Album : Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)
Song : Na To Karavan Ki Talash Hai
Lyrics : Sahir Ludhianvi
Music : Roshan Lal
Singers : Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhonsle, Sudha Malhotra, Shiv Dayal Batish
Form : Qawwali, Hindi Film
For this first post from Hindi films, I hesitated but a few minutes before choosing this song. There are innumerable pieces of Hindi film music which have become part of my musical world. However, with my deep love of Qawwalis, the absolute mastery over music by Mohammed Rafi and Manna Dey, Roshan’s musical genius and the beautiful poetry of Sahir Ludhianvi’s words, this song belongs to the very pinnacle of Hindi Film music. Just see what the poet says :
woh hanske agar mange toh ham jan bhi de de,
ha yeh jan toh kya chiz hai, iman bhi de de, kyonki
How much more easy to give up ‘jaan’ than ‘iman’ ! One a coward’s way out and the other, the most difficult of things…
and again,
nazo andaz se kehte hain ki jina hoga
zeher bhi dete hain toh kehte hain ki pina hoga
jab mai pita hu toh kehte hai ki marta bhi nahi
jab mai marta hu toh kehte hain ki jina hoga
How beautifully put ! Hindi/Urdu is certainly the language of poets, don’t you think?
People seem to often come to my site looking for lyrics. As there are other sources on the net which provide exactly that, I shall just redirect you to one of those sites. For the lyrics to this song, look here.
For ten minutes of beautiful music experience, watch the clip below.
Music To My Ears 
Hi Suja,
Would it be any help, according to you, to attempt some sort of translation? Some people are against it, and suggest that a translation is nothing but a betrayal of the original… What do you think?
Hi Yves, I have to say that I have reservations about translations in general. My opinion is based on experience..my son, with whom I share some of my music, speaks only English (my failure in my duties as a mum 😦 ). Often, when I translate a beautiful phrase or line, I have seen puzzled, uncomprehending looks as if to say ‘why is this beautiful’? One can translate the words but not the mood, not the context, not sensual pleasure of the words on one’s lips, not the auditory pleasure of a beautifully enunciated word…in short, it falls far from the original. I do speak 4 languages fluently (et un peu de français mais pas couramment) so I understand how translations work..and translations don’t work. But as an aid to a student of Hindi like yourself…I suppose, translations have their uses.
Translation itself is a work of art. You are probably great artist yourself and may come up with fantastic translations retaining beauty of original masterpiece. Would be helpful if you can give a try and allow us to enjoy reading 🙂
Even if you are not an artist, translation would still help. I loved this song but could not understand some words e.g.
Jaansoz Ki Haalat Ko Jaansoz Hi Samjhega (do not know meaning of Jaansoz)
or
Vehshat-E-Dil Rasm-O-Deedaar Se Roki Na Gayi (could not understand meaning of this line as I do not know what Veshat or deedar means 😦 )
Hi Kalpana, Thanks for your comment and for visiting my site 🙂 I wrote this post quite early in my blogging career, since then I have often provided translations of songs, especially for Carnatic classical music. As for this song, my Urdu knowledge is limited to the commonalities with Hindi so I dont really have the skills. One of these days I’ll look around for a good translation and put a link in.
Which ragas are there in this music?
Like classically based film songs, it is not a pure raga but a mix..I am not very familiar with Hindustani raags but I understand that this is mainly based on Raag Kalavati.
Cheers. Suja
Please include the malayalam song by Manna Dey – Manasa Myne Varu
Come my dear bird (myna) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/edit-page/Love-ballad-Manna-Deys-solo-song-in-Malayalam-became-some-kind-of-a-romantic-anthem/articleshow/24781491.cms
Thank you for the suggestion! I’ve not heard this song before..appreciate the link.
Cheers. Suja