Woh Mujhse Hue Hum-Qalaam

Having gone gaga over Farida Khanum's singing, I'm just hunting around for her songs whenever I get a chance. This one came about the same way. I had no idea it even existed. Then when I heard it, it was just mind-blowing.. her voice and the lyrics. I could understand some of the simple Urdu but other was just too hard to decipher so I had to have Imran translate it for me. And he did it, just for me. Thanks a lot, Imran! I can't thank you enough for translating such a beautiful ghazal for me. Here it is with the translation and live audio/video. Enjoy!

aa aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa aa aa aa

woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah! (2)
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah!

woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah! (They are conversing with me, what an honour for me,)
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah! (what is my stature and what is theirs)

woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!

yeh rooh-e-darekhshaan (The spirit of brightness)
yeh zulfon ke saaye (2) (the shade of my love's tresses)
yeh hungaama-e-subah-o-shaam, allah! allah! (and this madness of day and night, Oh Lord)
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah!
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!

woh sehmaa hua (That frightened)
aansuoon kaa talaatum (2) (storm of tears)
woh aab-e-rawaan besharam??, allah! allah! (that unabashed flowing water (tears), Oh Lord)
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah!
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!

woh zabt-e-sukhan mein (that control in your speech,)
labon ki khamoshi (2) (the silence of your lips)
nazar ka woh luft-e-karam, allah! allah! (the generous look of pleasure, Oh Lord)
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah!
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!

yeh rooh-e-darekhshaan (The spirit of brightness)
yeh zulfon ke saaye (2) (the shade of my love's tresses)
yeh hungama-e-subah-o-shaam, allah! allah! (and this madness of day and night, Oh Lord)
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!
kahaan main kahaan yeh maqaam, allah! allah!
woh mujhse hue hum-qalaam, allah! allah!

Vocabulary:

hum-kalaam, kalaam is to talk, speak, its an Arabic word adopted in Urdu
mujhse hue hum-kalaam - conversed with me
darakhshaan is from Persian, meaning bright, shining light, so rooh-e-darakhshaan is the spirit of the light.
talatum means storm or the crashing of waves, here it means the abundance of tears
aab is water, from Persian
rawaan is running, flowing, also from Persian
zabt is control
sukhan is words, speech
lutf is enjoyment, excitement, pleasure
karam is favour, generosity, benevolence


Singer: Farida Khanum


Live version:

Woh Chup Rahe To

Jahan Ara has so many goodies of Talat that every once in a while I forget to appreciate the Lata songs in it. And I think Rajendar Krishan is the best lyricist of HFM. I"m short of words to describe Madan Mohan's work here. You just gotta listen to this gem.

Once again you realize that if it weren't for tabla, there would be no Indian music at all. What I love about this song and the others from this era, is that when the singer sings, there is practically no music or very minimal music playing in background and then the singer stops singing, you're taken on a journey to your heart with the soulful, touchy music. It makes you get lost in this place that has no boundaries.

Even the mujra songs of this time period in HFM were so classy! If you heard a song like this on the radio, it'd make you stop whatever that you're doing and just listen to the song and appreciate the beauty of it.


वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है (२)
जो बात कर ले ... आ आ ...
जो बात कर ले तो बुझते चिराग जलते है
वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है

कहो बुझे के जले
हम अपनी राह चले या तुम्हारी राह चले
कहो बुझे के जले
बुझे तो ऐसे के जैसे किसी गरीब का दील
किसी गरीब का दील
जले तो ऐसे के जैसे चिराग जलते है
वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है

ये खोयी खोयी नज़र
कभी तो होगी इधर या सदा रहेगी उधर
यह खोयी खोयी नज़र
उधर तो एक सुलगता हुआ है विराना
है एक विराना
मगर इधर तो बहारों में बाग़ जलते है
वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है

जो अश्क पी भी लिए
जो होठ सी भी लिए तो सितम ये किस पे किये
जो अश्क पी भी लिए
कुछ आज अपनी सुनो और कुछ आज मेरी सुनो
कुछ आज मेरी सुनो
खामोशियों से तो दील और दिमाग जलते है
वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है
जो बात कर ले तो बुझते चिराग जलते है

वोह चूप राहे तो मेरे दील के दाग जलते है


Film: Jahan Ara (1964)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Rajendar Krishan
Music Directir: Madan Mohan Kohli
Piturized on: Minoo Mumtaz, Bharat Bhushan, Om Prakash, Aruna Irani