A song by Majrooh

[Rahul Asthana]

Dear friends,
i am struggling with the meaning of two lines of this beloved Majrooh song. The full lyrics are given below- the lines that I can't figure out are-
"Chehre ki dhool kya, chanda ki chaandni
Utri to reh gayi mukh pe apne"
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Rahul

(Kya jaanoon sajan hoti hai kya gham ki shaam
Jal uthe sau diye jab liya tera naam) -2
Kya jaanoon sajan

(Jabse mili nazar, maathe pe ban gaye
Bindiya nayan tere dekho sajna) -2
Dhar li jo pyaar se, meri kalaayiyaan
Piya teri ungliyan ho gayi kangana
Kya jaanoon sajan hoti hai kya gham ki shaam
Jal uthe sau diye jab liya tera naam
Kya jaanoon sajan

(Kaanton mein main khadi, nainon ke dwaar pe
Nis din bahaar ke dekhoon sapne) -2
Chehre ki dhool kya, chanda ki chaandni
Utri to reh gayi mukh pe apne
(Kya jaanoon sajan hoti hai kya gham ki shaam
Jal uthe sau diye jab liya tera naam) -2
Kya jaanoon sajan

[vij...@gmail.com]

On Monday, 6 May 2013 03:39:44 UTC+1, Rahul Asthana wrote:
> Dear friends,
>
> i am struggling with the meaning of two lines of this beloved Majrooh song. The full lyrics are given below- the lines that I can't figure out are-
>
> "Chehre ki dhool kya, chanda ki chaandni
>
> Utri to reh gayi mukh pe apne"
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

I think 'chehre kii dhuul' goes with 'utrii to' and 'chanda kii chaandani' with 'reh gaii rukh pe apne'. The whole song seems to be about how saajan's name or memories turn negative moments into positive experiences. So here, it has the power of removing 'chehre kii dhuul' and 'leaving behind a moon lit visage'.

This sort of non-linear play is common in Urdu poetry and Majrooh being also an Urdu sha'ir in his own right, likely is familiar with the device. Here is an example of Ghalib:

ghiste ghiste miT jaata, aap ne abas badla
naNg-e-sajdaa se mere, saNg-e-aastaaaN apna

In linear translation it should go something like:

yeh mire naNg-e-sajdaa se ghiste ghiste hii miT jaataa
aap ne apna saNg-e-aastaan yuuN hii badlaa!

Hope it all makes sense:-)

Regards,

Vijay

[Rahul Asthana]

Thanks Vijay,
It does make sense now. Within the context of the song I was thinking on somewhat similar lines -

"Kaanton mein main khadi, nainon ke dwaar pe
Nis din bahaar ke dekhoon sapne) -2 "

"Kaanton mein main khadi" and "Chehre ki dhool" seem like the effect of the hot and dry summer afternoon wind (loo), that stings like thorns and leaves dust on the face - both thorns and dust being metaphors (thorns - pangs of separation and dust -the trail that is left behind when someone leaves).Your memory makes the dust feels like moonlight, that the moon(you) left on my face ; it is your thoughts that make a marker of disappointment(trail of dust) feel like a souvenir of love(moonlight).
Its interesting to note that the cycle of moon is combined with the changing of seasons.

Chehre ki dhool kya, chanda ki chaandni
Utri to reh gayi mukh pe apne

>
>
>

[sunnyd...@yahoo.com]

Enjoyed the discussion Rahul and Vijay. Thanks for discussing the lyrics and thanks for giving me opportunity to revisit one of my most favourite songs. RDB at his best IMHO.

regards,

Sunil

[Anil Kala]

>
> (Kaanton mein main khadi, nainon ke dwaar pe
>
> Nis din bahaar ke dekhoon sapne) -2
>
> Chehre ki dhool kya, chanda ki chaandni
>
> Utri to reh gayi mukh pe apne
>
> (Kya jaanoon sajan hoti hai kya gham ki shaam
>
> Jal uthe sau diye jab liya tera naam) -2
>
> Kya jaanoon sajan

Although a creative work can be interpreted in several ways here is my take..

I suffer in in the midst of sorrow, standing in the twilight zone of waking and sleep I dream...
The 'chaandni' is see lingers on like dust on my face; some relief this. The 'chaandni' is supposed to be soothing.