Bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi brijbaalaa
Posted on: March 20, 2011
When I meet people and I tell them that I have a blog of old songs, I get some well meaning advices, suggestions etc. One of these well meaning suggestions is that I need not re invent the wheel as far as writing down the lyrics of the song is concerned. Lyrics of all these songs are available in many sites, I am told almost patronisingly.
I of course know better about these sites where supposedly all the lyrics of all the songs are available. Many of these lyrics are noted down by someone whose familiarity with the language is dodgy at best, and in addition, he does not seem to have a good ear either. In case one has a decent knowledge of Hindi language, the lyrics that one often gets in these sites is highly inaccurate and grating to the eyes and the senses. And you find the same lyrics (errors and all) in all the sites. Once the lyrics of a particular song is posted in a site, all other sites on internet dutifully cut and paste the same lyrics blindly and that is that.
Instead of talking in general, here is an example of a lyrics that I found on these various sites (all with identical lyrics). The song is a topical song, viz a holi song.
This holi song is from “Raajput” (1982). The song is sung by many singers, viz Manhar Udhas, Asha Bhonsle, Mahendra Kapoor, Dilraj Kaur etc. The song is picturised on many actors, viz Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna etc. Anand Bakshi is the lyricist and Laxmikant Pyarelal composed the music.
In the lyrics of the song that I found on internet, Kaanha (Lord Krishna) becomes Kaandha (shoulder), Aadha (half) becomes Radha (Lord Krishna’s lover), bainyya (arms) becomes bhaiyya (brother), and as a result the line “bainyya ki pehna di mala” (wound her arms over him) becomes an inadvertently incestuous “Bhaya ki bahaina dewaala” (sister is lusting after brother). it is this kind of stuff that is often found in sites that proudly claim to have lyrics for songs.
My mood became sour after I went through this so called lyrics for this wonderful song. These lyrics totally spoil the mood for what should be a mood enhancing song.
I have noted down the accurate lyrics of this song here, of course. And what superb lyrics this song has, unlike what is floating around on internet passing for the lyrics of this song.
Here is this lovely Holi song from “Raajput” (1982), with proper lyrics. enjoy !
Audio
Video
song-Bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi brijbaala (Rajput) (1982) Singers-Mahendra Kapoor, Manhar, Asha Bhonsle, Dilraj Kaur, Lyrics-Anand Bakshi, MD-Laxmikant Pyarelal
Male Chorus
Female chorus
All chorus
Lyrics
Bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi
brij baala
brij baala
Kaanha ne pakda
rang daala aa
Bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi
brij baala
brij baala
Kaanha ne pakda rang daala
Hey
bhaaga re bhaaga re bhaaga
Nandlaala
Nandlaala
Raadha ne pakda rang daala aa
Hey
bhaaga re bhaaga re bhaaga
Nandlaala
Nandlaala
Raadha ne pakda rang daala
aadhaa hai rang
aadhaa pyaar mera
aadhaa hai rang
aadhaa pyaar mera
khil jaayega gori roop tera
beech bajariya raste mein ghera
bainyaa ki pehna di maalaa aa
hey
bhaaga re bhaaga re bhaaga
hey
bhaaga re bhaaga re bhaaga
Nandlala
Radha ne pakda rang daala
ho ho
ho ho
ho ho ho ho
ho ho ho o ho
Behney lagi ee ee ee
rangon ki ganga
rangon ki ganga
Chhedo na humko
Chhedo na humko
chhodo yeh danga
Behney lagi ee ee
rangon ki ganga
rangon ki ganga
dekho yeh mukhda rang birangaa
Neela hara peelaa kaalaa
haay
Bhaaghi re bhaagi re bhaagi
hey
bhaaghi re bhaagi re bhaagi,
brij baala,
brij baala
Kaanha ne pakhda rang daala
haa
bhaaga re bhaaga re bhaaga
Nandlaala,
Nandlaala
Raadha ne pakhda rang daala
hey
bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi
hey
bhaagaa re bhaaga re bhaagaa
hey
bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi
hey
bhaagaa re bhaaga re bhaagaa
6 Responses to "Bhaagi re bhaagi re bhaagi brijbaalaa"
March 21, 2011 at 10:24 am
lovely write up Atul. and its the effort you put in that makes d difference. specially bcoz its not easy in certain songs to catch the write words and if the d song was in chaste hindustani then it becomes all d more difficult.
god i can’t imagine Kandha becoming kaanha or vice versa.
if u ask my Peevesie what my rxn wud b 4 such blunders she wud say and i quote her– “my mom doesn’t get angry if i get low marks in exams she will throw me out of d house 4 killing songs”.
and now she does d same if i kill any of d newer songs. howzatt?
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March 21, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Atul ji,
I fully agree with Raja ji and PM madam.
It is your involvement in the work which makes you different from other bloggers.
Unless a person is deeply devoted and totally immersed in his work,there will not be a quality product output.
You certainly deserve kudos and heartfelt thanks for this work,which is in my opinion,not only praiseworthy but also highly demonstrative of committment !
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March 23, 2011 at 1:55 am
The lyrics are hard to catch unless you know very good hindi. And because your hindi is good I trust your transcription.
Btw I like the song too. Dharam looks good with the mustache (but most guys don’t).
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 20, 2011 at 1:35 pm
What shocking lyrics on that site, Atul!
And to think that this gets propagated mindlessly around the interwebs!
We here know how much care and attention you pay to the lyrics of every song you post. Even if occasionally the lyrics are not clear, I think it is better to admit it (say, replace it with “???” or something so that readers know about it and can use their brains) than to put people on the wrong track.
For you too the easy way out would have been to just copy lyrics from the interwebs and not spend time actually listening to every word but then it would only mean adding to the wrong lyrics out there.
On behalf of everybody who values lyrics, a big thanks to you for making such an effort.
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