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...