Rahen na rahen hum
Posted on: September 2, 2008
- In: Braving it out | Duet | Lata solo | Lata song | Multiple version song | Pathos | philosophical song | Poignant Song | Rafi songs | Rafi Suman Kalyanpur duet | sad song | Songs of 1960s (1961 to 1970) | Songs of 1966 | Suman Kalyanpur songs | Translation by nahm | Yearwise breakup of songs
- 7 Comments
The lyrics are sad and poignant, as well as philosophical. Our near and dear ones have to leave us one day,sooner or later. This is inevitable and we better get reconciled to it. Holding on to them forever is just not feasible. The only thing one can do is to hold on to their memories.
This song talks of the sweet memories that our loved one may leave behind once it is time for her to depart to the other world.
A painful prospect for her loved ones, but at the same time her attempt to comfort the persons she may have to leave behind one day cannot but move others. And this song certainly has that effect. In this song, Lata has given it her all, and has come up with a top performance.
Later on I have come to know that this song has two versions. Apart from the Lata version, which is picturised on Suchitra Sen, there is another version of the song which is sung by Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur and it is picturised on Suchitra Sen and Dharmendra. the duet is not picturised on the same Suchitra Sen, but on her daughter, also played by Suchitra Sen. Now I have included both the versions of this song. I thank nahm for pointing out that this song also had the duet version.
Lata version
Rafi,Suman Kalyanpur version
Song- Rahen naa rahen ham, mehkaa karenge (Mamta) (1966) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD- Roshan
Lyrics
——————————–
Lata version
——————————–
rahen naa rahen ham,
mehakaa karenge
ban ke kali,
ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham
mausam koyi ho is chaman mein
rang banke rahenge hum khiraama
chaahat ki khushboo,
yoon hi zulfon
se udegi,
khizaa ho yaa bahaaren
yoonhi jhoomte,
yoonhi jhoomte aur
khilte rahenge,
ban ke kali
ban ke sabaa
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham,
mehkaa karenge
ban ke kali,
ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
jab ham na honge jab hamaari
khaaq pe tum rukoge chalte chalte
ashqon se bheegi chaandni mein
ik sadaa si sunoge chalte chalte
waheen pe kahin,
waheen pe kahin ham
tumse milenge,
ban ke kali
ban ke sabaa
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham,
mehkaa karenge
ban ke kali,
ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham
————————————————-
Rafi,Suman Kalyanpur version
———————————————-
rahen naa rahen ham,
mehkaa karenge
ban ke kali,
ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham
ye khoob-soorat ye nazaare
ye bahaaren hamaare dam qadam se
zinda huyi hai phir jahaan mein
aaj ishq wafaa ki rasm hamse se
yoon hi is chaman
yoon hi is chaman
ki zeenat rahenge
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham,
mehkaa karenge
ban ke kali,
ban ke sabaa,
baage wafaa mein
rahen naa rahen ham
————————————————————————————–
Translations (By nahm)
—————————————————————————————
Translation-Lata version
————————————————————————————–
rahen naa rahen hum, mehakaa karenge
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
In life or in the hereafter
I shall always reside in this garden faith and hope
Like the lingering fragrance of a newly formed flower bud
Or the fragrance that permeates the cool breeze of the morning
(The context here is I and not we although the word used is ‘hum’. Suchitra Sen is singing this song, with Ashok Kumar by her side. Ashok Kumar is going away to England for higher studies. This is a see-you-again-soon type of a song, wishing him well, and hoping for his early return. She is saying that I (she) will always be here in their private garden of love, waiting for him)
mausam koyi ho is chaman mein, rang banke rahenge hum khiraama
chaahat ki khushboo, yoon hi zulfon se udegi, khizaa ho yaa bahaaren
yoonhi jhoomte aur khilte rahenge,
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
Whichever be the season,
I shall gracefully reside as the colors in this garden,
Be it spring or autumn
The aroma of love and harmony
Shall emanate from my tresses
I shall blossom and be cheerful, forever
Like a newly formed flower bud
Or the cool breeze of morning
In this garden faith and hope
Khoye hum aise kyaa hai milnaa kyaa bichhadnaa nahin hai yaad hum ko
Kooche mein dil ke jab se aaye sirf dil ki zameen hai yaad hum ko
Is sarzameen pe hum to rahenge
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
jab ham na honge, jab hamaari khaaq pe tum rukoge
chalte chalte
ashqon se bheegi chaandni mein ik sadaa si sunoge
chalte chalte
waheen pe kahin ham tumse milenge,
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
When someday I am gone
And if you come by this way again
And pause while walking, on the dust that was me
In the silhouette of moonlight, moist with teardrops
If you hear my voice calling out to you
That will be the place, where we shall meet yet again
Like a newly formed flower bud
Or the cool breeze of morning
In this garden faith and hope
——————————————————-
Translation- Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur version
——————————————————
rahen naa rahen hum, mehakaa karenge
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
In life or in the hereafter
We shall always reside in this garden faith and hope
Like the lingering fragrance of a newly formed flower bud
Or the fragrance that permeates the cool breeze of the morning
(NOTE – The context here is ‘we’. The young Suchitra Sen (playing the role of the daughter) is singing this song along with Dharmendra. This is a romantic-exchange-of-love-between-young-hearts type of a song. The song is a promise between the lovers that they will love each other, and will be for each other, forver.)
ye khoob-soorat ye nazaare ye bahaaren
hamaare dam-qadam se
zinda huyi hai phir jahaan mein
aaj ishq-o-wafaa ki rasm hamse se
yoon hi is chaman
yoon hi is chaman ki zeenat rahenge
ban ke kali, ban ke sabaa, baage wafaa mein
The beauty of nature, these lovely vistas of spring are here
only for we tread this path together
The traditions of love and faithfulness is alive again today in this world
exemplified by us
And thus we shall always be the adornment of this garden of love
Like a newly formed flower bud
Or the cool breeze of morning
In this garden faith and hope
—————————————————
7 Responses to "Rahen na rahen hum"
November 11, 2009 at 5:33 am
Please post “Inn Baharon Mey Akele Na Phiro” picturised on Dharmendra and Suchitra Sen. If possible all the three stanzas. The third one isn’t played often.
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May 12, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Video clip of full Lata version with additional stanza covered in English translation : http://youtu.be/FRdqoJPc6bQ
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August 22, 2013 at 11:57 am
I have all praise for you and your labour of love. Your descriptions are vivid, informative, poignant and done after proper research. Khoob Bhalo. Really, you have done great service to the music lovers and thus immortalised yourself. Keep it up! May God bless you.
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September 27, 2013 at 5:08 pm
जो शायरी मजरूह साहब नें ‘ममता’ मे गढ़ी है वो बहुत ही आला दर्जे की और गूढ़ अर्थ वाली है जिसे समझने के लिए थोड़ा दिमाग के तारों को झनझनाना आवश्यक सा लगता है ।
” रहें ना रहें हम महका करेंगे, बनके कली, बनके सबा, बाग-ए-वफा में …. ” इस गीत के उर्दू के लफ्जों जैसे सबा, बाग-ए-वफा, खिरामा, सदा, जीनत, कूचे, खाक, दम-ओ-कदम इत्यादि को समझने के लिए तो कुछ ज्यादा ही दिमाग पर जोर लगाना पड़ता है । हालांकि अंग्रेजी में अच्छा अनुवाद उपर कर दिया गया है लेकिन अगर अर्थ ना भी समझ आए तो कोई बात नहीं …. रोशन की धुन इतनी मधुर और लता की गायकी इतनी बेमिसाल है कि आज भी लता का गाया ‘ममता’ का ये गीत जब भी सुनें, एकदम तरो-ताजा और प्यारा लगता है । रोशन की कंपोजिश्न तो अपने उत्कर्ष पर ही लगती है जो सुनने वाले को कभी भी और हर बार रोमांचित किये बिना नहीं रहती ।
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May 13, 2014 at 12:47 pm
What a magical song this was – yesterday, today and for-ever…
Tributes to Roshan-Majrooh-Lata for this unmatched melody…Thanks Nahm ma’am for providing detailed and context-based translation…
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July 7, 2015 at 8:50 pm
I was watching the movie ‘Chandni Chowk’ (1954) today, in which there is a song ‘Tera dil kahan hai’. Roshan gave music to that film and has used the tune we know as ‘Rahein na rahein hum’ earlier too. That song made me revisit this page.
The lyrics of “rahein na rahein’ and its smooth flowing translation by Nahmji are both indeed wonderful.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
June 26, 2009 at 11:07 pm
This is one of my favourite Lata songs.
I just love this song.
Roshan’s music.
The movie was fantastic too.
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