The following are the lyrics of a song by Gulzar. I have been confused about the meaning/interpretation of the highlighted lines(in the context of the song, of course) for quite a few months now. I have asked several people and have got answers ranging from "I don't know" to "This is crap" to "These lines can only be felt. They cannot be explained." Since some enlightened people have started treading this space of late, I thought I might as well try here. Can anyone help??
"Dhaage tod laao chandni se noor ke
Ghoonghat hi bana lo roshni se noor ke
Sharm aa gayi to aagosh mein lo
Saanson se uljhi rahi meri saansein
[Bol Na Halke Halke 2
hoth se halke halke
bol na halke ]2
Aa neend ka sauda karein
Ek khwaab dein ek khwaab lein
Ek khwaab to aankhon mein hai
Ek chand ke takiye tale
Kitne dinon se ye aasmaan bhi soya nahi hai
Isko sula dein...
[Bol Na Halke Halke 2
hoth se halke halke
bol na halke ]2
Umrein lagi kehte hue
do lafz the ek baat thi
Woh ek din sau saal ka
Sau saal ki wo raat thi
Kaisa lage jo chup chaap dono
Pal pal mein puri sadiyaan bita dein
[Bol Na Halke Halke 2
hooth se halke halke
bol na halke ]2"
This should be interesting! I'll give my meaning - this song and many many more of Gulzar's appear to me to have an image of suhaag-raat, the traditional first night after marriage in India. Dhaage, ghoonghat, sharm, night, khwaab, takiye, all these, and the general theme that a man and woman are finally together and are talking about it bring that image to the mind. And also, the fact that the man is proposing things (dhaage tod laao, aa neend ka sauda karein...) and the woman is a little cryptic or should I say shy to put things openly, fits nicely in the picture.
ReplyDeleteSo if we read it now - they want to become one, or to put it easily, they want to make love. Now (finally!) I come to those lines. She says - one dream is apparent in my eyes (probably to stay together for life), but there's another that's hidden (to be one for this night) and will come out when the moon goes to sleep. "Chaand ke takiye tale" gives the impression that the dream would have to stolen very closely from near the moon while it's sleeping (the dream is celestial and delicate). The man agrees and says ok, and together with the moon, why not put the aasmaan to sleep! And this gives the image of it being just the two of them, and nothing else near and they can make love or become one.
Very very sensual. Gulzaar is good! The movies in which they appear are no match for his songs.
(Of course, it's possible I've grossly misinterpreted, but maybe not! What do you think? It makes sense?)
Your description is beautiful, or as you put it, sensual, and does sound convincing.
ReplyDeleteThat stanza was a little too quick for me if it indeed wanted to convey so much (which it sounds like it does, now). So, the two khwaabs in the second line of the second stanza are not the same as the two in the third line of that stanza. Waise agar "isko bhi sula dein" hota to thoda easier hota probably.
But anyway, amazing poetry!!!
Thank you very very much. O' Anonymous, who art thou? :) I might need your help again in future.