The god of "keeping it simple"

Who else but gulzar? Lately, I've been mesmerised by his writings, as much by simplicity of his words as by depth of their meannings. Tried to interpret a couple of my favourite songs. Here's one of them.

The song : Aaja Maahi
Album : Fiza
Composer : A R Rehman

This song finds beauty in ordinary natural events and relates it to the effervescence of a clandestine love in the simplest of words. Stunning cinematography and great music make it a delight to hear/watch.

Sohne maahi re...Maahi maahi re...
Maahi maahi re...Maahi maahi re...
Maahi maahi re...Maahi maahi re...
Aaja mahi mere..Aaja mahi mere
Aaja mahi mere..aa
Aaja mahi mere..Aaja mahi mere
Aaja mahi mere..aa

Aa dhoop maloon main..tere haathon mein
Aa sajda karoon main..tere baathon pe
Ho subah ki mehendi..chhalak rahi hai

Dhoop is compared to mehndi. The color of dhoop is the color of joy and rubbing mehndi signifies an act of celebration/rejoicing for the girl (or marriage), the boy says let me bring joy to your life (by marrying you). "Sajda karna" here signifies revering. The boy means he is devoted to whatever the girl says.

Aaja..Aaja mahiya..aaja mahiya
Aaja..Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya
Aaja mahi mere..Aaja mahi mere
Aaja mahi mere..aa
Aaja mahi mere..Aaja mahi mere
Aaja mahi mere..aa

Aahista pukaaro..sab sunlenge
Bas labon se choolo..lab sunlenge
Haan...aankh bhi kal se phadak rahi hai

The girl is shy and afraid lest everyone listens to their conversation. At the same time, she is bold and says leave the talk and get to business :P Or euphemistically, she says "my lips will know what your lips say". "aankh phadakna" is considered a sign of excitement about something happening, she is hopeful that something might happen between them.

Aaja..Aaja mahiya..aaja mahiya
Aaja..Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya

Ek noor se aankhen chaunk gayeen
Dekha jo tujhe aaine mein
Ek noor se aankhen chaunk gayeen
Dekha jo tujhe aaine mein
Aaja mahiya,Aaja mahiya
Koi noor kiran hogi woh bhi
Jo chubne lagi hai seene me

The boy says, "I was amazed because I saw you when I looked into the mirror. I am seeing you in the mirrors now, may be some memory of yours is teasing me."


Aaja mahiya
Aaja mahiya
Aa dhoop maloon main..tere haathon mein
Aa sajda karoon main..tere haathon mein
Ho subah ki mehendi..chalak rahi hai
Aaja..
Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya
Aaja..Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya
Mahi mahi re...Mahi mahi re...Mahi mahi re...

Laal ho jab yeh shaam kinara
Orha dena sar pe saara
Laal ho jab yeh shaam kinara
Orh ha dena sar pe saara
Aaja mahiya, Aaja mahiya
Chal roke le suraj chhup jaayega
Paani mein gir ke bujh jaayega

These are my favourite lines. The sun, in bright red colour, looks marvellous at twilight. She asks the boy to wrap around her head that most beautiful "dupatta". If one looks at the setting sun by the seaside, it seems as it is being extinguished by falling into the sea. The poets compares this to a beautiful time being lost. So the boys asks her to save forever this beautiful time they have spent together.


Aaja mahiya,Aaja mahiya
Aahista pukaaro..sab sunlenge
Bas labon se choolo..lab sunlenge
Haan...aankh bhi kal se phadak rahi hai
Aaja..Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya
Aaja mahiya..ho..aaja mahiya
Mahi re...Mahi re...
Mahi re...Mahi re...
Mahi re...Mahi re...
Mahi re...Mahi re...

Maahi maahi mere..maahi maahi mere..
Mahi mere..mahi mere..mahi mere
Maahi maahi mere..maahi maahi mere..
Mahi mere..mahi mere..mahi mere