My love for Gulzar's poetry and Satrangi Re!

I am starting a new series, where I write about my interpretations (mostly translations that make a little more sense than the usual ones) of Gulzar's songs. They might not be deep, might not even be accurate; but hopefully might prove to be useful. Once in a while I might even go into the philosophy/thought behind the song.

[Warning: The post might be long, but it's full of interesting facts. Don't skip, or you might miss on something ;) and I mean till the last line]

In my opinion, Satrangi Re's distractingly beautiful cinematography and a stunning Manisha Koirala take away from it. Because the song in itself is so incredibly exquisite, it ought to be heard in isolation as well.

All the songs of Dil Se are a league apart. But Satrangi Re's more illustrious album-mates (Chhaiya-Chhaiya, Dil se re, Ae Ajnabi) have somehow overshadowed it, if only a little. With Satrangi Re, three of current music scene's stalwarts - AR Rehman, Gulzar and Sonu Nigam - have come together to create a song that's utterly mesmerising.

Coming to the lyrics of Satrangi Re - they are much more than just words. There is a philosophy in work here. It is said that there are seven stages of love. This song is a journey through these:

1. Hub (Attraction)
2. Uns (Infatuation)
3. Ishq (Love)
4. Adiqat (Reverence)
5. Ibaadat (Worship)
6. Junoon (Obsession)
7. Maut (Death)

These 7 stages have been so deftly woven in the lyrics, they're almost unnoticeable. But once you get to know they're there, you can't help but feel thrilled about the secret message, much like the secret codes in Da Vinci's paintings.

Lyrics, with English translation:

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, satrangi re

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, manrangi re

[You, of many colors, only you are the color of my soul]

Dil ka saaya humsaaya, satrangi re, manrangi re

[You, of my soul's color, (you are) the shadow of my heart and my soul mate]

Koi noor hai tu, kyun door hai tu

Jab paas hai tu, ehsaas hai tu

Koi khwaab hai ya parchhayi hai, satrangi re

[You are like a light (for my darkness), why then are you so distant?

Even when you're near me, you're like a a fleeting feeling

Are you a shadow or a dream, (oh you, of many colors!)]

Is baar bata, purzor hawa, thehregi kahan?

[Tell me where this forceful wind will finally stop...]

Ishq par zor nahin, hai yeh woh aatish Ghalib

Ja lagaye na lage, aur bujhaye na bane

[Love can't be tamed, it's like a fire that overpowers everything else

At times, it doesn't start even after repeated tries; but once started, it's impossible to extinguish]

Aankhon ne kuchh aise chhua, halka halka uns hua

Halka halka uns hua, dil ko mehsoos hua

[The touch of your eyes sparked an infatuation that my heart felt]

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, jeene ki saari khushbu

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, aarzoo aarzoo

Tere jism ki aach ko chhoote hi, mere saans sulagne lagte hain

Mujhe ishq dilaase deta hai, mere dard bilakhne lagte hain

[You are like the fragrance of life itself, you are what I desire.

The flame of your touch ignites my breath

My pain cries out for you, while love consoles me]

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, jeene ki saari khushbu

Tu hi tu, tu hi tu, aarzoo aarzoo

Chhooti hai mujhe sargoshi se, aankhon mein ghuli khamoshi se

Main farsh pe sajde karta hoon, kuchh hosh mein kuchh behoshi se

[You are like the fragrance of life itself,

You're the desire that touches me with a whisper and with the silence in your eyes

I bow to you, only partly conscious of myself]

Teri raahon mein uljha-uljha hoon, teri baahon mein uljha-uljha

Suljhane de hosh mujhe, teri chaahon mein uljha hoon

[I'm enchanted by your ways, I am entangled in your embrace

Let me disentangle my senses, because I'm entangled in your desire]]

Mera jeena junoon, mera marna junoon

Ab iske siva nahin koi sukoon

[My life is now an obsession, and so I will be till I die -

there is no respite for me]

(Repeat: Tu hi tu, tu hi tu satrangi re...)

Mujhe maut ki god mein sone de

Teri rooh mein jism dubone de

Mujhe maut ki god mein sone de, satrangi re, manrangi re

[Let me sleep in the lap of death,

Let me drown my body in your soul

Let me sleep in the lap of death... You, of many colors! You, of my soul's color!]

Point to ponder:

'Ghalib' means 'victorious' or that which/who overcomes everything. So in the sher - 'Ishq par zor nahin, hai yeh woh aatish Ghalib' - the word 'Ghalib' not only refers to the poet's name, but also the fact that love is like an unconquerable fire.