For quite some time songs like Ajnabi, tum jaane pahchaane se lagte ho, and Kuchh ajanbi se aap hain, kuchh ajanbi se hum have been buzzing like bee in my head for an inexplicable reason. Then an incredible coincidence happened. One day I decided to browse through my books collected over the years that had not been touched, many of which are likely to remain unread. When I randomly opened a page of The Collected Poems of Vikram Seth, I came across this:
MISTAKEN
I smiled at you because I thought that you
Were someone else; you smiled back; and there grew
Between two strangers in a library
Something that seemed like love; but you loved me
(If that is the word) because you thought that I
Was other than I was. And by and by
We found we’d been mistaken all the while
From that first glance, that first mistaken smile.
Even when they realised that they had been mistaken all the while, the romance for the stranger must have lingered. Love at first glance has been a perennial theme in our legends and mythology – Dushyant and Shakuntala are prime examples of strangers falling for each other at the first sight.
The lovers can become strangers leading to dejection. Nida Fazli says:
Kuchh dinon to shahar sara ajnabi sa ho gaya
Phir hua yun ki wo kisi ki aur main kisi ka ho gaya
Not all interactions with strangers have romantic overtones. The celebrated Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla’s poem हताशा से एक व्यक्ति बैठ गया था talks about a man sitting dejected (on the bench in a park?). The poet is drawn towards him, he offers his hand, and then they walk together. In silence. They don’t know each other, but there is an indescribable pull of the stranger. This English translation by Delhi-based author Akhil Katyal perfectly captures the spirit of the original poem:
(Poet Vinod Kumar Shukla. English translation by Akhil Katyal from Hindi original)
Desperate, a man sat down,
I didn’t know him, I knew desperation,
So I went close to him
And I reached out my hand.
Holding it, he stood up.
He didn’t know me, he knew reaching my hand.
From there we walked together.
Neither of us knew the other,
Both knew walking together.
(Note: The Hindi original is at the end of this article.)
Shouldn’t similar people be drawn towards each other? Then what explains the Romance for the Ajnabi? If someone is too familiar you know a good deal about her. You can imagine a stranger to be whatever you fancy. Life following the Laws of Physics? – Opposite poles of a magnet attract, similar poles repel each other.
There are reports that marital discord increased during Lockdown. In normal days the regular working hours kept the spouses apart, therefore, there was a desire to make the best of the ‘quality time’ together. There was something to look up to. The pandemic-forced proximity in a cooped place killed the romance for the stranger.
Over two years ago I wrote on Romancing the ‘Pardesi’. I thought the ‘pardesi’ includes the ‘ajnabi’. Later I realised that the pardesi has to come from ‘outside’. But one can be ‘ajnabi’ to someone with whom one has lived under the same roof for years. Nay, one can even be ajnabi to oneself:
Hum to yun apni zindagi se miley
Ajnabi jaise ajanbi se miley
(Sudarshan ‘Faakir’)
Let us see how our film songs have romanced the ajnabi.
1. Chalo ek baar pir se ajnabi ban jaayein hum dono by Mehendra Kapoor from Gumraah (1963), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi, music Ravi
This has to be the grandmother of all ajnabi songs, rightly deserving a post to itself. There is the story of the film in which the original lovers know their love is destined to remain unrequited. A legend has also grown around Sahir’s own love story (for Sudha Malhotra) and it is said that he recited this nazm at a party where he had invited her and his close friends to bid her farewell and best wishes for her marriage:
वो अफसाना जिसे अंजाम तक लाना न हो मुमकिन
उसे एक खूबससूरत मोड़ देकर छोड़ना अच्छा
चलो एक बार फिर से अजनबी बन जायें हम दोनों
2. Ajnabi tum jaane pehchaane se lagte ho by Kishore Kumar from Hum Sab Ustad Hain (1965), lyrics Asad Bhopali, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
It has a female twin version, too, in the voice of Lata Mangeshkar, but you know which creates more impact.
3. Ajnabi se ban ke karo na kinara by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshar from Ek Raaz (1963), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Chitragupta
The lovers Kishore Kumar and Jamuna know that being ajnabis to each other is just play-acting. A sweet composition by the master melody maker, Chitragupta, sung equally sweetly by Kishore Kumar and Lata mangeshkar.
4. Itne kareeb aa ke bhi kya jaane kis liye, kuchh ajnabi se aap hain kuchh ajnabi se hum by Talat Mahmood and Mubarak Begum from Shagun (1964), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
I mentioned that one can be a stranger to the closest person. A trivia – Waheeda Rehman married her co-star Kamaljeet about ten years later. The film perhaps sank without a trace, but Shagun was one of the best scores of Khayyam. Videos of other songs, such as Tum apna ranj-o-gham apni pareshani mujhe de do, Gori sasural chali etc are available, but it is not there for the one song in which it was most needed to understand the context of Wo ek baat jo thi fakat aap ke liye/ Wo ek baat kah na sake aap hi se hum.
5. Hum to yun apni zindagi se mile, ajnabi jaise ajnabi se mile by Jagnjit Singh, ghazal by Sudarshan ‘Faakir’
It requires a poet to imagine that one can be a stranger to oneself. Jagjit Singh’s singing is beyond compare.
हम तो यूँ अपनी ज़िन्दगी से मिले
अजनबी जैसे अजनबी से मिले
हर वफ़ा एक जुर्म हो गोया
दोस्त कुछ ऐसी बेरुख़ी से मिले
फूल ही फूल हम ने माँगे थे
दाग़ ही दाग़ ज़िन्दगी से मिले
जिस तरह आप हम से मिलते हैं
आदमी यूँ न आदमी से मिले
6. Yahan main ajnabi hun by Rafi from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Kalyanji-Anandji
Rich woman-poor man love is an enduring theme in our films and literature. Titanic became a roaring hit not for the most famous ship disaster in history, but the love story between a rich heiress and a working class poor youth. But even if the woman is in genuine love, her family misses no opportunity to humiliate the poor man. Shashi Kapoor finally locates his beloved’s mansion after a good deal of search, but finds himself an ajnabi in that environ.
7. Main shayad tumhare liye ajnabi hun magar chaand tare mujhe jaante hain by Asha Bhosle from Ye Raat Phir Na Ayegi (1966), lyrics SH Bihari, music OP Nayyar
Biswajit seems to be suffering from amnesia and has forgotten Sharmila Tagore. By that time another person, Mumtaz has come into his life. She is perplexed and unhappy, as the old flame Sharmila Tagore sings this song..
8. Ek ajnabi haseena se yun mulaqaat ho gayi by Kishore Kumar from Ajnabi (1974), music RD Burman
A superhit song from the heydays of Rajesh Khanna.
9. Ajnabi kaun ho tum jab se tumhein dekha hai, saari duniya meri aankhon mein sama ayi hai by Lata Mangeshkar from Sweekar Kiya Maine (1983), lyrics Nida Fazli, music Usha Khanna
Nida Fazli’s literary poetry has a wry humour and satire. But for a film song, he writes a superb romantic song for the stranger.
10. Do anjaane ajnabi chale baandhane bandhan haye re dil mein hai ye uljhan milkar kya bolein by Udit Narayan and Shreya Ghoshal from Vivah (2006), music Ravindra Jain
Even some later songs are incredibly beautiful. Suraj Barjatya had established a name for mushy, clean family entertainers. As the lovers are getting married in this old-world family wedding, this atmospheric duet conveys the inner feelings of the two ajnabis who are going to be tied in a bond for life.
11. O ajnabi mere ajnabi, na jaane tum aye kahan se by KK and Chithra from Main Prem Ki Diwani Hun (2003), lyrics Dev Kohli, music Anu Malik
As long as the ajnabi is around, the lovers are oblivious of the world. Ignore that Suraj Barjatya has moved from his clean family entertainer and gone overboard in showing steaming romance. Or was he thinking, if the stars are willing to do it, no harm in stretching the limits – this may become the main selling pitch for the film.
But she gets tied to a third person, and naturally while she goes through the rituals absently, her eyes are desperately looking for her ajnabi who has gone away to some unknown place, in this sad version of the song. ‘Na jaane tum aye kahan se’ now becomes ‘Na jaane tum kahan chale gaye ho’.
Note: Here is the original Hindi poem “Hatasha se ek vyakti baith gaya” of Vinod Kumar Shukla.
विनोद कुमार शुक्ल
हताशा से एक व्यक्ति बैठ गया था
व्यक्ति को मैं नहीं जानता था
हताशा को जानता था
इसलिए मैं उस व्यक्ति के पास गया
मैंने हाथ बढ़ाया
मेरा हाथ पकड़ कर वह खड़ा हुआ
मुझे वह नहीं जानता था
मेरे हाथ बढ़ाने को जानता था
हम दोनों साथ चले
दोनों एक दूसरे को नहीं जानते थे
साथ चलने को जानते थे।
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
1. The English translation of the above poem has been take from Wikipedia entry on Vinod Kumar Shukla.
2. The video links of the songs have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over the songs which rests with the respective owners such as Saregama India Ltd, and others.
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
An excellent theme to probe leading to an absorbing essay. Very good selections. On a similar note, I would suggest that songs based on “Pardesi” would also make an interesting study. These too are legion, and of high musical content in our Hindi Film Music .
DIL SE, 1998, was an excellent score from Gulzar, ARR.
Ae ajnabhi, tu bhi kabhi aawaz de kahin se …
Unit Narayan, Mahalakshmi Iyer.
Can a ANAMIKA considered an ajnabhi?
Meri bhigi bhigi si…
…..
…Anamika, tu bhi tarse.
Romancing The Stranger – A Catchy Title!!
Its like you are going to watch a romantic thriller!!
An interesting post with a nice write-up with all the excellent ajnabi songs, most of them are well-known and popular.
Good to see relevant songs from the recent times too…
My first contribution:
Dil Se 1998
AR Rahman – Gulzar – Udit, Mahalaxmi
Ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi awaaz de
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEvGbW-FJE
Well, my senior Dr. Shetty posted the same song before me, its nice that doctors think alike.
But I am happy to have added the link.
Pyar To Hona Hi Tha 1998
Jatin Lalit – Sameer – Asha, Udit
Ajnabi mujhko itna bata dil mera kyon pareshan hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jR19frcgzg
Ak ji
Excellent post on intriguing theme.
Taking your list is as a representative sample, one may conclude that ajanabi was not a very popular theme in HFM before sixties. In fact , this may be the first article on SOY which does not have any song from pre 60 era.
Here is an ajanabi song from 1969 film
Ajanabi hoon main is jahan me-
Shatranj – Hasarat- SJ – Lata
https://youtu.be/gU_cFAIB5t8
Anjana and Anjani are definitely Ajnabis.
Aate jaate khoobsoorat awara sadkon pe
..
Kitne anjan log mil jaate hain…
ANURODH.
Deewani Deewana, Anjana afsana..
TERI BAHON MEIN.
Woh kaun hai, Woh kaun hai
…
Deewana nahin , Anjana.
ANJANA.
Manchali 1974
LP – AB – KK
Mile kahin do ajnabi ho gayi un mein dosti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WumBg0KXTs
SAATH SAATH, 1982.
Ye bata de mujhe zindagi
Pyar ki raah ke humsafar
Kyon ban gaye ajnabi ..
Jagjit and Chitra Singh.
The Train 2007
Mithoon – Saeed Quadri – Mithoon, Shilpa Rao
Wo ajnabi wo ajnabi aisa koi mujhko mil gaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xV-W_kve8
Pyar To Hona Hi Tha 1998
Jatin Lalit – Sameer – Asha, Udit
Ajnabi mujhko itna bata dil mera kyon pareshan hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jR19frcgzg
DUNNO Y ,NA JAANE KYON, 2010, must be the last Hindi ( / any language ) movie for which Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar sang.
Pal mein hi nazar milte hain..
…
Ajnabi bhi pyara lagta hai….
Khushi 2003
Anu Malik – Sameer – K K., Hema Sardesai
Hai re hai re do ajnabi chale ja rahe hain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dsYcfYfImQ
Great theme, AK, and some wonderful songs. I’d like to add one from Pyaar ka Sapna, Ae meri zindagi tu ajnabi toh nahin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20uHODnSDck
… the lyrics of which are actually pretty apt, because while he does think she’s a stranger (he’s met her recently), what he doesn’t know is that she is actually the wife he deserted on their wedding night, and whose face he hadn’t seen.
BTW, the context for the Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi song is not quite that; Sharmila Tagore’s character insists on a ‘past-life’ connection with Biswajit’s. And Mumtaz’s character, though she’s in love with him, is regarded by him as nothing more than a friend. It’s a suspense film with a supposedly supernatural secret at the heart of it, though of course that turns out to be just a ploy by the villains…
Mr Rajan @1,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You are right about Pardesi – there are several times more songs on them, and greatly popular. I have written on it a couple of years ago, and also given its link in the write-up. You may like to go through that post.
Dr Shetty @2,
‘Anamika’ has to be an ajnabi, otherwise her name will be known.
@6,
‘Anjana’ too. Main raahi anjaan raahon ka and his name too is ‘Anjana’. Can’t be anything but ‘ajnabi’.
@8, 10,
Not familiar with these songs. Would have to look for them.
Dr Deshpande @3,
Thanks a lot for your explanation. Ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaz de kahin se is one of the nice songs from recent times.
@4,
Ajnabi mujhko itna bata is another sweet melody. Jatin-Lalit Ana audit Narayan combination has to produce good music.
@7,
Mile do kahin ajnabi, ho gayi unmein dosti
Phir suna doston mein ho gayi dushmani
Very meaningful lines.
@9,
Wo ajnabi: Ajnabi theme does not go well with item songs.
@11,
Haye re haye re do ajnabi chale ja rahe hain has a very foot-tapping tune. That is all about it.
A great writeup on a good theme and the songs selection is nice . Perhaps Sahir Ludhyanvi was the first to introduce this term ‘ Ajnabee’ in HFM in the 1963 movie Gumraah .
Kahin aisa na …’/ 1972 / MILAP / NaqshLyalpuri / Brij Bhushan / Rafi
https://youtu.be/9ANsXBumzFA
Madhu @12,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Ae meri zindagi tu nahin ajnabi, tujhko dekha hai pahle kabhi is a wonderful song, though I am hearing it for the first time.
Thanks for explaining the context of Ye Raat Phir Na Ayegi.
Mr Joseph @16,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Kahin aisa na ho I heard for the first time. 1963 is very late for introducing ‘ajnabi’. Now that this has been discussed, I am sure readers will come up with older songs.
1 Ek ajanabi jhoke ne jab
Pucha mere gam ka sabab
Ye dil ye pagal dil mera – Gulam Ali – Mohsin Naqvi
https://youtu.be/orq1hlZPVBo
2 Tum bhi the khoye khoye
Main bhi bujha bujha
Tha ajnabi zamana apna koi tha
Tum jo mil gaye ho- Haste zakhm – Kaifi Azmi – Madan Mohan
https://youtu.be/3GYp_B2J_hI
‘Woh jo milte…’/ 1963 / AKELI MAT JAIYO / Majrooh S / MM / Lata
https://youtu.be/sQPif5jnpCA
This will make you say, Oh !
RAAT AUR DIN.
Dil ki girah khol do, chup na baito..
..
Mehfil mein ye kaun ajnabi hai , mere paas aao..
SWEEKAR KIYA MAINE.
Ajnabi kaun ho tum jabse tumhe dekha hai…
Inanimate Ajnabi:
GHARONDA.
Ek akela is shehar mein..
…
Is ajnabi se shehar mein
Jaana pehchana doondta hai..
Perhaps Majrooh S brought this word for the first time in HFM in 1959
‘Ek ladki bheegi…’/ 1959 / CHALTI KA NAAM GAADI / Majrooh S / SDB / Kishore
https://youtu.be/TlTiqj7tvV4
Very good post AK.
A variant, though with difference in shades of meaning, of Ajnabi is Anjana. While Ajnabi is a stranger, Anjana has a shade of being unknowable. As I was thinking of this something kept playing in my head – ‘Anjaanaa’ in a female voice as the climax of a song. Finally I remembered the song from the eponymous film, ‘Woh kaun hai woh kaun hai’:
https://youtu.be/4Sb0wctwuLE
Although the word ajnabi is not used in this famous twin song, the them fits ‘Na tum hamen jaano, na ham tumhen jaane.’
Let us also remember Frank Sinatra’s ‘Strangers in the night:’
https://youtu.be/sbnNr4FzPXg
How could one forget ‘Zindagi bhar nahin bhulegi wo barsaat ki raat. Ek anjaan hasina/musafir se mulaqaat ki raat.”
Mr Muli @19,
Ye dil ye pagal dil mera is Ghulam Ali’s one of the best ghazals. I am impressed that you remembered the ‘ajnabi’ hidden inside. And remembering it in Tum jo mil gaye ho too! Impressive.
Mr Joseph @20,
Wo jo milte the kabhi is a great song. Even the antara has ‘ajnabi’ theme, though the word occurs in the antara.
@22,
Ek ladki bhigi bhagi se, soti raaton mein jaagi si/ Mili ek ajnabi si... So you have discovered one from the 50s. There must be earlier songs too. Let us look for it. We cannot pass a judgment too soon.
‘Ajnabi duniya mein…’/ 1966 / AJNABI / Hasrat Jaipuri / K Datta Dwarkesh / Rafi
https://youtu.be/TrsY0VNjv_c
Dr Shetty @21,
Ajnabi kaun ho tum jabse tumhein dekha hai is a wonderful song. I have included it in my post at #9. Other two songs are also very good.
Ak ji ,
Doctor saab (Pradeepji @ 2)
Opened right away with a variant & introduced one more @6.
When the theme is based on romancing the first person that comes to my mind ( & may be in minds of many others) is Dev Anand. Here he is romancing with ladies who are described as ajnabee for all practical purposes though the lyrics do not use the precise word.
1 Na Tum hame jano – Baat Ek Raat ki – SDB – Majrooh
Hemant kumar & Suman Kalyanpur
https://youtu.be/LFa9nAq68Wk
2 Bin dekhe aur bin pehchane – Jab Pyar Kosis Hota Hai – SJ- Hasarat- Rafi & Lata
https://youtu.be/h6d0tcKnNt8
Subodh @23, 24,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I think we should include ‘Anjana’ too in ‘ajnabi’. The Anjana song is a nice Q&A. Of course, Na tum humein jaano na hum tumhein jaanein has to be counted.
‘Strangers in the night’ reminded me of Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers on a Train’ in which the two strangers swap murders – actually one of them is reluctant and is pushed into it by the other. Another instance of a non-romantic, as a matter of fact, macabre association.
Mr Joseph @27,
I heard Ajnabi is duniya mein for the first time. I did not realise there are so many ‘ajnabi’ songs out there.
Mr Muli @29,
Subodh also mentioned Na tum humein jaano. Great song.
Bin dekhe aur bin pehchane fits perfectly with the theme though the word ‘ajnabi’ does not figure in it. But we have now enlarged the criteria.
Wonderful theme , interesting songs and absorbing discussions are the right instruments to carry one’s conscious self into the realm of not knowing the self’ world of subconscious.
And say
Main Kaun Hun Main Kahan Hun Mujhe Ye Hosh Nahi
https://youtu.be/nx6iNizyzZU
Ak ji, Subodhji
Here is a stranger of rarest of rare kind .
First it features in a hindi film that too as a background song. Next, It is the only song penned by Pancham though he was not credited then. Then the singer Ursula Vaz had sung only one song for a Bollywood composer till then & that went virtually unnoticed. Thus both the lyricist & the singer were ajnabis in their respective role. The net result of all this is that most of us do not think as a proper song in a film.
I am falling in love with a stranger
– Deewar
PS it was included only in few versions of the audio release of the film.
https://youtu.be/RT65B9FntRA
Thikana 1987
KA – Anjaan – Asha
Ajnabi koi kabhi dil ko apna kyun lage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnvSIYBMM4
Ashokji @33,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Main kaun hun is a nice song of being a stranger to oneself.
Mr Muli @34,
This is a superb discovery. From where did you get it?
Dr Deshpande @35,
You are flying the flag of new songs. Never heard it. But I am sure many readers follo new songs too.
Not the romantic kind of ajnabi, here the hero considers that he is a stranger by himself.
Mili 1975
SDB – Yogesh – KK
Badi suni suni hai zindagi ye zindagi
main khud se hoon yahaan ajnabi ajnabi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8aqIjqg5I
AK ji;
Mind is a great engineer ….it can produce electricity at first sight with a stranger. One could talk to a stranger for hours….never knowing his or her name…sharing your beautiful moments ….share your deepest secrets and then never see them again !! Nothing is left but remember each other by sight.
People do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers . By doing so some have angels get entertained without knowing it .
Nakhrewali [ Ajnabi yeh chhriyan ]….| Kishore Kumar | Shankar Jaikishan | Shailendra….New Delhi…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov7DF5YdV2A
AK ji;
The mood on stranger reminds me one of Iqbal Bano greatest and my favorite song…..Ulfat ki nayi manjal ko chala …in fact my above write up partially covers this great song .
This reminds me one song that covers the theme….
Hum Ke Thehre Ajnabi Itni Madaraton Ke Baad By Gul Bahar Bano Yeh Mashghala By Iftikhar Sultan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiK_MJzPgt0
AK ji ;
I was looking for some hidden songs from Naushad ‘s songs ….here is a little success…..
Ajnabi Thehro Zara (Lyrics Video) – Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8XgDh8zytM
Lovely theme, AK, and I love all the poem/couplets you’ve quoted in your intro. It looks like all the ‘ajnabi’ songs I know have already been posted, so I’ll just enjoy all the songs in your post and in the comments.
p.s. The story behind Chalo ik baar – Sudha Malhotra has roundly refuted that she was ever in a relationship with Sahir. She said she respected him, but the rumours caused her immense problems in her personal life; in fact, she even stayed away from singing for a while.
Dr Deshpande @39,
Badi sooni sooni hai is a lovely song. I had not given attention to ‘khud se ajnabi’. ‘Stranger to oneself’ sounds so romantic to me.
KS Bhatiaji @40,
We open up easily to a stranger – nice observation. There is a safety, he can’t tattle to our known circle. With known people we are circumspect. Only an engineer-poet could have thought of that.
@41, 42,
I have not heard these songs. Thanks for posting them.
‘ Ajnabi ban ke…’/ 1969 / ??? Prem Dhawan / MUJHE SEENE SE LAGA LO / HR Behl / Mahendra Kapoor
https://youtu.be/rZeMYOFdRIk
Anu @43,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Chalo ek baar phir se – I have heard of Sudha Malhotra’s denial. But the story has endured. Because the love story is so romantic. Denial – our mind is conditioned to think there can be no smoke without fire. It is interesting that Amrita Pritam was willing to tell more than the most curious would have wanted know.
Mr Joseph @46,
Thanks for the song. Heard it for the first time.
Akji,
Such an interesting post. The commenters appear to have exhausted the all the songs that I could recollect.
Still I think these are not yet added hopefully,
Anjana Anjani from Yuva
https://youtu.be/O2qZfzHRwJQ
The word appears late in the mukhda
And,
Anjana Anjani from Anjana Anjani
https://youtu.be/91F3hdi2Phc
I usee to like the songs a lot once. I still like in fact!
Well, let me enjoy all the songs now. There’re so much.
Anup
🙂
AKji:
Another multidimensional theme full of romantic, scientific, literary, and philosophical possibilities! The romantic has been melodiously explored by your excellent selection of songs. The biological roots of the lore of ‘ajnabi’ had probably been pointed out by Darwin (and later by the geneticists): the attraction for the unknown is built into our genes. It provides evolutionary advantages, be it in the domain of scientific exploration, or in the area of reproductive health of the race (by avoiding inbreeding). In the literature writers such as Ajneya (Apne Apne Ajnabi) have exploited the theme. Science fiction aficionados will remember Heinlein’s ‘Stranger in a strange land’. Recently, I had attended a seminar on management education with the same title.
Expanding the theme to include synonyms (words and terms) is like putting fielding restrictions. And you have also added the possibility of temporary amnesia (induced by liquor, accident, opportunity, expediency) resulting in ‘being a stranger to oneself’. All this guarantees an avalanche of runs from Bhatiaji, Dr. Shetty, and others.
Here are two: ‘Maine shayad tumhe’ (Rafi in Barsaat ki raat; MD: Roshan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_pilWUMOFI&ab_channel=SEPLVintage
and, with a slight twist of the theme, ‘Tum kaun ho’ (Lata in Aasra; MD: LP):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMB2v4-jnUA&ab_channel=GaaneSuneAnsune
‘ Koi ajnabi sa…’/ 1974 / DUNIYA KA MELA / Anand Bakshi / LP / Lata
https://youtu.be/jWVoPHLCxL0
KK’s love affair with Ajnabi continues :
1 Aankho aankho me hum tum- Mahal – AB – KA
KK & Asha
https://youtu.be/lBt7wtmlVVc
Hum ajnabi the, tum the paraye
Ek dusare ke dil me samaye
2 Rimzim gire sawan – Manzil – Yogesh – RDB
https://youtu.be/28bXJWLhhuM
Mehfil me kaise kah de kisise
Dil bandh raha hai ek ajnabi se
Though sung by AB on screen , the lines fit on Moshumi’s feelings.
3 Pyar ajnabi hai – unreleased film.
https://youtu.be/I-6NpXIgESk
No mention of composer or lyricist , presumably they want to be ajnabi
‘Ek ajnabi teri…’/ 1966 / SHERA DAKU / Asad Bhopali / Ganesh / Asha
https://youtu.be/BO3tMjcV1CY
MERI SOORAT TERI AANKHEN.
Tere bin soone nain hamare..
…..
( Lata joins midway in Rafi’s soulful rendition. )
…..
O undekhe, O anjane..
TRIVENI, 1985.
O undekhe, O anjane
Sadiyan beet gayee, tera intezar kiya…
Lata.
CHITCHOR.
Gori tera gaon bada pyara..
…..
Pardesi anjan ko koi aise nahin apnata …
I think the title song of AJNABI, 2001, is the song where the word Ajnabi appears for the most number of times.
Na chand ka, na taron ka,
Na phoolon ka, na baharon ka…
…
Mere zindagi mein Ajnabi ka intezar hai
Main kya karoon? Ajnabi se mujhe…
Woh Ajnabi, jaana pehchana…
……
Aa Ajnabi, tere liye…
Here’s advice that all parents give their children about strangers:
‘Mama told me don’t be talking to a stranger’ by Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh, Vishal Dadlani from ‘Ek Ajnabee’, MD – Vishal-Shekhar, Lyricist – Vishal Dadlani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIxoIdeAqGM
Mujhse Dosti Karoge 2002
Rahul Sharma – AB – Lata, Udit
Andekhi anjaani si pagli si diwani si…..
…..andekha anjana sa pagla sa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBvlfHU4nDI
Here Life is Ajnabi….
Sailaab 1990
Bappi – Javed Akhtar – Amit, Asha
Mujhko ye zindagi lagti hai ajnabi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZPzvjJTZT4
Tadipaar 1990
Nadeem Shravan – Sameer – SPB, Alka
Yeh zindagi kabhi kabhi ajnabi si lagti hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1szv7S-Qxc
Asmaan Se Ooncha 1989
Rajesh Roshan – Indivar – Kumar Sanu, Sadhana, Anwar, Abhijeet
Zindagi se jab mile ajnabi lagi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMwNBSHEyJA
Rahulji @52
Pyar Ajnabi hai is a song from an incomplete film Pyar Ajnabi Hai which was launched by Kishore Kumar, starring him and Leena Chandavarkar and apparently composed by himself.
Once they married, the film was left incomplete.
Here’s a short video clip of this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp0-Gy3vUX0
Anup @49,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Anjana, Anjani makes it gendered, ajnabi encompassed both. The songs are new to me. Now we can see a progressive evolution – ‘pardesi’ came in the vintage era, it evolved into ‘ajnabi’ in the golden period, further evolving into ‘anjana-anjani’ in the new era. With every evolution the meaning became more layered.
Canasya @50,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. A day after posting the article I am learning of more possibilities of ‘ajnabi’. That is always the case thanks to the knowledgeable readers.
..Ajnabi si ho magar gair nahin lagti ho – This is one of my great favourites. It escaped my mind because the word did not occur in the mukhada. Otherwise this was a fittest song to make it to the list. Thanks for reminding this great Sahir-Roshan combination.
Mr Joseph @51, 53,
Nice songs.
Mr Muli @52,
My post has some Kishore Kumar songs near the top. All the songs you have added of Kishore Kumar 2., including the one from the unreleased film, are excellent.
Dr Shetty @54, 55,
I am impressed by your memory. But alas I cannot enjoy the songs in absence of the links. All the songs seem new to me.
Ashwin @56,
Mamas must have given this advice from time immemorial. But that did not keep their daughter from falling for strangers. Ajnabi does not seem to go well with a club dance/ item song.
Dr Deshpande @57,
Udit Narayan is a melodious singer in the new era. I liked his song.
@58,
All the songs seem inspired from Hum to houn apni zindagi se miley/ Ajnabi jaise ajnabi se miley, but Sudarshan ‘Faakir’-Jagjit Singh combination is unsurpassed.
‘ Ajnabi tere liye…’/ 1966 / SPY IN GOA / Yogesh Gaud / Robin Banerjee / Krishna Kalle
https://youtu.be/04mrYjTaZBM
Ak ji
Taking the anjana Variant forward.
Anjane hotopar ku
Pehchane geet hai
Kal tak jo begane the
Janamo ke meet hai
Kya hoga kaunse pal me
Koi jane na
The mukesh’s song I love most.
The lines though proved to be unfortunately prophetic for its composer.
This also opens up another subhead of Ajnabi that is Begana.
Oh re taal mile – Anokhi raat – Indeevar- Roshan
https://youtu.be/9Za8ZtfHXXY
AK,
I think you are a master at discovering topics that are ‘ajnabi’ to the minds of SOYers. Like you, I also thought this word has been used much less, but our untiring friends have proved me wrong. But, many of the songs are from newer films, so there was the need to expand the topic for searching older songs. Vaishnavji hit a masterstroke by presenting ‘main kaun hoon’. Such songs would be nice to find. I think the songs which make it clear that at the time of the meeting the lovers were not known to each other may be covered. Just like ‘na tum hamen jano’. How about ‘chup chup khade ho jaroor koi baat hai, pahli mulaqat hai ye pahli mulaqat hai’. And in what category would songs like ‘aaja tujhko pukaren mere geet re’ in which the antara says ‘ naam na janun tera des na janu’ or ‘koi aayega aayega, hamare gaon koi aayega’.
In continuity with Vaishnavji, I present here a song in which Raj Kumar wants to forget himself, when he requests ‘aaj is darja pilado ke na kuchh yaad rahe’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZGY48gAsM
Jane kahan dekha hai, kahan dekha hai tumhen – Biwi aur Makaan – Rafi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQVn57_jXuQ
Dilip Kumar and Vyjyantimala trying there best to prove they are still ajnabi in ‘tere husn ki kya tarif karun’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9gbU0Qd3bI
And he is searching for the stranger. ‘Teri soorat se nahin milti kisi ki soorat’ from Ziddi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQXXnZlwo6Y
Rahul Muli ji @52 ;
Thanks for the lovely melodies from Manzil and Mahal …..my favorites.
This topic itself is a romance in air . Air passing thru lovely hairs of pretty face sitting near to window of a running bus added great charm to fellow travelers like me ….but alas my bus stand was too near to get down.
I am looking up of such song that might fit in my thoughts .
Dr. Rajesh Deshpande ji @ 39 ;
The song from Mili is so soothing that brings pathos knitted in melancholy melody . This and other songs were perhaps last from the great MD of all times…S D Burman. Yogesh did the rest . I wonder why only one para in film ? Yes for complete listening pleasure audio with dim lights enhances the touching soul effects.
I am in listening mode and will come back after I finish with huge lined ups set by many of my colleagues.
AKELI MAT JAIYO, 1963.
Raste mein do Anjane
Aise mile deewane
Jaise nahin begane…
ADHIKAR, 1971.
Koi mane ya na mane
Jo kal tak the Anjane…
Mr Joseph @67,
Ajnabi tere liye hun main is a very nice song. Heard for the first time.
Hans @69,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Main kaun hun or Main aisa kyon hun main waisa kyon hun would fit in the category of being a stranger to oneself.
Forgetting oneself opens another vista. Thus ‘Aa is darja pila de na kuchh yaad rahe has to be slotted in another category. Every forgetting need not mean becoming stranger to oneself – it might be just to get away from painful memories. Jaane kahan dekha hai and Teri soorat se nahin milti fit in this category, but Tere husn ki kya tareef karun, perhaps not.
Rajeshji @ 59
Thanks for the information .
Your ability to spot the post 80 songs related to any theme is amazing.
Bhatiyaji
I am glad that you liked Mahal & Manzil songs. Rimzim gire is also one of my top favourites.
Hansji @ 69
You have aptly described AK Ji’s ability to explore novel topics. He also is magnanimous to allow variations of the main theme.
You have referred to main kaun hoon category posted by Vaishanvji . A natural contra ( or compliment) is tum kaun ho .
Here is tum kaun ho which also includes ajnabi nazar .
Mala Sinha asking the question to Vishwajeet in Aasra
Tum kaun ho batao tumhara naam hai kya – Lata – AB- LP
https://youtu.be/xMB2v4-jnUA
A nice and interesting topic ! I recollect this duet song from AKELI MAT JAIYO which goes as Yeh to kaho kaun ho tum and so on which reflects the concept of who .
AK ji, a lovely theme with some great songs. I wanted to add the song from Bombay – Kehna Hi Kya Yeh Nain Ek Anjaan Se Mile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BYVwUJ0vVI
May I also add that I was working on a somewhat similar theme. I was shortlisting songs where the two lovers get to know each other and in some turn strangers and the word I was focusing on was pehchaan. I guess since the theme is somewhat interlinked with yours, I would perhaps list them here to see if you can give me suggestions about how to extend the idea. My songs excluding those listed here are:
1) Thi Jinse Pal Bhar Ki Pehchaan – Tamasha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr2riXWSoWQ
2) Jaan Na Pehchaan Ghar Aaye Mehmaan – Amar Singh Rathod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKuOnvyMHk
3) Kyon Ji Mujhe Pehchana – Boyfriend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=820t-Nmsyzk
4) Zara Pehchaano To Main Kaun – Dev Kanya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjrvfyj1go
5) O Beimaan Maine Tujhe Pehchaan Liya, Warrant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV-Xdc2GA7U
6) Jaan Gayi Hun Pehchaan Gayi Hun – Teen Bhai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmnAu89FMU
7) Agar Bewafa Tujhe Pehchaan Jaate, Raat Ke Andhere Mein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbwI1JibA8s
8) Matlab Nikal Gaya To Pehchaante Nahin, Amanat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4nXRxbpR_Y
9) Woh Jo Milte the Kabhi, Akeli Mat Jaiyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQPif5jnpCA
10) Pehli Hi Pehchaan Main Naina, Veer Ghatotkach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6aL0wNTjHs
KB,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. In comments section we are including ‘who’ also as ajnabi. An outstanding song Wo to kaho.
Anita,
Welcome to SOY again. Perhaps your comment was awaiting moderation for links exceeding 6. Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Your brief description of your ‘pehchan’ theme can be very well developed as different from ‘ajnabi’. I started with songs that had the word ‘ajnabi’ in it. The readers expanded it to include its synonyms, phrases and metaphors connoting an ‘ajnabi’. But we should not stretch beyond a point where the original sense is lost. Go ahead and develop your interesting theme.
I was patting myself too soon that I have paid you back in the same coin – you had pre-emptied me on a theme which I had in mind 🙂 . I have not, I have to wait. My advice is just ignore what others are writing. If you remember it, make a conscious effort to be different. If you have forgotten, you are free from any dilemma.
AK,
I second Hans, you are indeed a master at discovering topics sometimes common some uncommon.
You have picked up an uncommon subject with multiple dimensions after a very common one.
“ But one can be ‘ajnabi’ to someone with whom one has lived under the same roof for years. Nay, one can even be ajnabi to oneself:”
I have tried to pick songs of “different ajnabis” all of them without the shrishek ‘Ajanbi’
Romancing with Ajnabi.
Yeh to kaho kaun ho kaun ho tum mujhsse pooche bina dil me aane lage Mukesh from Aashiq
https://youtu.be/5N-C-jIe0OQ
Has one lived under same roof for years with an ajnabi?
Mahesh Bhutt knew it all?
Koi ye kaise bataye Jagjit Singh Arth.
https://youtu.be/UByuXScv3CA
One can even be ajnabi to oneself:”
One is ajnabi enough to be scared of oneself.
Ajeeb saaneha mujh par guzar gaya yaaron from Gaman
https://youtu.be/jkuiV5CGg4s
Ek ajnabi shirshek ka song to banta hai, tough it is not about human it about agnabi rahen.
Kahin ais na ho tum ajnabi rahon me kho jao from Milap.
https://youtu.be/8lDDo0v_prs
Second though I felt not only rahen Desh bhi ajnabi ban jate ahi aur usme log kho jate hai.
Mumbaikar8,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and the bouquet of songs. I started with Shirshak songs, but the readers have expanded it. You have covered many shades of ajnabi. A very important ajnabi is the alien who takes the paper of his country for practical convenience. She remains ‘ajnabi’ to her adopted country and has become as ajnabi to her country of origin. I thought ‘pardesi’ covered that, but ‘ajnabi’ is closer. Or better still, both pardesi and ajnabi. Any coincidence is incidental 🙂 .
Being ajnabi to someone you have been living with under the same roof: Basu Bhattacharya explored this in some films. Avishkar received a lot of critical acclaim.
AKji,
The mention of Basu Bhattacharya reminded me of this song from his film – Griha Pravesh 1980
Kanu Roy – Gulzar – Chandrani Mukherjee
Pehchan to thi pehchana nahin
maine apne aapko jaana nahin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PToKjTZnstw
Dr Deshpande,
‘Grihpravesh’ is one of the set of marital discord movies. Not surprising that it has this song. Other filmss also had such songs.
Mumbaikar ji @ 82
“Desh bhi ajnabi ho jate hai aur usme log bhi kho jate hai ”
Kiske aage rona roye
Des paraya log begane
Do these line fit this theme ?
Kashish 1980
KA – Anjaan – KK, Suman
Do pardesi anjaane se
lagte hai kyun pehchane se
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGxQy4xGviU
Hans ji @69;
Happiness grows when we meet strangers in our thoughts . Soul searching discussions never ends even in dreams . This mystery never ends. Common interests at first sight brings many trusts to hold for future.
Now some songs on imagining a stranger ….this is an extension of theme and could be appendix one.
Chalte Chalte Yun Hi Koi | Pakeezah (1972) …Lata…Gulam Mohd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-40R7SfXJ4
Humne Dekha Hai Tumhen | Mohammed Rafi @ Ji Chahta Hai…KA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NMwxAOwaZ4
AKELA HOON MAIN -MOHD.RAFI -MAJROOH SULTANPURI – S D BURMAN ( BAAT EK RAAT KI 1962 )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lZLjgxMxLg
….to be contd…
AK @83
“A very important ajnabi is the alien who takes the paper of his country for practical convenience. She remains ‘ajnabi’ to her adopted country and has become as ajnabi to her country of origin. I thought ‘pardesi’ covered that, but ‘ajnabi’ is closer. Or better still, both pardesi and ajnabi.”
The alien takes the paper of the adopted country for “practical convenience” or “compulsions” is matter of debate, not in public though.
It is not about her being ajnabi in either country.
You are right it was covered in pardesi.
Ajnabi desh has nothing to do with her it has everything to do about her concerns for the county she considers her matrubhumi.
Now let me add a beautiful Amrit Pritam’s poem equally beautifully recited by Gulzar.
My request to Hans or any Panjabi speaker to translate it in Hindi, if possible. I can understand in bits and pieces.
Search, for in-depth translation, got me couples of verses in Amar Uajala, but would love get it full.
Aye Mere Dost – Mere Ajnabee Pul Mera Pata
https://youtu.be/nHvOIcn7eWM
Mr. Muli,@ 86
The lines do fit the theme but there is some ambiguity only if you explain further, I can respond aptly.
Today is Vijay Anand’s death anniversary, here is ajnabi song from his last film Main Tere Liye
Jaane se lagte ho pechchane se lagate ho
Kisisapne suhane se ho ya ajnabi dost puranese
The song is written by Goldie himself & composed & sung by Bappi Lahiri
https://youtu.be/yTwKCDJXksg
And Here is ajnabi , begana & pardesi all combined in to one
Ladaka y kehta hai – Main Prem ki diwani hoon – KK – Annu Malik – Dev Kohli
https://youtu.be/j61MEp2IMoc
AK, @ 74
Thanks for the response. I think ‘main kaun hoon’ and ‘aaj is darja pila do’ are similar situations, only difference being that in the first he has achieved already what he wants to achieve in the second. We have songs where the person after being intoxicated is in a totally opposite state where he remembers what he is trying to forget, like ‘hum bekhudi men tumko pukare chale gaye’ or ‘mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali men’. ‘Tere husn ki kya tarif karun’ was not meant to be included in this category.
Muli ji, @ 77
SOY is like adda culture where free discussion is encouraged and these discussions have given birth to a number of fresh topics. AK is always on the look out for different topics. In fact when I first asked what should I take up as guest author, he said anything new and different. This approach keeps the interest of existing readers as well as attracting new ones.
You are no less in touching new chords. The song posted by you ‘tum kaun ho tumhara naam hai kya’ is not only fit, but has brought to mind a number of connected songs.
Tere naam ka deewana from Suraj aur Chanda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJgg-jbvF0U
And Rajendra Kumar has a horrible way of asking the name from Vyjyantimala in ‘mehka mehka roop rumhara’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRU7pULdJF0
In this name business there are songs like ‘are deewano mujhe pahchano’ where he asks his own name and then tells it himself, ‘mera naam hai chameli’ where she not only declares her name but also the destination from where she has come and the third one ‘mera naam hai shabnam’ where she tells her name and also asks the name of her adversary.
Bhatiaji,
You have put it correctly. There are a number of songs waiting for the stranger. The other song starting with the same words ‘akela hoon main humsafar dhoondhta hoon’ from Jaal – 1967, ‘kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin’ from Sharabi.
Mehbooba teri tasveer kis tarah main banaun – can fit both the categories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbb5n1wcvSs
Mumbaikar8,
I like very much Amrita Pritam’s writings. I have read a lot of prose and verse written by her, but in Hindi. But I can understand Panjabi quite well and would provide the translation. May be tomorrow.
Hans ji;
I am enjoying your valuable comments and variable theme additions. Dreaming to meet a stranger…well this could be one such song…..
ban ke Panchhi gaye pyar ka tarana mil jaye koi …Lata…Anari..SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKZYniG-4wk
Further to Hansji’s extending of the topic, here is a Tamil song in which the heroine says:
Am I myself or someone else?
Have I changed gradually?
I ask myself
Whether I have forgotten myself
‘Naane naana’ by Vani Jairam from ‘Azhage unnai arithigiren’ (1979), MD – Ilaiyaraja, Lyrics – Vaali)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaemqYLpRY8
Hans ji ;
Mehbooba teri tasveer kis tarah main banaun ….yes you have correctly clicked the button. We seems to have taken the same train !!
Here is one more song …this is from my favorite of C Arjun songs.
Na Jane Kaun Ye Aawaz Deta Hai – Asha Bhosle @ Punar Milan….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0TldLrgkWw
Yes PradeepKumarji, anaamikaa in sanskrit carries almost same meaning as azanabi of Urdu!
AK Ji
Very nice selection of songs. Just want to add a beautiful song from “Barsat Ki Raat”, which I think everyone missed.
Maine Shayad Tumhen Pahle Bhi Kahin Dekha
A real gem by Rafi , Roshan , Sahir Combo . Really soul piercing !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_pilWUMOFI
Hans,
I have not read any of her prose but was impressed by the movie Pinjar which was an adaptation of her novel by the same name.
I have a दिमागी खलल I feel Indian poems lose their emotions , charm, depth, whatever you may call in English. I have read some of her poems in English translated by Khuswant Singh, Suresh Kohli etc. I did not like them much but I enjoyed it thoroughly when I found the Hindi translation in Amar Ujala.
Here is the link to that translation if you want to have a look. https://www.amarujala.com/kavya/irshaad/amrita-pritam-best-love-poem-aye-mere-dost-mere-ajnabi?pageId=3
Pakakaka,
Welcome to SOY.
2 songs beginning with the word Jab , Asha Bhosle, a part of both.
UMRAO JAAN.
Jab bhi milti hai mujhe Ajnabi lagti kyon hai ?
Zindagi roz naye rang badalti kyon hai ?
Asha Bhosle.
HIP HIP HURRAY.
Jab kabhi mudke dekhta hoon
Tum bhi kuchh Ajnabi si lagti ho
Main bhi kuchh Ajnabi sa lagta hoon…
Bhupinder, Asha Bhosle.
Naghma @100,
Maine shayad tumhein pahle bhi kahin dekha hai was first mentioned by Canasya @50. But don’t mind, it is a wonderful song, it should have made it to my main list.
Ashwin @97,
The drunk man, the woman trying to seduce him, both rolling over each other in bed – they seem to be far from strangers.
Mumbaikar8,
Actually, Amrita Pritam is essentially a prose writer. Her poems are almost in prose style, with her special imagery. I agree totally with you that English translation of Panjabi does not convey the correct meaning. In fact, Hindi translations of most of Indian languages is always much better as compared to English.
I am working on a post on Sahir, where I intend to write something on their relationship and it seems a coincidence that you have picked on Amrita Pritam. I would give here some trivia about her and Khushwant Singh. It is said that he told Amrita that her story is so insignificant that it can be written on the back of a revenue stamp. She in retaliation named her autobiography ‘raseedi ticket’ which means revenue stamp.
The Amar Ujala translation is the exact copy of the poem published as a collection of her poems by Rajkamal Paperbacks, which I have. I am giving here her poems named as PUL and MERA PATA.
PUL
कल हम दोनों ने
एक पुल जलाया था
और एक दरिया के
किनारों की तरह नसीब बाँटे
बदन झटके
तो एक बदन की वीरानी
इस किनारे थी
और एक बदन की वीरानी
उस किनारे
फिर ऋतुओं ने जब भी
कुछ फूल दिए
तो तूने भी अपने बदन से
तोड़ दिए
और मैंने भी वे फूल
ऋतुओं को लौटा दिए
और झड़े पत्तों की तरह
कितने ही बरस पानी में बहा दिए
बरस बीत गए
पर पानी नहीं सूखा
और बहते हुए पानी में
परछाइयां तो देखी
पर एक दुसरे का
चेहरा नहीं देखा
और इससे पहले
कि हम कुछ फासले पर खड़े
ख़तम हो जाएँ
चलो ये निपाते से बदन
पानी पर बिछाएं
तुम अपने बदन पर पैर रखना
और आधे दरिया को
पार कर आना
मैं अपने बदन पर पैर रखूंगी
और तुम्हें
आगे आकर मिलूंगी
MERA PATA
आज मैंने
अपने घर का नंबर मिटाया है
और गली के माथे पर लगा
गली का नाम हटाया है
और हर सड़क की
दिशा का नाम पोंछ दिया है
पर अगर आपको मुझे जरूर पाना (ढूंढना) है
तो हर देश के, हर शहर की
हर गली का द्वार खटखटाओ
यह एक शाप है, एक वर है
और जहाँ भी
आजाद रूह की झलक पड़े
— समझना वह मेरा घर है
My comments on the three poems
Of the above three poems, the last one Mera Pata is a simple one and does not pose a problem in understanding. The one word ढूंढना I have put in bracket conveys the better meaning instead of पाना, which is the original translation. The original word in the Panjabi poem is ‘labhana’ which means ढूंढना. पाना conveys other meanings too.
MERE DOST MERE AJNABI
In the first stanza, she writes in Panjabi ‘waqt aslon hairan’. Here ‘aslon’ means ‘in reality’ as against the normally used phrase ‘waqt mano thahar gaya ho’. In the end, better meaning would be conveyed by the words ‘ghadi bhar ke liye wo apni doobne ki kismat ko bhool sa gaya’ instead of the given डूबने की क़िस्मत वो भूल-सा गया. The words खिड़की के रास्ते बाहर को भागा which have been used in the second stanza and again in the last stanza, are wrongly translated. The words used in Panjabi are ‘waqt ne baari (meaning khidki) ton (meaning ‘se’) chhaal (mening ‘chhalang’) maar ditti (meaning ‘dee’)’. To me, खिड़की से छलांग मार दी and खिड़की के रास्ते बाहर को भागा do not convey the same meaning. Particularly in the last stanza, she talks about the blood oozing as a consequence of that chhalang in which waqt landed on his knees. That meaning would never be conveyed by the words खिड़की के रास्ते बाहर को भागा. The only other small change I would suggest is using छाती में चुभ जाता है instead of छाती में उतर आता है, which would convey the correct meaning of the Panjabi word used ‘khhubh’.
PUL
This is much better translated. In the last stanza’s fourth line the words निपाते से बदन would pose a problem of understanding. The Panjabi words used are ‘thingar jehe pinde’ meaning ‘theekre jaise badan’ which refers to worn out bodies which have become like a ‘theekra’ in old age. ‘Theekra’ in Hindi is broken piece of an earthen pot. In the last stanza she is using the imagery of Sohni crossing the river with the help of the earthen pot and Mahiwal jumping in and both dying in the river. The only other minor change I would suggest is in the last line of second stanza in the words कितने ही बरस पानी में बहा दिए. This would convey better meaning if we interpret it as ‘sookhe patton ki tarah kitne hi varsh paani men kharab kar diye’.
I hope this would be useful to you.
AK ji;
Putting forth some more of ajnabee songs …not heard often.
NON FILMI – EK LADKI HAI AJNABEE – KISHORE KUMAR – SAPNO KI MANZIL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GAG2NIT-U0
Pyar Ajnabee Hai – Unreleased song of Kishore Kumar from unreleased film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R2tEEU7nhY
Ajnabi Kaun Ho Tum | Sweekar Kiya Maine…Lata….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qABW2aEj5mI
Hans,
It is the special imagery of her writing that I like a lot but because of unfamiliarity with the language it is difficult to understand it to the core.
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation, felt great at the translation I had gotten right and dumb when missed obvious point.
One question on the original Panjabi word “labhana” can it also mean ‘Lubhana” in Hindustani.
Thanks once and as you have delivered in US sale style ask for one get three, be prepared for more requests in the future
Mumbaikar8,
I should have written ‘labhna’ instead of ‘labhana’, because it is not long vowel after ‘bh’. ‘Lubhana’ does not mean the same as ‘labhna’ so far as my knowledge goes. I followed the link provided by you for Gulzar recital which has all the three poems. So I gave details for all three. You can always ask me for such things which I know.
Mumbaikar @89, 101, 108, Hans @95, 106, 109,
I have been enjoying your literary discussion from the side gallery.
Mumbaikar 8, your reluctance to enjoy English translation of Amrita Pritam’s is very natural. Hindi is closer to Punjabi than English, therefore, it can capture the imagery, the phrases and ethos better than English which is a very foreign language. I also have a mental compartment. I prefer to read Hindi translation of Indian regional languages, and English translation of Russian, Spanish, or or European languages. That has to do with how close the target language and its cultural ethos is to source language.
Translation also has some creative effort. I am surprised that Rajkamal’s paperback of Amrita Pritam’s representative poems (Hans may have the same version) does not mention the translator’s name, nor it has any preface, nor a whiff of indication that it is a translation. I would put it to Publisher’s laziness. A lay person might think that this is Amrita Pritaam’s original writing in Hindi.
Some words and phrases would have different alternatives – one closer in literal meaning, and the other less so – and the translator may consciously choose the less literal, because to him that sounds better in the translation.
KS Bhatiaji @107,
Nice songs. Ajnabi kaun ho tum figures prominently in the post.
AK ji;
Romancing the stone….quite a popular hollywood movie…but bollywood too had a song on such theme……
किसी पत्थर की मूरत से मुहब्बत का इरादा है Kisi Patthar Ki Murat Se – HD वीडियो सोंग – महेन्द्र कपूर…Hamraaz…Sahir…Ravi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzO7Q8e83bM
KS Bhatiaji,
And, Patthar ke sanam tujhe humne mohabbat ka Khuda jana.
Hans ji, Ms. Mumbaikar 8 ;
Life goes on as it gets fuelled by Music. It seems we all are related to music when listening great songs …listening collectively….. were in vogue .
Deep breathing is a great exercise letting music to flow as a pure oxygen. When there is music in the air, music is all around us . Destiny of the artist is always there in melancholy and sad songs .
Now hear this great song from Mukesh …the stanza says …hum apne ghar mein hi ajnabee se …. and the main song is …
na jane kahan kho gaya..Mukesh_Shailendra_Sapan Jagmohan…Begaana,1963,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0uqgH1e4dI
….to be contd…
AK ji, Hans ji, Ms. Mumbaikar 8 ;
Strangers when they part……
Begana could be anjana too . I was thinking some more songs could still fits the bills…after all we have nothing to pay back [ smily].
Munimji – Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Raahi-Lata…SDB…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vN9oOg5ty4
Do Pal Song | Veer-Zaara | | Madan Mohan | Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPsxxBhv9kc
AK ji;
Split second is enough of a time measure when strangers gets attracted . So is the case for music and songs when one hears at microscopic level .
They all seems to exist forever.
LEELA (1947) – Aate jaate nazar milaate mil jaate dildaar – Binapani Mukherjee and Chitalkar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loJ04fij0Sw
AK ji;
There are many strange roads where people meet and get friendly .
Here is one of the rare duet….
Jeevan Ki Lambi Raahon Par Subir Sen Mahendra Kapoor Pick Pocket (1962) Sardar Malik Gulshan Bawra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7pdlvT0HOY
KS Bhatiaji @114,
Na jaane kahan kho gaya wo zamana is a great song, though not heard often. Thanks a lot for posting it.
@115, 116, 117,
Your short captions embellish the songs. Thanks a lot.
AK ji #110 I prefer to read Hindi translation of Indian regional languages, and English translation of Russian, Spanish, or European languages.
Agree totally.
This is an interesting topic. Here is a lover wondering whether the fact that he and his beloved have become ‘ajnabis’ is captivity or release:
aa ke manzil pe kho gaye hum tum
ajnabi phir se ho gaye hum tum
ye aseeri hai ya rihahi hai
phir wo bhuli si yaad aayi hai….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlvpcbIrVcU
And another one:
Jab Kabhi mud ke dekhta hoon main
Tum bhi kuchh ajnabi si lagti ho
Main bhi kuchh ajnabi sa lagta hoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iONQQ6Y2Kls
[Hip Hip Hurray: Bhupinder Singh, Asha Bhonsle, Gulzar, Vanraj Bhatia]
It is a song that slowly grew on me….
Neeru @119,
Beautiful words. Yes it has an interesting contrast.
@120,
Though I like this film a lot, the song was not heard much.