This poem has been sung (by Mukesh and Lata), and recited (by Amitabh Bachchan) in a much truncated and simplified form in the film Kabhi Kabhi --some of you might be familiar with that truncated version instead. This version, which is the original version by Sahir, is one of my favourite Urdu nazms and hence I have attempted to translate it here.


Transliteration:

kabhii kabhii mere dil me.n Khayaal aataa hai...
ke zi.ndagii terii zulfo.n kii narm chaao.n me.n
guzarane paatii to shaadaab ho bhii sakatii thii
ye tiirgii jo merii ziist kaa muqaddar hai
terii nazar kii shuaao.n me.n kho bhii sakatii thii

ajab na thaa ke mai.n begaanaa-e-alam ho kar
tere jamaal kii raanaaiiyo.n me.n kho rahataa
teraa gudaaz badan terii niim-baar aa.Nkhe.n
i.nhii.n hasiin fasaano.n me.n maaho rahataa

pukaaratii.n mujhe jab talKhiyaa.N zamaane kii
tere labo.n se halaawat ke ghuu.NT pii letaa
hayaat chiikhatii phiratii barahanaa-sar, aur mai.n
ghanerii zulfo.n ke saaye me.n chhup ke jii letaa

magar ye ho na sakaa aur ab ye aalam hai
ke tuu nahii.n, teraa Gam, terii justajuu bhii nahii.n
guzar rahii hai kuchh is tarah zi.ndahii jaise
ise kisii ke sahaare kii aarazuu bhii nahii.n

zamaane bhar ke dukho.n ko lagaa chukaa huu.N gale
guzar rahaa huu.N kuchh a.njaanii guzar_gaaho.n se
muhiib saaye merii simt ba.Date aate hai.n
hayaat-o-maut ke pur_haul Khaarazaaro.n se

na koii jaadaa na manzil na roshanii kaa suraaG
bhaTak rahii hai Khaalaao.n me.n zi.ndagii merii
i.nhii.n Khalaao.n me.n rah jaauu.Ngaa kabhii khokar
mai.n jaanataa huu.N merii ham-nafas magar yuu.N hii

kabhii kabhii mere dil me.n Khayaal aataa hai


Translation:

Sometimes…

Sometimes the thought comes to my mind…
That life spent in the soft shadows of your tresses
Would be so joyful if it could be so; that
This sorrow, which seems to be the fate of my existence
Could have been lost in the radiance of your eyes.

It would not have been strange if I, forgetful of the world
Had remained lost in the flashes of your beauty.
Your lithe body, your half-shut, dreamy eyes—
If I had been occupied with such beautiful fantasies.

And when the bitter realities of life called me
I would have drunk the sweet nectar of your lips.
Life would be shouting and shrieking about me, and I
Would have hidden in the shadows of your thick tresses, and lived.

But alas this could not be and now such is my condition
That neither you, nor sorrow for your loss, nor longing for you exist.
My life is passing by in such a manner as if
It has not even the aspiration for anyone’s succour.

I have embraced the sorrows of the world.
I am travelling through unknown paths
Terrifying shadows are coming toward me
From the frightening planes of life and death.

I have no place, no goal, neither a ray of sunlight.
My life is being wasted in desolate wildernesses.
I will remain lost in such desolate places for ever
I know, o my soul-mate, but still, out of the blue,
Sometimes the thought comes to my mind…