Friday, July 4, 2008

English Translation of 'Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein'

Here's one of Mukesh's later and probably most widely known songs. I've been avoiding doing this song because it's difficult to capture the meaning in a translation. Nonetheless, it's one of the most popular and beautiful songs of Hindi cinema so I thought I'd make an attempt, with the help of a few other translations on the net.

Some background about the movie: In the first video, you see Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhi as young lovers. Bachchan plays a poet and Rakhi his biggest admirer. They fall in love, but are not destined for each other. In the second video, Shashi Kapoor, to whom Rakhi is forced to marry, asks her to recite the famous poem on their wedding night, oblivious to the fact that its writer is the man who still holds his bride's heart.

Song: Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein
Singers: Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar
Movie: Kabhi Kabhie
Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhi, Shashi Kapoor



Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges...

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain
Ke jaise tujhko banaaya gaya hain mere liye
Tu abse pehle sitaaron mein bas rahi thi kahin
Tujhe zameen pe bulaaya gaya hain mere liye
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges
That it's like you have been created just for me.
Before, you dwelled among the stars somewhere
And now, you have been called down to the earth just for me

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain
Ke ye badan, ye nigaahen, meri amaanat hain
Ye gesuoon ki ghani chhaaon hain meri khaatir
Ye honth aur ye baahen meri amaanat hain
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges
That this body, these eyes, are mine to treasure
As if the shade beneath these tresses is meant for me
And these lips and these arms are mine to treasure

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain
Ke jaise bajti hain shehnaaiyan si raahon mein
Suhaag raat hain ghunghat uthaa raha hoon main
Simat rahi hain tu sharmaa ke apni baahon mein
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges
That it seems like wedding instruments are trumpeting around us.
As if it's our wedding night and I'm lifting your veil
And you are shyly surrendering yourself in my embrace.

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain
Ke jaise tu mujhe chaahengi umra bhar yunhi
Utthegi meri taraf pyar ki nazar yunhi
Main jaanta hoon ke tu gair hai, magar yunhi
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges
That it's like you will love me forever like this
That in my direction, this loving gaze will always look up like this,
I know that you are not meant for me, but still, just like this.

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hain...
Sometimes, in my heart a feeling emerges...


68 comments:

  1. this is by far one of the greatest or simply the greates love song ever sung to anybody. i must've been 7 or 8 when i first headr this and it wasnt til i turned 32 that i heard it again, just cant explain.... i just love it. thanks again for the translation

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    1. hmmmm....
      actualy i hvent heard dis song sins the day
      i was born...but bcos of one of my indian frends
      i hv learn how to listen on this song..
      thanks rohit bhatia.. i wll always treasure u.. n will nver forget u till the end....

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    2. Yes I'm From Tamil Nadu State but I love this song for decades in my Childhood

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  2. It is beautiful and simple!

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  3. do you ave an english translation as the song is sang or send a link. syosaf@hotmail.com

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  4. ever green love song.

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  5. i would like to warmly thank you for the translation , i understand only frensh and arabic and english...but desperatly i needed the meaning of this songe.... thanx again.

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  6. Thanks for the translation. This is my favourite song from my favourite boolywood movie. I was a teenager when I watched the movie back in my native African land and I was really impressed (Amitabh Bachchan was at the top of his art). More than 30 years latter and living in Canada, I'm glad to notice that the song and the movie are still alive in our collective memory. This a sign of great art. Thanks again.

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    1. i too agree AMITAB BACHAN is at the top of Indian film..........u r which country is nt a problm ..........hearing this kind of songs is highly appreciable......... thank god 4 giving an opportunity 2 hear this song

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    2. This song was my life experience in 1994 it's speaks to your an pain I experinced

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    3. The girls name was Geetha

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  7. You are all very welcome... This song is the very definition of a classic. It's even more beautiful when you understand the meaning!

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    1. I wonder if i can find the translation of Amitabh's version

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  8. Wow what an amazing song! Definately one of my favorites. Thank you so much for the translation, you did a wonderful job. :-)

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  9. classical for soul and soul for classical.

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  10. This is the most beautifull, romantic, love song ever sung. it's also an beautifull, elegant, poet ever written.

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  11. Beautifully translated.. best love song written and sung.. ever. Thank you. Can you please translate Tere Mere from Abhiman.

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  12. This songs means so much to me that tears overflow when I hear it. My girlfriend is recovering from an accident and does not remember much. I hope this song brings her back to me.
    Thanks for the translation
    Michael

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  13. Excellant. At last, now I know the meaning of the words of one of my favorite songs. As a NRI (Non-Returning Indian)of 50+ years I had lost the art of the Hindi language and this song & many others help me retain some kind of root to India. Sad but true.

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  14. Its Ghazal by sahir ludhyanv. No body mentions the poet name...he is the one who should be given due credit for his creation.

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  15. <3 thanks for this translation.. such a gorgeous song and lyrics

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  16. only a lover understands the pain in the words.

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  17. Here is a good translation of Kabhi Kabhi http://www.quora.com/Catherine-Goodman-1/Poetry/Kabhi-Kabhi-bad-Hindi-song-translation-1 They are trying to keep it as a poem instead of just changing the words to English. Love your blog!

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  18. tnx for translation...Many years ago someone from India very dear to me...sung this song for me...I remember I said to him that he sung this song better than any other song...he replied because I sung it from heart I asked him to translate..he translated...but only now I know that he didn't translate every line...and he didn't translate the end of the song....and after that many years only now I got the whole translation, tears flowing...since few years back he got married to his relative...seems when he sung this song he knew already that his father is arranging his marriage..anyway it has happened only what was meant to happen...I wish them happy together...

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  19. nice job,,,, i appreciate

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  20. Ghazal is my favorite genre even among Arabic poems. I believe it is so for many. This song, like many in Arabic, touches on the essence of love and reminds us of something almost each of us passed through especially with our first love. Often something comes in between and we are parted forever. This is not only an Indian phenomenon, but a universal one. The idea, experience and personality of Romeo and Juliet is repeated in every culture as if it is a fate written to overtake every truly innocent love. Sahir, the composer of Kabhi Kabhie has eloquently captured that universal human experience in his poem. Fortunately, it was delivered to the world by two of the best voices ever to stand before the microphone.

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  21. This song reflects both the LOVE and SOUL of human relationship

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  22. i first heard this song on the movie "Today's special" and just have to listen to the whole song. Beautifull lyrics and meaning.

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  23. i heard this song when i was in 1st standard,,,bcoz my dad usually sing this song...........now i am 40 living in another country .........but the peoplr here also know this song .........i am proud 2 b an Indian from where this song emerges........when i go back 2 India , i heard the same song ,,,,,but i wondered frm were de song came,,,,,,,,,,it was my dads mobile ring tone .........i was so happy 2 hear this fform his mobile.........now he is 70.......this wonderful song is purely a nostalgic song .........i lov this more than anyother songs i heard ...............

    thank GOD ........thank amitab bachan ,,,,,,,a big salute 2 de wonderful voice............

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  24. Thanks for translating this evergreen romantic song of all time.

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  25. Thank you! The words are absolutely beautiful.

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  26. Can you please translate Suhani Chandni Raatein?
    http://youtu.be/WTuaNKgKHIs?t=8m10s

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  27. Can you translate chandanee

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  28. Can you translate chandanee

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  29. I sincerely thank you for the effort put into this translation. What a truly amazing composition. I just think Amitabh being on screen adds that extra bit to this song the icing on the cake lets say! I wish songs these days could at least attempt to mean something as nice as this song!

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  31. Many thanks for the translation. There is an original version of poem and I was wondering if you could translate that as well as I don't have a clue what some of the words mean!

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  32. This was one of my Dad's favorite films and songs of all time. Something about tear jerking, sappy movie watching and all that. I guess you don't need the translation to know the story, but it is rather heartening.

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  33. This was one of my Dad's favorite films and songs of all time. Something about tear jerking, sappy movie watching and all that. I guess you don't need the translation to know the story, but it is rather heartening.

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  34. The song is my sad love story...

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  35. The song is my sad love story...

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  36. Thanks for the translation. Really amazing

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  37. Thanks for the translation. Really amazing

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  38. This song is simply perfection in every way, poetry, music and vocalists. I am not an Indian but i can recite the lyrics and until now i only knew a about half the words to the song. I usually sing this song privately to myself and love the mischievous female version of it. I can not relate to it but love the untainted heart played by the female actor. The portray of being selfishly desired and yet not being able to reciprocate just adds to one's existence. Thank you for the wonderful translation. I did not want to resort to google for this one.

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  39. I love this song. Was my mums favorite. Oh so heartfelt and touching. Thank you

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  40. This beautiful song always makes me cry as I think of my mother who loved it & remember my father who loved my mother.

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  41. This song is like a carming flash in a dark room. The romance and sentimental feeling it creates never dies and stay with you forever. I head Latha Mageshkar singing this song on a stage. In the movie Kabhi Kabhie the moment has been filmed in way it mesmerized whowho audience.

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  43. Am from Nigeria. My brother took me to watch the film in which this song was when i was around 7 or 8 years old and i can sing along the words because i have listened to it over and over again. And to me it is the most preeminent song of Indian Cinema.
    This is the song that made me fall in love with the Hindi language and a desire to learn it just to be able to sing this song.

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  44. I am from Germany and this song makes me cry whenever I hear it. God given music for the eternity. Love to all my friends from India and Pakistan. I miss you very mich!!

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  45. From 3 generations we are loving this song still in 2019..

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  46. my mother first showed me this song only a few days ago, and it has brought tears to my eyes...beautiful song

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  47. I heard this song 52 times today at my age of 60 years. I was a teenager at that time. The feeling behind the lyrics are wonderful. Being a Telugu literature student, I know the power of literature which can move the thoughts of a nature lovers from bottom of their heart. Very great lyrics and tune composition. After listening of this song today, I travelled to my good olden days.Thanks to every one.

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  48. I've seen other translations of this song that were inaccurate and don't do it's poetry justice. This one is perfect! Great job.

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  49. I tried to know the meaning of this song for the past 20 years.Now Very happy by achieving it ..By Your excellent translation.Many grate Hindi songs needed clear and true translation.Pl try for some more grate songs..My Best wishes for Your Good Hobby ...and also for good Health and Wealth to Your Family.Thank You .

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  50. Beautiful. Brings back so many memories of my childhood, sang it then, still singing now and so wonderful to finally know the meaning in English. Thank you

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  51. This is the best song I have ever listened to. As a child, I loved it from the first time I saw the movie. I rarely cry but this song softens me up and makes me think of my late mom; then the tears roll unstoppably.
    The song makes me connect to my core despite the fact that I didn't know its meaning until now...thanks for the job well done.

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  53. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thank you

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  54. Do any one have translation of original nazm KABHI KABHI written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi in Talkhiyan

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  55. I agree that the translation cannot be equal to the original because emotions cannot be appreciated in equal measure as the words in the original words convey. But it is a good effort. Well done.

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