Mistakes in Lyrics

I was reading an article about how Javed Akhtar purposely wrote senseless lyrics for "Dard-e-Disco", and it reminded me of some mistakes in lyrics I have heard in the past that probably were not done on purpose. Just wanted to share and see if anyone has some more.

1. Gori Gori – Main Hoon Na (Javed Akhtar)

kuch din kaato aur zindagi humaare siva

I'll start with my favorite, Javed sahib. I believe this is the only time he made such a glaring error, and it was quite shocking for me. The word "siva" means "besides", while the word "bina" means "without"…they have very different meanings. Throughout the rest of the song, "siva" is used in the correct manner, but in this line, he used it in a way that only the word "bina" would make sense. I guess he just took this liberty so he could maintain the rhyming pattern.

2. Heyy Babyy – Heyy Babyy (Sameer)

aag lagi hai mere jasbaaton mein

You guys might not believe me but "jasbaaton", despite being used often, is technically not a word. The word "jasba" means emotion, and "jasbaat" is it's plural, so "jasbaaton" would be a double plural (like childrens). So actually, the statement correctly written could be either "aag lagi hai mere jasbon mein" or "aag lagi hai mere jasbaat mein."

3. Bol Na Halke Halke – Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Gulzar)

ghoonghat hi banaalo roshini se noor ke

This might just be me not understanding the depth of the lyrics. "Roshini" and "noor " are just different words basically meaning light. So either I'm not getting it or Gulzar is being very redundant. I would translate this as "make a veil from light, of light". Correct me if I'm wrong.

4. Shuruaat – Tishnagi (Shaan)

is baar ke barsaaton mein

This is just a simple case of using the wrong gender. "Barsaat" is a feminine word, so it should have been "is baar ki barsaaton mein".

5. Humne Dekhi Hai – Khamoshi (Gulzar)

humne dekhi hai in aankhon ki mahekti khushbu

Huh? Since when do eyes have a scent….and even if we assume that they do, how can you see a scent? I really can't understand why this song is so popular.

6. Jaan Meri Ja Rahi Sanam – Lucky (Sameer)

humne to pal pal tadap ke pal guzaara hai

It may sound nice, but really doesn't make sense. By saying "pal pal", he implies that there were many pal in the period of time that was guzaara. But in the end, only one pal passed? How is this possible? Translated this would be "I suffered every moment just to make it through one moment". You see what I mean?

7. Chand Si Mehbooba – Himalaya Ki God Mein (Anand Bakshi)

chand si mehbooba ho meri kab aisa maine socha tha

haan tum bilkul waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

Is this guy really saying that his beloved is NOT as beautiful as the moon? I doubt that this was the lyricist's intention, but that's how it comes off. Take a look at this translation. "I never thought I would have a beloved as beautiful as the moon. You are exactly as I imagined you would be." Doesn't that mean she's NOT as beautiful as the moon?

That's all I can think of right now. If you have any more, please share!

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I wont say you are wrong...lekin it is simply matters how you take it....but i take like this

1. Gori Gori – Main Hoon Na (Javed Akhtar)
kuch din kaato aur zindagi humaare siva
humare siva, tumhara kaun hai ….
Mai kisi se shaadi nahi karoongi tumhare siva !!!!
Siva can be translated as except me or except you…

3. Bol Na Halke Halke – Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Gulzar)

ghoonghat hi banaalo roshini se noor ke

Sorry for not able to explain this clearly….
What I have read and learned this definitions through Arabic…
Here roshini = light
Noor= moon..

5. Humne Dekhi Hai – Khamoshi (Gulzar)
humne dekhi hai in aankhon ki mahekti khushbu
This is simply part of speech…. People tell tum mere dil me ho…
dhadkan me ho… that doest mean if we cut and see the persons heart there image will be there..
But way to express...fall in love to know this stupid expressions

6. Jaan Meri Ja Rahi Sanam – Lucky (Sameer)
humne to pal pal tadap ke pal guzaara hai
He means every pal, like every moment passed in pain,,(buy using pal pal twice indicates that every moment)

7. Chand Si Mehbooba – Himalaya Ki God Mein (Anand Bakshi)
hand si mehbooba ho meri kab aisa maine socha tha
haan tum bilkul waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

I also get hell doubts with this song…lekin I feel the writer is expressing
"Kab aisa maise soncha tha" doest express " when the hell I thought that..
But it means…. Jaane who pyaar bhara pal kab tha jab maine aisa soncha tha ya maine dua ki thi…

Im glad u brought up this topic. While I agree with most of the mistakes u pointed out , I think u should give benefit of doubt to Gulzar and Javed Akhtar as in urdu shayari same words can be used differently, and as long as the meaning is put across correctly, its correct. And what Gulzar has been doing all these years is called "azad shayari" so never even take it seriously :)

But yes Im really irritated of ppl using double plurals like- haalaaton, jazbaaton also yesterday while watching Saregamapa, I heard Sonu singing
"Main agar kahoon tumsa haseen, Qaayenaat mein nahin hai kahin"

While the word is Kaayenaat that is "Kabootar waala Ka" and not "Qayamat waala Qaaf", So many times have I heard of singer making a word more "URDU" even when its not required.

In Aandhi Kishore kumaar sings- "Tere bina zindagi se koi ShiQwa to nahin" whereas Lata mangeshkar says it simply and correctly- Shikwa.

similarly the word Kaamyaab is not Qaamyaab , as Sonu loves it saying. I wonder why dont the lyric writers point it out to the singers.

And yes , if u want to make a different meaning of the song Chaand si mehbooba, it really sounds funny, But what the writer wants to say that my Mehbooba is as beautiful as I magined her to be and Im not a fool to imagine that I would get a Mehbooba who would be as beautiful as a Moon.

Interesting take...but hasn't solved the problems for me. My comments below.

Originally posted by: guess_gallery

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I wont say you are wrong...lekin it is simply matters how you take it....but i take like this

1. Gori Gori – Main Hoon Na (Javed Akhtar)
kuch din kaato aur zindagi humaare siva
humare siva, tumhara kaun hai ….
Mai kisi se shaadi nahi karoongi tumhare siva !!!!
Siva can be translated as except me or except you…

Even if it means "except me", it still doesn't make sense. "For a few days spend your life EXCEPT me"??? I'm quite sure the message JA was trying to get across is "For a few days spend your lives WITHOUT me" in which case "bina" would have been the right word.

3. Bol Na Halke Halke – Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Gulzar)

ghoonghat hi banaalo roshini se noor ke

Sorry for not able to explain this clearly….
What I have read and learned this definitions through Arabic…
Here roshini = light
Noor= moon..

I know where you're getting the moon from, but I don't think "noor" can be translated exactly as moon. Noor is a specific type of light that has no warmth to it...its only pure light, like that of the moon's.

5. Humne Dekhi Hai – Khamoshi (Gulzar)
humne dekhi hai in aankhon ki mahekti khushbu
This is simply part of speech…. People tell tum mere dil me ho…
dhadkan me ho… that doest mean if we cut and see the persons heart there image will be there..
But way to express...fall in love to know this stupid expressions

I'm not convinced...even metaphors have some logic to them. I would have no problem with "meri aankhon mein tum ho" or "teri saanson ki khushbu mujh mein sama gayi" but this one I really don't get even though I am a poet myself and love using metaphors.

6. Jaan Meri Ja Rahi Sanam – Lucky (Sameer)
humne to pal pal tadap ke pal guzaara hai
He means every pal, like every moment passed in pain,,(buy using pal pal twice indicates that every moment)

That's what I was saying...Pal Pal means every moment, but it still doesn't solve the problem..."I spent every moment OF THIS MOMENT in pain"???

7. Chand Si Mehbooba – Himalaya Ki God Mein (Anand Bakshi)
hand si mehbooba ho meri kab aisa maine socha tha
haan tum bilkul waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

I also get hell doubts with this song…lekin I feel the writer is expressing
"Kab aisa maise soncha tha" doest express " when the hell I thought that..
But it means…. Jaane who pyaar bhara pal kab tha jab maine aisa soncha tha ya maine dua ki thi…

hmm...perhaps. Still not the best lyrics in my opinion.

Originally posted by: meenasupari

But yes Im really irritated of ppl using double plurals like- haalaaton, jazbaaton also yesterday while watching Saregamapa, I heard Sonu singing
"Main agar kahoon tumsa haseen, Qaayenaat mein nahin hai kahin"

While the word is Kaayenaat that is "Kabootar waala Ka" and not "Qayamat waala Qaaf", So many times have I heard of singer making a word more "URDU" even when its not required.

In Aandhi Kishore kumaar sings- "Tere bina zindagi se koi ShiQwa to nahin" whereas Lata mangeshkar says it simply and correctly- Shikwa.

similarly the word Kaamyaab is not Qaamyaab , as Sonu loves it saying. I wonder why dont the lyric writers point it out to the singers.

Omg, thank God I'm not the only one who noticed those! Yes, the Qayanaat is really irritating, as much as I like that song. It's really not the singers' fault...they can't be expected to know perfect Urdu...but the lyricists should listen to the songs to make sure they are sung correctly.

Originally posted by: meenasupari

And yes , if u want to make a different meaning of the song Chaand si mehbooba, it really sounds funny, But what the writer wants to say that my Mehbooba is as beautiful as I magined her to be and Im not a fool to imagine that I would get a Mehbooba who would be as beautiful as a Moon.

It still sounds funny to me...Kinda like "You're pretty, but the moon is prettier." What kind of compliment is that? 😆

About the Chand si mehbooba, what he's saying is:

I had never asked for a body-beautiful woman, I had asked for someone like you

You have to go over the entire lyrics to get the mood of the song:

Chand si mehbooba ho meri, kab aaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

When had I ever desired a hot chick?
In fact, you are exactly what I had always desired

Na kasmey hain na rasmey hain, na shikwe hain na wadey hain
Ek surat bholi bhaali hai, do naina seedhe saade hain
Aaisa hi roop khayalon mein tha, aaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

No vows, no traditions, no complaints, no promises
Just a sweet, simple face, two nice litte eyes
That was just the figure I had in mind
Yes, you are what I had in mind

Meri khushiyan hi na baate, mere gam bhi sehna chahe
Dekhe na khwab woh mehlon ke, mere dil mein rehna chahe
Is duniya mein kaun tha aaisa, jaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

She should not only want to share my happiness, but also bear my sadness
She should not dream of palaces, but just want to live in my heart
Who else was in this world, like I had desired?
Yes, you are exactly what I had desired

It's a very touchy song 😳

Originally posted by: shadyhtown

About the Chand si mehbooba, what he's saying is:

I had never asked for a body-beautiful woman, I had asked for someone like you

You have to go over the entire lyrics to get the mood of the song:

Chand si mehbooba ho meri, kab aaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

When had I ever desired a hot chick?
In fact, you are exactly what I had always desired

Na kasmey hain na rasmey hain, na shikwe hain na wadey hain
Ek surat bholi bhaali hai, do naina seedhe saade hain
Aaisa hi roop khayalon mein tha, aaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

No vows, no traditions, no complaints, no promises
Just a sweet, simple face, two nice litte eyes
That was just the figure I had in mind
Yes, you are what I had in mind

Meri khushiyan hi na baate, mere gam bhi sehna chahe
Dekhe na khwab woh mehlon ke, mere dil mein rehna chahe
Is duniya mein kaun tha aaisa, jaisa maine socha tha
Haan tum bilkool waisi ho, jaisa maine socha tha

She should not only want to share my happiness, but also bear my sadness
She should not dream of palaces, but just want to live in my heart
Who else was in this world, like I had desired?
Yes, you are exactly what I had desired

It's a very touchy song 😳

Ah, I see...It makes more sense now. Maybe I should have taken the time to listen to the whole song instead of going off of a clip I heard. 😳

Thanks for clarifying.

Another:

8) Teri Aankhon Ka Andaaz – Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hai (Sameer)

naya silsila hai, nayi dosti hai, naya dilruba hai, nayi dillagi hai

"Dillagi" (not to be confused with "dil ki lagi") means joke which really doesn't fit here.

And along with the whole wrong Urdu pronounciation thing..."sargoshi" has been pronounced as "sarghoshi" in "Satrangi Re", "Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagin" and "Dard-e-Disco". I'm not sure how the same mistake can be made so many times.

Originally posted by: .:.Suhana.:.

3. Bol Na Halke Halke – Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Gulzar)

ghoonghat hi banaalo roshini se noor ke

This might just be me not understanding the depth of the lyrics. "Roshini" and "noor " are just different words basically meaning light. So either I'm not getting it or Gulzar is being very redundant. I would translate this as "make a veil from light, of light". Correct me if I'm wrong.

Again, we might be able to throw some light on this by looking at the lyrics (no pun intended!)

The lyrics start off something like this:

Dhaage tod laao chandani se noor ke
Ghoonghat hi banalo roshini se noor ke

Since he uses chandni in the previous line, which is moonlight, I presume he usess roshni here to refer to sunlight, not just light (now he couldn't call it 'surajni', could he?).

Also, noor is light, but it could mean brightness, luster, luminescense as well.

To me it looks like this:

Bring the bright threads from the moonlight
Make a bright veil from the sunlight

'Bright' can be substituted here for 'shiny', 'luminescent', 'lustrous'.