Now coming to a song I have listened to countless times. I fucking love this track, and that is entirely because of KK. To me, his voice and his music represent the very pinnacle of Bollywood. He has delivered such massive hits that if I were to focus heavily on Hindi-to-English translations for this blog, ninety percent of them would easily be KK’s songs.
Ajab Si is from the movie Om Shanti Om, a rather silly movie with a silly storyline but amazing songs. I have danced to Dhoom Taana, wallowed in the angst of Dastaan-E-Om Shanti Om, fallen in love with Main Agar Kahoon, and vibed through the heartbreak of Jag Soona Soona Lage. Setting aside the overly dramatic storyline and its music video, Ajab Si remains, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful songs Bollywood has ever produced.
Again, Om Shanti Om is a very silly movie with banger songs one after another. I have danced to Dhoom Tana, I emo-ed myself to Daastan-e-om shanti om, fell in love with Main Agar Kahoon, and vibed heartbrokenly to Jag Soona Soona Lage. Keeping aside the overly dramatic storyline and the music video, Ajab Si for me is one of the most beautiful songs from Bollywood.
Why I wanted to translate this song and what I think this song is about
Because this song is absolute poetry. I was astonished to find out that Vishal Dadlani wrote these lyrics. I knew him as a great music composer but what an incredible talent!
The song lifts the atmosphere so effortlessly, and KK’s distinct vocals just soothe the heart. I also believe older songs carried much more expression in their delivery, making them feel like an intimate dialogue. They never relied on catchy hooks or flashy beats to hold their ground. They felt complete and far less templatized than the music we hear today.
The lyrics use several Urdu words, which made the translation process considerably tougher. But in a way good because I learnt about words like “Noor”, “Hashar” and “Adah”, for which I struggled to find exact English equivalents. This creative tension between thinking in Hindi and thinking in English is exactly what I aim to resolve by taking on these translations.
I hope you enjoy the beauty of these lyrics as translated into English. Please write to me if you know a better way to capture their true essence. Thanks.
आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
हो आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
दिल को बना दे जो पतंग साँसे ये तेरी वो हवाएँ हैं
आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
हो आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
दिल को बना दे जो पतंग साँसे ये तेरी वो हवाएँ हैं
आई ऐसी रात है जो बहुत खुशनसीब है
चाहे जिसे दूर से दुनिया वो मेरे क़रीब है
कितना कुछ कहना है फिर भी है दिल में सवाल कहीं
सपनों में जो रोज़ कहा है वो फिर से कहूं या नहीं
आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
होआँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
दिल को बना दे जो पतंग साँसे ये तेरी वो हवाएँ हैं
तेरे साथ साथ ऐसा कोई नूर आया है
चांद तेरी रोशनी का हल्कासा एक साया है
तेरी नज़रों ने दिल का किया जो हश्र असर ये हुआ
अब इन में ही डूब के हो जाऊं पार यही है दुआ
आँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
होआँखों में तेरी अजबसी अजबसी अदाएँ हैं
दिल को बना दे जो पतंग साँसे ये तेरी वो हवाएँ हैं
Your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
Oh… your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
My heart takes flight like a paper kite
Such is your breeze in which I am carried away
Your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
Oh, your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
My heart takes flight like a paper kite
Such is your breeze in which I am carried away
This fortunate night has finally come
You whom the world desires from afar, are now so close to me
I have so much to say yet I’m dumbstruck by the questions that have arisen
Is it the time to finally confess what I have been rehearsing in my dream?
Your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
Oh, your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
My heart takes flight like a paper kite
Such is your breeze in which I am carried away
You’ve brought an ephemeral light with you
Even the moon is a mere shadow of this light
Your eyes have led me to the judgement day, such is your effect
I shall drown in this and hopefully cross my path to the heaven is my only wish
Your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
Oh, your eyes hold a wondrous, wondrous charm
My heart takes flight like a paper kite
Such is your breeze in which I am carried away
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