah se kho gaya
Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka
Kuchh is tarah se kho gaya
Jhagda hi jaise chand ka
Badalon se ho gaya
Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka, kuchh is tarah se kho gaya
Jhagda hi jaise chand kaa, badalon se ho gaya
Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka, kuchh is tarah se kho gaya

English: Inside the veil, your face

Got lost is such a way

Inside the veil, your face

Got lost is such a way

As if the moon itself got into a fight

With the clouds

Inside the veil, your face got lost is such a way

As if the moon itself got into a fight with the clouds

Inside the veil, your face got lost is such a way

Nazarein meri nazar se
Meri jaan zara milao
Koi geet main bana lu
Dhun aisi gungunao
Nazarein meri nazar se, meri jan jara milao
Koi geet main bana lu, dhun aisi gungunao
Suno… suno… leke tumhe apni bahon mein, ghoonghat main khol du
Dil keh raha hai kisi bhi tarah tera chehra main dekh lu
Jadoo… jadoo sa dil pe aap ki,
Ek hi nazar mein ho gaya
Jhagda hi jaise chand ka badalon se ho gaya
Ghoonghat me chehra aap ka kuchh is tarah se kho gaya

English: (Your) Eyes with my eyes,

My darling, let them meet

I will create a whole new song,

Please croon such a tune

(Your) Eyes with my eyes, my darling, let them meet

I will create a whole new song, please, croon such a tune

Listen…listen… after embracing you with my arms, let me lift your veil

(My) Heart is saying, whichever way possible, I could see your face

Magic…something like magic worked on (my) heart, with your

Just one glance only

As if the moon itself got into a fight with the clouds

Inside the veil, your face got lost is such a way

Kai bar maine socha,
Aur sochkar yeh jana
Bin dekhe hi tujhe kyun
Main ho gaya diwana
Kayi bar maine socha, Aur sochkar yeh jana
Bin dekhe hi tujhe kyun Main ho gaya diwana
Hello… hello… aise khafa si kyun baithi ho, ghoonghat ko odhke
Tumko milega kya itna batao to, dil mera todke
Ghoonghat haan aaaah
Ghoonghat nahi yeh aap ka
Dushman yeh mera ho gaya
Jhagda hi jaise chand ka, badalon se ho gaya
Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka kuchh is tarah se kho gaya
Jhagda hi jaise chand ka, badalon se ho gaya
Ghoonghat mein chehra aap ka, kuchh is tarah se kho gaya

English: Many times I pondered over it

And then after thinking, (I) understood this

Without even having seen you, why

I became crazy in love

Many times I pondered over it, and then after thinking, (I) understood this

Without even having seen you, why I became crazy in love

Hello… hello… why are you sitting so upset, draped in your veil

At least tell me this much, what will you get out of breaking my heart

Veil haan aaaah

It is not simply your veil,

It has become my enemy

As if the moon itself got into a fight with the clouds

Inside the veil, your face got lost is such a way

As if the moon itself got into a fight with the clouds

Inside the veil, your face got lost is such a way

Glossary:

1. Ghoonghat: Veil. The veil is an integral part of culture in many parts of India and is not just associated with wedding but also is a part of the daily life of many women, since she is supposed to hide her face from strangers especially men.
2. Chehra: Face
3. Khona: To lose
4. Jhagda: Fight or quarrel
5. Badal: Cloud(s)
6. Nazarein: Eyes. Nazar also means a glance or singular for an eye.
7. Jaan: Darling. Literally life.
8. Geet: Song
9. Dhun: Tune
10. Gungunana: To croon or murmur
11. Suno: Listen
12. Bahen: Arms
13. Kholna: To open or lift
14. Dekhna: To see
15. Jadoo: Magic or spell
16. Ek: One
17. Sochna: To think or ponder
18. Bin: Without
19. Khafa: Angry or upset
20. Baithna: To sit
21. Odhna: To wrap or cover oneself
22. Todna: To break
23. Dushman: Enemy