Javed Akhtar’s Poetry in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

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“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”(http://www.znmdthemovie.com/) is new Hindi Film directed by Zoya Akhtar. Zoya is famous Urdu poet and Lyricist Shri Javed Akhtar’s daughter. This film is all about how we need to live in the present moment by enjoying its present moment by letting go all our fears and living the present moment of life to fullest extent. Concept is old however the way it is explained and narrated through the three main characters(played by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol) of the film is really interesting. We cannot stop correlating to one or the other character in these 3 and it is kind of enlightenment to us about how we are missing important aspect of life ” Living in Present Moment” in the mad rush to the future 😉 .

In the ZNMD, Farhan Akhtar played a prominet role and his character name is Imran. Imran’s poems throughout the film are a hit among the audience. Here are the four poems of Imran(written by Shri Javed Akhtar).

First Poem:

Pighlay neelam sa behta hua yeh samaan
Neeli neeli si khamoshiyaan
Na kahin hai zameen
Na kahin aasmaan
Sarsaraati huyi tehniyaan, pattiyaan
Keh rahi hain ki bas ek tum ho yahaan
Sirf main hoon meri saansein hain aur meri dhadkanein
Aisi gehraiyaan
Aisi tanhaiyaan
Aur main sirf main
Apne honay pe mujhko yaqeen aa gaya

Translation in English

The moment seems to flow like a molten sapphire and there’s deep blue silence,
Neither there is earth below, nor sky above,
The rustling branches, leaves are saying that only you are here,
Only me, my breath and my heartbeat,

Such deepness, such loneliness and me…only me,
It all makes me believe in my existence.

Second Poem:

Ik baat honton tak hai jo aayi nahin
Bas ankhon say hai jhaankti
Tumse kabhi, mujhse kabhi
Kuch lafz hain woh maangti
Jinko pehanke honton tak aa jaaye woh
Aawaaz ki baahon mein baahein daalke ithlaaye woh
Lekin jo yeh ik baat hai
Ahsaas hi ahsaas hai
Khushboo si hai jaise hawa mein tairti
Khushboo jo be-aawaaz hai
Jiska pata tumko bhi hai
Jiski khabar mujhko bhi hai
Duniya se bhi chupta nahin
Yeh jaane kaisa raaz hai

Translation in English:

A thing that still hasn’t come up to my lips and only peeks through my eyes,
It asks for words, sometimes from me and sometimes from you,
So that it can wear those words and come to the lips,
And so that it could be embraced by words..

But this thing is actually a feeling…only a feeling,
It’s like a fragrance floating in the air,

Fragrance, which has no voice…and about which you know and I know too.
 It is not hidden from the world, what kind of a secret it is?

Third Poem:

Jab jab dard ka baadal chaya
Jab ghum ka saya lehraya
Jab aansoo palkon tak aya
Jab yeh tanha dil ghabraya
Humne dil ko yeh samjhaya
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai
Duniya mein yunhi hota hai
Yeh jo gehre sannate hain
Waqt ne sabko hi baante hain
Thoda ghum hai sabka qissa
Thodi dhoop hai sabka hissa
Aankh teri bekaar hi nam hai
Har pal ek naya mausam hai
Kyun tu aise pal khota hai
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai

Translation in English:

Whenever the clouds of pain and sadness loomed,
Whenever tears came till the eyelashes,
Whenever this lonely heart got scared,
I told my heart, Oh Heart, why do you cry?
This is what happens in this world…

This deep silence…the world has distributed it to everyone,
Some sadness is a part of everyone’s life,
Some sunshine is a part of everyone’s life,
Your eyes are wet without any reason,
Every second is a new season,
Why do you let go of such priceless moments?
Oh Heart, why do you cry?

Fourth Poem:

Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyaan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum
Nazar mein khwaabon ki bijliyaan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Hawaa ke jhonkon ke jaise azad rehna seekho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise lehron mein behna seekho
Har ek lamhe se tum milo khole apni baahein
Har ek pal ik naya samaan dekhein yeh nigaahein

Jo apni aankhon mein hairaaniyaan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum
Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyaan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Translation in English:

If you have eagerness in your heart, it means you are alive,
If your eyes are filled with dreams, it means you are alive
Learn to be free like the wind,
Learn to flow freely like the river,
Embrace every moment with open arms,
See a new horizon every time with your eyes,
If you carry surprise in your eyes, it means you are alive,
If you have eagerness in your heart, it means you are alive…

English Translation Courtesy: http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/zindagi-na-milegi-dobara-poetry-english-translation/

Cheers,

Prasanna Rayaprolu