Matwaale paney se jo ghataa jhoom padi hai
Posted on: August 13, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir,a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Yet another non filmi ghazal offering from the genius of vocal expression. I have written about this before, and yet I am compelled to write again. Listening to Saigal Saab render a ghazal, is more than just good music and singing. There is an element of revelation, as one can feel that the singer is rendering each word with an understanding that gives a deeper import to the words of the ghazal itself. The singing comes through as not simply a rendering, but also comes through is a conviction, that the singer understands the words, and is making the effort to pass on the implication and the values of the words, and not just a vocal rendering.
Another ghazal that expounds the ultimate reality of life. Through the verses, the poet is trying to make a realization that death as the ultimate end of life is inevitable, and this life is a burden of sorrows. And in the final count, actually nothing is of any importance, in the face of the ultimate destiny of the human form.
matwaale-paney se jo ghataa jhoom padi hai
chhaati se dhuaan utthaa hai jo boond padi hai
The clouds are getting prepared to for a jaunt of gaiety and merriment in the skies. Alas, a drop that fell on my chest simply turned into smoke and steam.
The poet refers to the ongoing superficial cheeriness and joviality of this world. That it will continue to have its own way, of jollity and fun, unmindful of the individual’s travails. My being is so burnt out that a drop of this joviality as it fell on me, it instantaneously perished into smoke and steam.
matwaalaa = jovial, fun loving
panaa = characteristic association; e.g. tthanda-pana, the quality of being cold
matwaale paney = with the characteristics of joviality
ghataa = clouds; specifically rain bearing clouds
jhoom = swagger in delight
padna = to be, to happen
ghataa jhoom padi hai = the clouds are flouncing with pleasure
chhaati = chest
dhuaan = smoke
uthhaa hai = rises up
boond = a drop (of anything liquid)
padi ha = fell on
haan aur sunaa kuchh wo buraa ho ke bhalaa ho
jo baat tere munh ki hai moti ki ladi hai
Please narrate to me anything, whether it be good or bad. Coming from you, every word that you speak is a string of pearls for me.
The poet is addressing a close companion, on whom there is complete trust. No matter what this person speaks, whether that be a positive or a negative thought, anything said is acceptable as valued utterance.
sunaa = narrate to me, tell me
kuchh = anything
haan aur sunaa kuchh = tell me something new
buraa = bad
bhalaa = good
wo buraa ho ke bhalaa ho = whether that be good or bad
baat = thing to be told
tere = your
munh = mouth, lips
ki hai = from
tere munh ki hai = from your lips
moti = pearls
ladi = string
hai = is
rehnaa nahin is desh mein, jaaun to kidhar jaaun
rastaa hai katthin, oas kade, dhoop kadi hai
I know that I am not going to live here forever, but I do not know where else to go. The pathways to go elsewhere are too daunting, the sunrays are merciless and the hopes are dampened.
The poet is expressing the helpless of being. We shall not be living here forever, but we do not know where-ever-to we shall proceed. All the ways to go from here are very difficult, the elements are unfavorable, and my optimism is dampened.
rehnaa = to live
nahin = not
desh = country, world
mein = in
jaaun = to go
kidhar = where
rastaa = pathway
hai = is
kathhin = difficult, arduous
oas = means dew; but also means fall in value, dampening of hopes
dhoop = sunlight
kadi = harsh
wo bhi koi jeena hai jo dukhon se bharaa ho
hai saans ke ik phaans, kalejey mein gadi hai
What sort of this life is bestowed on us, the one that is full of miseries and sorrows. The coming and going breath is like a noose that is rooted in my being.
The poet is comparing the breath itself to the passageway to the end of life; a profound statement to be pondered.
wo =that
bhi = also
koi = any
jeena = life, way of living
hai = is
jo = that
dukh = misery, sorrow
se = with
bharaa = full, overflowing
ho = is
hai = is
saans = breath
ke is = or is it
phaans = noose
kalejey = inner self
mein = in
gadi = rooted, entrenched, buried
haan bedhadak ‘aarzoo’ ab keh do khari baat
rassi bhi yahin rakhi hai sooli bhi gadi hai
The poet says he would like to express the basic truth of life. That the end of life has seed within the life itself. The rope and the hangman’s frame that end the life, are very much here in this world. The breath is likened to the rope and this physical body is the hangman’s frame, through which one ends one’s own life.
haan = yes
bedhadak = fearless, unafraid
‘aarzoo’ = poet’s name, signature the last verse; takhallus
ab = now
keh do = say it
khari baat = true words; the truth
rassi = the rope
bhi = also
yahin = here
hai = is
sooli = the hangman’s frame
bhi = also
gadi = rooted, entrenched, buried
Song-Matwaale paney se jo ghataa jhoom padi hai (Saigal NFS) (1940) Singer-K L Saigal,Lyrics-Aarzoo Lucknowi
Lyrics
aaaaaa
matwaale-paney se jo ghataa
jhoom padi hai
chhaati se dhuaan uthhaa hai
jo boond padi hai
chhaati se dhuaan uthhaa hai
jo boond padi hai
aaaaa
chhaati se dhuaan uthhaa hai
jo boond padi hai
haan aur sunaa kuchh
wo buraa ho ke bhalaa ho
ho o
haan aur sunaa kuchh
wo buraa ho ke bhalaa ho
arre jo baat tere munh ki hai
moti ki ladi hai
jo baat tere munh ki hai
moti ki ladi hai
jo baat tere munh ki hai
moti ki ladi hai
rehnaa nahin is desh mein,
jaaun to kidhar jaaun
rehnaa nahin is desh mein,
jaaun to kidhar jaaun
rastaa hai kathhin,
oas kade,
dhoop kadi hai
rastaa hai kathhin,
oas kade,
dhoop kadi hai
wo bhi koi jeena hai
dukhon se jo bharaa ho
wo bhi koi jeena hai
dukhon se jo bharaa ho
hai saans ke ik phaans,
kalejey mein gadi hai
hai saans ke ik phaans,
kalejey mein gadi hai
haan bedhadak ‘aarzoo’
ab keh do khari baat
haan bedhadak ‘aarzoo’
ab keh do khari baat
rassi bhi yahin rakhi hai
sooli bhi gadi hai
rassi bhi yahin rakhi hai
sooli bhi gadi hai
3 Responses to "Matwaale paney se jo ghataa jhoom padi hai"
January 19, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I stumbled on to this ghazal to per chance, and it was such a delight. Thanks for the posting and the lyrics.
Two corrections are suggested:
1. After ‘rastaa hai kathin’, it should be ‘honth kade’ and not ‘oas kade’.
2. Last sher should start as ‘Haan bedharak aei aarzoo’. ‘aei’ is missing.
Great song!
– Pratap
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May 4, 2025 at 12:02 pm
You’re a great favour to those who are admirers of old hindi filmi songs, ghazals, geets!
deepak
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 8, 2011 at 4:21 pm
wonderful….my day is made…….thanks a ton
asheet
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