11/18/2014 Gulzar 101: Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat)

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Monday, November 28, 2011 Read posts about

Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat) 15x5=75 (1) 1960s (1) 1970s (5) 1980s
Posted by Kanupriya (9) 1990s (5) 2000s (18) 2010s

People find it Good (4) Whatever (0) Ugly (0) (1) 7 Khoon Maaf (1) Aandhi (2) Adnan Sami (1)
Alisha Chinoy (1) Ambition (1) Anu Malik (1)
Anubhav (1) Anup Ghoshal (1) Asha Bhosle
Dear readers, let me warn you on the outset, that I expect this to be a long post. But I hope you'll (5) Asoka (1) Bandini (1) Beauty (1) Betrayal (1)
bear with my raves and rants for the sake of this beautiful song. Bhupinder (4) Billu (1) Breakup (1) Bunty aur
Babli (2) Chinmayee (1) Chitra (1) City (1)
This is my favorite composition by Pancham, coming from an all-time favorite album Ijaazat (1987). Colors (2) Death (5) Deception (1) Devotional
The movie has just four songs, 'Chhoti si kahaani se', 'Qatra-qatra', 'Mera kuchh saamaan' and Khaali Undertone (1) Dil Se (3) Folk (1) Gair-filmi
haath shaam aayi hai' - all sung by Asha Bhosle, making her the sole singer for the entire album. (10) Geeta Dutt (1) Ghalib (3) Gharonda (1)
This particular song makes extraordinary use of Asha's dual vocals - one on a slightly lower note Ghazal (1) Ghulami (1) Haider (1) Hope (2)
than the other - and the outcome is just spectacular. Pancham has given so many great songs, but if Ijaazat (5) Item Song (4) Jagjit Singh (1)
he had composed nothing but this song, I'd still consider him a genius. Jai Ho (1) Jaidev (1) Javed Ali (1) Kajra Re (1)
Kajrare (1) Kaminey (1) Kanu Roy (1) Karthik (1)
The stage is set thus Kashmir (1) Khusro (1) Kishore Kumar (3) KK
(1) Kunal Ganjawala (1) Lakshmikant-Pyarelal (1)
Lata Mangeshkar (5) Life (8)
Loneliness (5) Love (25) M.M.
Kreem (1) Maachis(1) Madan Mohan (1)
Mahalaxmi Iyer (2) Marasim (1) Marriage (2)
Masoom (2) Mausam (1) Murtaza (1) Namkeen
(1) Omkara (3) Paheli (1) Pancham (9)
Party (1) Peace (1) Philosophy (1) Pravin Mani (1)
Pritam (1) Pukhraj (6) Qadir (1) Raat Pashmine
Ki (1) Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (1) Rahman
(11) Regret (1) Rekha Bhardwaj (1) Risque (2)
Mohinder (Naseeruddin Shah) loves Rustic (2) Saathiya (6) Sadhna Sargam (1)
Maya (Anuradha Patel), but is forced to Sapna Avasthi (1) SD Burman (1) Separation
marry Sudha (Rekha) because of his (4) Shaan (1) Shabbir Kumar (1) Shankar
grandfather's wish; and also because Ehsan Loy (2) Shreya Ghoshal (1) Slumdog
Millionaire (1) Songs to listen to when drunk
Maya, the free spirited woman that she
(2) Sonu Nigam (2) Spanish (1) Sukhwinder
is, has disappeared for a few months
Singh (4) Sunidhi Chauhan (3) Suresh
without so much as a word to Mohinder.
Wadkar (1) swear words (1) Triumph (1) Udit
Narayan (2) Vishal Bhardwaj (7) Vishal
Sudha, though aware of Mohinder's love
Dadlani (1) Wajid Ali Shah (1) Yaar Julaahe (2)
for Maya, is too much in love with him Yearning (5)
to let Maya's presence in his heart
affect her. She just wishes to live and
enjoy each moment as it comes, even if
it is not hers alone. This is her song. My Twitter Feed

Lyrics, and translation

Like a kid translating a poem with 'shabdaarth' (word-by-word translation) and 'bhaavaarth'
(interpretation); I'll give the literal translation first, followed by my interpretation of certain parts. Popular Posts

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11/18/2014 Gulzar 101: Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat)
Qatra-qatra milti hai, qatra-qatra jeene do
Dil dhoondhta hai phir wahi (Mausam)
Zindagi hai (zingadi hai), bahne do (bahne do)
Pyaasi hoon main, pyaasi rahne do Is Mod Se Jaate Hain (Aandhi)
(Rahne do, na)
Satrangi Re (Dil Se)
[[Translation: It's given to me a moment (drop) at a time, let me live it like that
Tere bina zindagi se koi (Aandhi)
Such is life (such is life), just let it flow (let it flow)
If it leaves me thirsty, let that be so Chhod aaye hum wo galiyaan
(Just let it be) (Maachis)

Interpretation: 'Qatra' means drop. Here ,since Gulzar is referring to time, so it means a drop of time Panaah (Pukhraj) - Gair-filmi
or a moment. Sudha knows that Mohinder is not hers completely, but she's grateful for every
moment she gets to spend with him, even if it leaves her thirsty (asking for more); because those
Woh khat ke purze (Marasim)
moment are what's keeping her alive.]] Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat)

Kal bhi to kuchh aisa hi hua tha Mera Kuchh Saamaan (Ijaazat)
Neend mein thi, tumne jab chhua tha
Girte-girte baahon mein bachi main Naina Thag Lenge (Omkara)
Sapne pe paaon pad gaya tha
Sapnon mein, bahne do
Pyaasi hoon main, pyaasi rahne do
Blogger Profile
[[Translation: Do you remember what happened yesterday? I was deep in sleep when you touched Kanupriya
me.
New Delhi, Delhi, India
It made me start, and I almost fell in your arms on stumbling upon a dream.
Just let me live in this dream, and if it leaves me asking more more, let that be so! An ex Software Engineer,
now working for the
Government of India.
Interpretation: Your touch makes me start even in my sleep. It's as if I stumbled upon a dream. And I
want to live this dream-like life forever.]] View my complete profile

Tumne to aakaash bichhaaya

Mere nange pairon mein zameen hai Blogs I read
Paa ke bhi tumhari arzoo ho
Shayad aise zindagi haseen hai Come With Me
Arzoo mein, bahne do Photography Bucket List
Pyaasi hoon main, pyaasi rahne do 21 hours ago

[[Translation: You have given me the sky to walk on, but my bare feet are still on the ground. sen city
Life is a lot more beautiful, when I still long for you when you're with me. Review: Richard Linklaters
Let me live in this desire. And if it leaves me thirsty, so be it! Boyhood
4 days ago
Interpretation: Though the time spent with you has taken me to cloud nine (given me hope of our
future together), I'm still aware of the ground reality (that you love someone else).

kuch meri
And I feel that it's much more beautiful to desire you than having you all for myself. So let me enjoy kalam se **
this yearning.]]
4 days ago
Halke-halke kohre ke dhuen mein
Shaayad aasmaan tak aa gayi hoon Random Thoughts of a
Teri do nigaahon ke sahaare Demented Mind
Dekho to kahaan tak aa gayi hoon The Voice of God And His Silences
4 days ago
Kohre mein, bahne do
Pyaasi hoon main, pyaasi rahne do
Public Diary...
[[Translation: (Walking) in this soft mist of fog, looks like I've touched the sky. Main shayar to nahi
5 days ago
Guided by your eyes, look where I've reached.
Now just let me float in this mist, and if it leaves me thirsty, so it be!
Mithelesh Baria
Interpretation: Being with you is as if I'm on sky (cloud nine). I trust you (with my eyes closed) to . . . .
1 week ago
take me to a beautiful place, even if I don't know where I'm going.]]

White Light
Though the video of original song (from the movie) is available on youtube, I'm sharing the one from SCMM Training starts
1 week ago
the album 'Pancham : Gulzar remembers RD Burman'. Even though this version doesn't contain a
video, it's worth sharing simply for listening to Gulzar's words as he remembers his dear friend
Pancham. Pancham's vocals, as he hums notes from the song, sound out-worldly. Raj Shekhar (Lyrics Wale )
Five Little Monkeys
2 weeks ago

3 weeks ago

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11/18/2014 Gulzar 101: Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat)

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A few days ago, as is wont during
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turned to Twitter. It is during...
5 weeks ago

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"Yaad hai baarishon ke din the woh, Pancham! Aur pahaadi ke neeche vaadee mein
dhundh se jhaank kar nikalti hui rail ki patariyaan gujarti theen. Aur dhundh mein aise
lag rahe the hum, jaise do paudhe paas baithe hon. Hum bahut der patariyon pe baithe
us musafir ka zikr karte rahe, jisko aana tha pichhli shab, par uski aamad ka waqt talta
raha. Hum bahut der patariyon pe baithe hue train ka intezar karte rahe. Train aayi, na
uska waqt hua, aur tum yoon hi do kadam chalkar dhundh par paon rakhke gum ho
gaye. Main akela hoon dhundh mein, Pancham! "
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- Gulzar, from the album 'Pancham' by HMV

To read other posts about Ijaazat songs on my blog, click here.

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Chhoti si kahaani Mera Kuchh Khaali Haath
se (Ijaazat) Saamaan (Ijaazat) Shaam Aayi Hai Nagoreismail commented on Aao Na
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Haider: Now i am your fan..

Linkwithin Nirnimesh commented on Is Mod Se

Jaate Hain Aandhi: I had been
wondering about the meaning of this
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Labels: 1980s, Asha Bhosle, Ijaazat, Love, Pancham up. Very
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calicoaster November 29, 2011 at 3:28 AM Viva commented on Mera Kuchh

Saamaan Ijaazat: Your interpretations
Amazingggg song Kanu..and you've explained and interpreted it so beautifully!!! :) and comments provoked me to wath
this movie as earlier as possible.
Reply
Though I

Kakamana1000 commented on Aao

Kanupriya November 29, 2011 at 3:47 AM Na Haider: Can I please make a
request? When you write lyrics in your
thanks a lot Kimi :) interpretations in hindi could you
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also
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Anonymous November 29, 2011 at 4:32 AM

i love this song and Ijaazat is my fav album too. i have really enjoyed reading this post and Blog Archive
to put it simply, its very well written and your interpretations are beautiful :)
my fav line is "paake bhi tumhari aarzoo ho, shayad aise zindagi haseen hai"
2014 (3)
2013 (5)
and i still don't fully understand the meaning of the line "girte girte baahon me bachi main,
2012 (16)
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11/18/2014 Gulzar 101: Qatra-qatra milti hai (Ijaazat)
sapne pe paanv pad gaya tha"
2011 (23)

ye comment kuch lamba ho gaya :( December (2)

Reply November (4)

Qatra-qatra milti hai
(Ijaazat)
Kanupriya November 29, 2011 at 9:58 AM Saathiya (Title track)
@Anonymous: Mora gora ang lai le
1. thanks for appreciating the post :) (Bandini)
2. har line ka alag se matlab nikalna to words to slaughter karne jaisa hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein
3. I enjoy long comments, shows that someone has read the post. so thanks for that :)
(Gharonda)
Reply
October (6)
September (11)
HP November 29, 2011 at 10:34 PM

Thanks for the explanation. Beautifully explained for a wonderful song

Reply Networked Blogs

Kanupriya November 29, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Follow this blog
@HP
thanks a ton! :)
Reply

Hades November 30, 2011 at 10:31 AM

Nicely done and great blog.

P.S: katraa should be 'qatraa'. Sorry can't help it; feel that incorrect talaffuz does a great
disservice to Urdu poetry. :)

Reply

Kanupriya November 30, 2011 at 10:36 PM

@Hades:
thanks for appreciating, and hugely appreciate you pointing out the wrong spelling of qatra. I
try to write it as correctly as possible, but keep making inadvertent silly mistakes :)

Reply

Meenal December 1, 2011 at 9:39 PM

This is one of my favorite song dear...and I am so happy to listen it fully and really you have
explained the song so beautifully.... :))
Reply

Kanupriya December 1, 2011 at 10:01 PM

@Meenal
thanks for visiting and appreciating :)

Reply

Swati December 12, 2011 at 8:42 AM

I just love it Kanu!! Thank you so much!! :) :)

Reply

Kanupriya December 12, 2011 at 9:26 AM

:)

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Reply

Voice December 22, 2011 at 2:15 PM

This one is better :)

Reply

Kanupriya December 22, 2011 at 9:32 PM

thanks Bhavesh :)

Reply

Anonymous December 29, 2011 at 12:07 AM

"Kal bhi to kuchh....Sapnon mein, bahne do"

Translation: Yesterday also something like that happened; I was asleep when you touched
me; and i was falling when your arms saved me; My feet had got caught in a dream. Let me
flow in dreams...

Throughout, she seems to be saying that she doesnt really want the real touch or the sky
(bichhaya akash) or reach the skies herself. She is happier with the dreams, the
yearning,and reaching the skies through his eyes..
:)

Reply

Kanupriya December 29, 2011 at 1:57 AM

@Anonymous:
beautifully said. I wanted to say the same through my last line - "...I feel that it's much more
beautiful to desire you than having you all for myself. So let me enjoy this yearning.", but
guess that didn't come out quite as well :)

Reply

Anonymous December 29, 2011 at 5:37 AM

oh no..your those exact words inspired me to add on....thank you for all the thoughts that
you put down here...
adding further on :) - a twist for the last stanza - here goes -

"Maybe I did reach the skies, walking upon the smoky wisps of fog, but see how far i have
come helped by your eyes !!! but let me float on the fogs..."

In one stanza she prefers the earth to the skies and in the next she prefers the skies to
whatever beyond that he takes her to through his eyes!!! the sky here is the drop which she
prefers...wow to gulzar

Reply

Kanupriya December 29, 2011 at 9:57 PM

@Anonymous:
That's another way to see it. This is the thing with Gulzar, his words can be interpreted in so
many different ways, and they still rise above all the interpretations! :)

Reply

Himadri B December 28, 2012 at 2:58 AM

Kanupriya, i love your blog. Could you please translate "Silli hawa chhoo gayi" and "Aaj kal
paon zameen par nahi padte mere" :)

Reply

Replies

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Kanupriya January 1, 2013 at 11:58 PM

Thanks :) will surely do those songs in future, two of my favorites!

Reply

Anonymous October 24, 2013 at 11:06 PM

Visiting the blog first time..great job done...the song is as beautiful as the movie itself... just
one correction though... instead of "paa ke bhi tumhari aarzoo ho" it is.."kaante bhi tumhari
arzoo ho shayad aisi zindagi haseen h"... meaning that her life is so blissful and happy that
she has to wish even for small pains...

Reply

Replies

Kanupriya October 30, 2013 at 4:14 AM

Hello! Glad you liked the blog :)

But I'm sure it's "pa ke bhi tumhari aarzoo ho" and not "kaante bhi...."

Reply

Anonymous November 11, 2013 at 3:58 AM

Hi..you are so correct...i found out my mistake as i was listening the song yesterday... my
apologies...:-)

Reply

Prasann Harankhedkar December 12, 2013 at 2:00 AM

That is simply superb Kanupriya !!

For the Gulzar-lovers like me, this Blog is worth reading 10000 times. :)

Reply

Replies

Kanupriya December 18, 2013 at 12:31 AM

Hi Prasann,
Thanks for your kind words! Do keep visiting the blog :)

Reply

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