Sharath Komarraju is an author of fiction, a blogger, and a mentor for authors. He is a music lover and Bollywood Enthusiast as well, and likes to read poetry.
Here in this series of posts, tries to conjoin his love for poetry and Bollywood songs somewhat in a BollyMeaning fashion, albeit in a more poetic way, taking some poetic licence along with the translation and translates some classic Hindi songs 'in spirit', converting them into English poems and mood pieces.
The lyrics for the song, a Shankar-Jaikishan composition sung by Lata Mangeshkar, were written by Shailendra, for the 1960 film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi.
Here in this series of posts, tries to conjoin his love for poetry and Bollywood songs somewhat in a BollyMeaning fashion, albeit in a more poetic way, taking some poetic licence along with the translation and translates some classic Hindi songs 'in spirit', converting them into English poems and mood pieces.
The lyrics for the song, a Shankar-Jaikishan composition sung by Lata Mangeshkar, were written by Shailendra, for the 1960 film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi.
Hindi Lyrics | English 'Translation' |
| Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam Yeh Manzile Hai Kaunsi Na Voh Samajh Sake Na Hum Yeh Roshni Ke Saath Kyoon Dhuaan Utha Chiraag Se Yeh Khwaab Dekhti Hoon Main Ke Jag Padi Hoon Khwaab Se Mubaarakein Tumhe Ke Tum Kisi Ke Noor Ho Gaye Kisi Ke Itne Paas Ho Ke Sab Se Door Ho Gaye Kisi Ka Pyaar Leke Tum Naya Jahan Basaaoge Yeh Shaam Jab Bhi Aayegi Tum Humko Yaad Aaoge Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam Yeh Manzile Hai Kaunsi Na Voh Samajh Sake Na Hum | Here is a tale, unheard of, unseen Where does it end? Where does it begin? What is it that we both hunger for? Neither he nor I can tell for sure The flame that burns ever so bright Spreads more smoke than delight In the gloom my eyes thinly sing Psalms of awakening I bless your gay new world, dearest With love, joy, grace and zest Though you may find one distant day That I'm far, too far away We must part; the sun has fallen The night's young, yet barren Alas, this song of you and me Is but a fond memory Here is a tale, unheard of, unseen Where does it end? Where does it begin? What is it that we both hunger for? Neither he nor I can tell?for sure |
With all the due respect to the author of the translation, I think he has altered the lyrics too much and has lost the sense of rhyme. I myself have learnt Hindi mainly from movies and songs (I'm not Indian), and this song is one of my favourite old songs, so having read the translation I decided to have a try myself. Here is how I translated the song:
ReplyDeleteWhere has begun?
Where will end
This strange story of mine?
I cannot see,
He can't understand
The message behind the lines.
The fire that
Enlightens your heart,
Chokes my love with its smoke.
The reality
Tore my wishes apart,
All my dreams it broke.
You are lucky
To have become
The light in someone's eyes,
To have become
So close to someone,
So far away from all of us.
Carrying inside
The love of someone dear,
You'll create a world - bright and new,
Still every night
Alone I will hear
My memory's old tales of you.
Where has begun?
Where will end
This strange story of mine?
I cannot see,
He can't understand
The message behind the lines...
P.S. I would appreciate any comments on my version of the translation. Thanks!
Nice translation...
ReplyDeletei certainly think that yours is a more faithful translation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. This is a classic song. I like the translated poem, but I don't think it's not faithful enough.
ReplyDeleteI like the translation in the comments above, it's crisper.
Another good version with explanation can be found here:
http://genius.com/Lata-mangeshkar-ajeeb-dastan-hai-yeh-annotated/
Heart touching lines,
ReplyDeleteHere's my attempt:
ReplyDeleteThis is a strange story;
where does it begin? where does it end?
What kind of destination is this
that neither they can understand, neither I?
Why has the smoke risen
with the lamplight?
I dream that I have wakened
from the dream.
Congratulations to you,
now that you've become the light of someone's life,
now that you've become so close to someone
that you've moved so far from everyone.
Taking someone's love,
you'll create a new world -
and with every new dusk
I'll think of you.
This is a strange story:
where does it begin? Where does it end?
What sort of destination is this,
that neither they can understand, neither I?
👍
DeleteMira's translation is more accurate. Thanks Mira.
ReplyDeleteyour attempt is good.
ReplyDeletesuggestion:
try to get a singer to sing the translation as this will help to get the poetic metre right e.g.
HERE'A TALE - UNHEARD UNSEEN
WHERE DOES IT END? AND BEGIN?
WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?
NOR YOU OR I CAN TELL FOR SURE
THE BURNING FLAME THAT'S EVER BRIGHT
WHY DOES IT SMOKE AND DIM THE LIGHT?
ETC
GOOD LUCK AND KEEP UP THE EFFORT
☺��
☺��
ABDUL AZIZ BOLTON LANCASHIRE
U.K
email: zoomzoom786785@gmail.com