27 February
2016
Melancholic words from Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was a twentieth century poet from India. Most of my Indian friends would probably recognize him as the dad of the Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi. The following couplets are from one of his early poems starting “Tum itna kyon muskra rahe ho” – made memorable in Jagjit Singh’s voice.
“Jin zakhmon ko waqt bhar chala hai
Tum kyon unhe chhede ja rahe ho?
Rekhaon ka khel hai muqaddar
Rekhaon se maat kha rahe ho”
Roughly translated….
Those scabs of wounds that time has started healing
Why do you keep picking on them?
This is a game against your lines*
And you are losing against those lines
* lines refer to the lines on your palm meaning “fate”
I seem to recall a Shabana Azmi movie from the 80s that had a song with those lyrics. Arth?
Not a movie buff but I believe you are right… with Smita Patil – and this was around the time she passed away (Smita, that is), I think
Indeed. It was Arth. I think it was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and also starred Kulbhushan Kharbanda
And the song was picturized in the film Arth.
I did not see the movie but I remember that philandering, in the more conventional sense, was a major plot element
It was the director Mahesh Bhat’s real life story shown on screen. He never look back after that.
Arth…….Shabana Azmi….one of my favourite songs
How’s this …
Those wounds that time has started healing,
Why do you keep picking at them?
“Fate is just a play of the lines
And you’re losing the battle against them”
A beautiful ghazal indeed.
I love your translation far better than mine…
Reminds me of a line from Ghalib , as we are talking about fate and lines .
Haaton ki lakeeron pe mat jaa Ghalib,
Takdeer unke bhi hai jinke haath nahi hai.
Translated as ” Don’t go by the fine lines of your palm,
People without hands also have their own destiny.”