Disclaimer:
I do not consider myself knowledgeable in Urdu so please go easy on me, this is
simply my interpretation of a Gazal that I happen to love. So here goes…
I have
always wondered why we are attracted to the unknown. Or even the half
understood. This is particularly evident when it comes to Ghazals in Hindi
cinema. To be honest, I don't quite understand Urdu, having never learnt is
formally, I studied in a KV and therefore studied Hindi. But like many, I am
fascinated with the Urdu language, not understanding it completely, gives the
language a unique aura of mystery, In Hindi cinema, while most of the dialogues
are in Hindustani the songs are mostly Urdu, it is almost as if the song
lyricist finds freedom to use Urdu which the script writer does not have and
has to stick to the simpler Hindustani. The lyricist, on the other hand, does
not have to work within any limits.
So here
is an interpretation of a Ghazal from a person who does not know Urdu.
It is
important to understand the context of this Ghazal, The setting for the song is
a prostitutes house in Karachi and the two characters are, the prostitute and
one of her customers, a customer that she likes (at least more than the some of
other customers), it can be implied that this customer is gentler than her
other customers and, while one can say that she prefers him over others, one
cannot stretch this to mean love. She feels that she is free from the sorrows
of her life when she is with this particular customer. The freedom is not
complete but she can at least dare to contemplate how life would be with this
man. The song is sung from the point of view of the prostitute and is set in
the early hours of the morning, A time when he will get up and leave without so
much as a second thought about her.
Ek Ghadi Aur Theher, Ke Jaan Baki Hai
Wait
another moment because there is still life left in me.
She urges
him to stay back a few moments. She comes alive only in the night. To the
world, the only purpose of her existence is to give pleasure, her customers
come in the night, people pay attention (or rather acknowledge her existence)
only in the night. So, she wants to draw out every moment, so she can live a
few more moments.
Tere Lab Pe Mere Hone Ka Nishaan Baaki Hai
Your lips
carry the marks that I exist.
Once he
has left, the only sign of her existence would be marks on his lips, maybe the
marks of her lipstick. It is her attempt to prolong his departure by a few
moments. Maybe by saying "wipe the marks off your lips before you
leave" and hence getting him to stay for a few more moments.
Shab Ke Chehre Pe Chadha Rang Savere Ka To Kya
So what,
if the colour that has risen in the dark sky is that of the morning.
Imagine
how rouge gives a bit of colour to the cheeks, here the morning light is acting
like the rouge on the dark sky.
Dhalte Khwabon Mein Abhi Apna Jahaan Baaki Hai
despite
the setting of my dreams, I still exist
The
dreams that she has dreamt of, in the peak of the night are fading, but she
will continue to exist and live on the hope that he will return.
Yoon Bichhad Ke Tu Mujhse Na Saza De Khud Ko
Do not
punish yourself by separating from me in this manner
She feels
that he also has developed feelings for her and she feels that, by leaving, he
is unnecessarily adding to his own sorrow. She knows that her thoughts on his
loving her are an illusion, and yet, she is willing to live with the illusions,
since they give her a chance to live and hope, even if it is for a brief
moment.
Abhi Haathon Se Tere Jurm Gunah Baaki Hai
There are
still many more crimes that will happen at your hands.
In the
film the prostitute has a knife scar on her face. She has been attacked by
another man. Probably her husband who married her with the intention of putting
her into the flesh trade. Or it could have been another customer who could not
stand the fact that she was so beautiful and he so ugly, (how can a tawaif be
so beautiful and graceful, and possibly more educated than him, how dare the
tawaif show airs to him).
In all
this she feels that may be this customer will avenge her, therefore a reference
to crimes that have yet to come at your hands. So there is a bit of
manipulation involved in all this.
Khilte Phoolon Ka Fasana To Bas Bahana Tha
The
stories that you told me of blooming flowers were all excuses and simply a
ruse.
Bujhte Sholon Ki Daastaan Abhi Baaki Hai
The story
of the dying embers (of coal/fire) is yet to be told. The fire is not yet fully
gone, It simply need to be rekindled, probably with hope.
Aankhein Sooni Hain, Meri Maang Ujdi Hai To Kya
So what
if my eyes are empty/lifeless and the parting in my hair is without(devoid of)
colour (the symbol of a woman's protection/marriage), there is still hope (that
the embers/my life will be rekindled).
Abhi Hathon Mein Mere Rang He Na Baaki Hai
The
colour of hena on my hands is still visible. As if to say that she has been
widowed before the decorative hena (that women apply to their hands just before
their wedding) has faded away.
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