Jeena isi ka naam hai – This is what life is about

Movie: Anari (1959)
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Music: Shankar Jaikishen
Lyrics: Shailendra
Singer: Mukesh

I am an ardent fan of the Late Mukesh the playback singer, as evident from my past eulogy for him. This song with simple lyrics, beautifully explains what life is all about. It is tailor made for Raj Kapoor who loved playing the role of a tramp immortalized earlier by the great Charlie Chaplin.

Hindi Lyrics with Translation

किसी की मुस्कुराहटों पे हो निसार
किसी का दर्द मिल सके तो ले उधार
किसी के वासते हो तेरे दिल में प्यार
जीना इसी का नाम है

To give yourself to someone who smiles,
To share someone’s pain,
To have love for someone in your heart,
This is what life is all about…

माना अपनी जेब से फ़कीर हैं
फिर भी यारों दिल के हम अमीर हैं
मिटे जो प्यार के लिए वो ज़िन्दगी
जले बहार के लिए वो ज़िन्दगी
किसी को हो ना हो हमें तो ऐतबार
जीना इसी…

I accept my empty pockets show am a pauper,
Yet, dear friends, I am rich in my heart,
To give my all for love is what is life,
To yearn for spring is what is life,
This I believe, though some may not,
This is what life is all about…

रिश्ता दिल से दिल के ऐतबार का
जिंदा है हमीं से नाम प्यार का
के मर के भी किसी को याद आयेंगे
किसी के आंसुओं में मुस्कुराएंगे
कहेगा फूल हर कली से बार-बार
जीना इसी…

Trust is what binds a heart to heart,
Immortal is love due to (people like) me,
That I would be remembered by someone after I am gone,
Makes me smile that someone will shed tears for me,
And flowers will say to buds, on and on,
This is what life is all about…

Disclaimer:  It’s not easy to translate Urdu and Hindi words to English without losing the subtle meaning and nuances that it conveys. Please let me know if you have better translation of these lyrics.

Mukesh – As I remember him

Mukesh became the de-facto background singer for Raj Kapoor, but he has sung hits for Dilip Kumar and Amitabh as well. However, its the above song that I identify Mukesh with. Check out Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics:

इक दिन बिक जाएगा, माटी के मोल
जग में रह जाएंगे, प्यारे तेरे बोल

दूजे के होंठों को, देकर अपने गीत
कोई निशानी छोड़, फिर दुनिया से डोल
इक दिन बिक जायेगा…

ला ला ललल्लल्ला
(अनहोनी पग में काँटें लाख बिछाए
होनी तो फिर भी बिछड़ा यार मिलाए)-(२)
ये बिरहा ये दूरी, दो पल की मजबूरी
फिर कोई दिलवाला काहे को घबराये, तरम्पम,
धारा, तो बहती है, बहके रहती है
बहती धारा बन जा, फिर दुनिया से डोल
एक दिन …
(परदे के पीछे बैठी साँवली गोरी
थाम के तेरे मेरे मन की डोरी)-(२)
ये डोरी ना छूटे, ये बन्धन ना टूटे
भोर होने वाली है अब रैना है थोड़ी, तरम्पम,
सर को झुकाए तू, बैठा क्या है यार
गोरी से नैना जोड़, फिर दुनिया से डोल
एक दिन…

Translation

One day, you’ll be sold for the price of dirt
What you will leave behind, my dear, are just your words
So leave a song for some lips to sing
Leave behind a mark, then leave this world

A million obstacles may come in unknown paths
But destiny will unite you with the beloved you lost
This longing, this separation
Are two moments of helplessness which is transient
So why should a brave like you be scared?

♫ Taram pam

A stream never stops till it meets the sea
So become that stream, then leave this world

Covered by a veil sits the dusky beauty
Holding the heart strings of yours and mine
May the string not slip, may the bond not snap
The dawn is about to break, with just a wee of night left

♫ Taram pam

Why are you sitting with your head down, my friend?
Lock your eyes with her, then leave this world.

One day…

Disclaimer:  It’s not easy to translate Hindi to English without losing the subtle meaning and nuances that it conveys. Let me know if you have better translation of these lyrics.

Trivia: A Majrooh Sultanpuri song was featured in the wonderful movie starring Amy Adams – Sunshine Cleaning.