Madhaniyan - Sunanda Sharma

This is a hugely popular punjabi folk song. People who have ever attended a punjabi wedding / ladies sangeet must have heard it sometime. It beautifully captures the moments from an Indian wedding and the lyrics are so delightful - the whole scene of a wedding comes in front of the listener's eyes.
There are so many versions of this song since it has been sung by multiple singers on various occasions. But this version sung by Sunanda Sharma will simply touch your heart :)







Madhanian [Milk Churn]
Hai oh mereya dadiya rabba
Kinna jamiya kina ne le jaaniyaan haye
[ Oh my great god, whom are they born to and who would take them away ]
The singer is referring to the bride being born in a different house than the one she is supposed to spend the rest of her life.

Loie [Slowly]
babul tere mahela vichoo
teri lado pardesan hoyi haye
[ Father, your beloved daughter has become a stranger to your palace ]
The bride becomes a stranger in her own house.

Chholle [Chickpeas]
babul tere mahela vicho
satrangiyaa kabutar bole
[ Father, the doves are singing in your palace ]

Challian [Eves of Corn]
maava theeya milan lagi ya
chaar kandha ne chaubare diya halliya
[ When the mother and daughter meet together, even the four walls of the top floor shake ]
Mother and daughter share such an intense and deep bond with each other that even the walls shake when they become sentimental while being together.

Phitaa [Laces]
Enna sakheya veera ne dhola tore ke aagah nu kitha haye
[ Her real brother sees the carriage and shows her the way ahead ]

Mehendi [Heena]
Lagdi Suhaganan nu
nahin marde daman tak lehendee
[ Aborned by the bride, it never fades even upon death ]

Jhumke [Earings]
Ambdi da dil kambeya
Aaj muh lado da chumke
[ Her mother's heart shuddered as she kissed her daughter on her face ]

Maa - Paey [Mother and Father]
Naazan naal paal ke tiyaan ho jaan paraye aape
[ They bring up their daughters with great care, now they have become strangers themselves ]

Chudiyan [Bangles]
Saure ghar jaan waliye
shala hone muradan puriyan
[ Now that you are going to the home of your in laws, May all your wishes come true ]

The song ends on a note of blessing for the bride to live happily ever after in her new home.  :-) 

Rahat fateh ali khan - Koi umeed bar nahi aati, Ghalib

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - Koi Umeed Bar Nahi Aati



Yeh na thee hamari Qismat K wisaal E yaar hota
Agar aur jeete rahtay,  yehi intezaar hota
[Visaal-e-yaar = to meet the beloved]

Ye msaile tasuuf, ye tera bayane ghalib!
Tujhe hum wali samajhte, jo na badai khuar hota
[masa'il -e - tasavvuf = maxims of mysticism , wali= saint, badahkhvar=wine drinker]

Kehte hain jeete hain umeed pe log
humein toh jeene ki bhi umeed nahi

Koi Ummeed Bar Nahin Aati

Dil-e-nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai
Akhir Is Dard Ki Dawa Kya Hai
[Dil-e-nadan=Immature heart]

hamko unse wafa ki hai ummeed
jo naheeN jaante wafa kya hai
[wafa= loyalty]

Koi Ummeed Bar Nahin Aati


Baskih dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaan hona
Admi ko bhi mayassar nahin insaan hona
[baskih=whereas/though dushvar=difficult, mayassar=affordable]

Girya chahai hai kharabi mere kashane ki
Dar-o-diwar se tapke hai biyaban hona
[girya=crying, kashana=home, dar-o-divar=doors and walls, bayaban=wilderness]

Koi Ummeed Bar Nahin Aati

hai  khabar garm  unke  aane kee
aaj hee ghar meiN boriya na huaa !
[boriya=rug]

ghar hamara, jo na rote bhi, to wiran hota
bahr gar bahr na hota to bayaban hota
[viran=desolate, bahar=ocean, bayaban=desert]

Koi Veerani si Veerani Hai...
Dasht Ko Dekh Kar Ghar Yaad Aaya
[veerani=desolation, dasht=desert]

ham kahan ke daanaa the?kis hunar mein yaktaa the?
be-sabab huaa 'GHalib' dushman aasmaan apna..
[daanaa=wise, yaktaa=matchless, besabab=without a cause, asmaan=heaven]

ranj se khugar hua insan to mit jata hai ranj
mushkilein mujh par pari itni ke asan ho gain
[ranj=grieves, khugar=habitual]

yun hi gar rota raha ‘Ghalib’, to ae ahl-e-jahan
dekhna in bastiyon ko tum ki wiran ho gain
[ahl-e-jahan=people of the world, viraan=desolate]

Jab tawaqqo hi uth gayi "Ghalib"
kyon kisi ka gila kare koi
[tawaqqo=hope, gila=complain]

chipak raha hai badan par lahoo se pairaahan
hamaaree  jeb ko ab  haajat-e-rafoo  kya hai ?
[lahoo=blood, pairaahan=attire, jeb=pocket, haajat-e-rafu= need for darning]

jalaa hai jicm jahaaN dil bhee jal gaya hoga
kuredate  ho jo ab  raakh,  justjoo kya  hai ?
[kuredte=sifting, raakh=ashes, justjoo=search]

ragoN meiN  dauDte firne  ke ham naheeN qaayal
jab aaNkh hee se na Tapka to fir lahoo kya hai ?
[ragon=veins, qaayal=worth]

rahee na taaqat-e-guftaar, aur agar ho bhee
to kis ummeed pe  kahiye ke aarzoo  kya hai ?
[taaqat-e-guftaar=strength to speak, aarzoo=desire]

Koi Soorat Nazar Nahin Aati

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai
[mu'ayyan = definite]

Qaid e heyaat-o-band-e gham asal me dono ek hain
maut se pehle aadmi gham se nizaat paye kyu
[Qaid-e-hayaat=bondage of life, band-e-gham=succession of sorrow, nizaat=salvation]

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai

kahun kis se main ke kya hai, shab-e-gham buri bala hai
mujhe kya bura tha marna agar ek bar hotaa.
[shab-e-gham=nights full of grief, bala=affliction]

hue mar ke ham jo ruswa, hue kyon na gharq-e-daryaa,
na kabhi janaazah uThtaa, na kahin mazaar hotaa.
[rusva=disgrace, gharq-e-dariya= drown in a river, janaza=a type of open coffin, mazaar=shrine]

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai

Jaan di, di hui usi ki thi
haq to yun hai ke haq adaa na huaa
[haq=truth/god, adaa=pay]

phir mujhe diidaa-e-tar yaad aayaa
dil jigar tashnaa-e-Fariyaad aayaa
[diidaa-e-tar=vet eyes, jigar tashnaa= intense longing, fariyad=cry]

dam liyaa thaa na qayaamat ne hanoz
phir teraa vaqt-e-safar yaad aayaa
[qayaamat=doomsday, hanoz=yet, waqt-e-safar=time of travel]

zindagi mein to wo mehfil se uTha daytay thay
dekhooN ab mer gaye, per kon uThata hai mujhay

mohabbat me nahi hai fark, jeene aur marne ka
usi ko dekh kar jeete hain, jis kafir pe dum nikle
[kaafir=infidel]

zara kar zor seene par, ki teere-pur-sitam nikle
jo wo nikle to dil nikle, jo dil nikle to dum nikle
[teer-e--pursitam=pain giving arrow]

Ki Mere Qatal Ke Baad Us Ne Jafa Se Toba
Haye Is Zood Pashaiman Ka Pashaiman Hona
[jafa=anguish, tauba=repented, zood pashaiman=who repents readily]

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai
neend kyon raat bhar naheen aatee ?"


jaanta hoon sawab-e-taat- o-zohad
[savaab=Heavenly reward, taat-o-zohad=praying and piety]

imaaN mujhe roke hai jo khiNche hai mujhe  kufr
ka'aba   mere  peeche  hai  kaleesa  mere  aage
[imaan=belief, kufr=disbelief, kaaba=shrine, kaleesa=church]

humko maaloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin
dil ko khusH rakHne ko 'GHalib' ye khayaal achcha hai

Had chahiye saza mein, aqoobat ke waste
Aakhir gunah gaar hon kafir nahin hon main
[had=limit, uqoobat=harshness, gunahgaar=criminal, kafir=disbeliever]

KHuda ke waaste parda na kaabe se uThaa zaalim
kaheeN 'eisa na ho yaaN bhee wohee kaafir sanam nikle

kahaaN maiKHaane ka darwaaza 'GHalib' aur kahaaN waaiz
par itana jaante haiN kal wo jaata tha ke ham nikle
[maikhana=tavern, waaiz=preacher]

jaanta hoon sawab-e-taat- o-zohad
par tabiyat ab idhar nahi aati


Hai Kuch Aisi Hi Baat jo Chup Hun
Warna Kya Baat kar Nhi Ati


Hum vahaN haiN jahaN se hum ko BHee
KuCCHH hamari KHabar nahiN aati

phir tere kuche ko jata hai khayal
dil-e-gumgashta magar yad aya
[koocha = a narrow street/lane, dil-e-gumgashta = missing]

Bana ke fakiron ka hum bhes ghalib,
Tamasha E ahle karam dekhte hain.
[tamasha=display, ahl-e-karam =generous people]

ae saknan-e-kucha-e-dildar dekhna
tum ko kahin jo Ghalib-e-ashufta sar mile
[sakinan=inhabitants, kucha=small alley, ashufta=lunatic]

Bak raha hoon junoon mein kya kya kuch
Kuch na samjhe khuda kare koi

Hum vahaN haiN jahaN se hum ko BHee
KuCCHH hamari KHabar nahiN aati

marte haiN aarzoo meiN marne ki
maut aatee hai par naheeN aatee

kaaba'a kis muNh se jaaoge 'GHalib'
sharm  tumko  magar  naheeN  aatee

Koi umeed bar nahin aati
koi surat nazar nahin aati


this qawwali by rahat fateh ali khan is based on couplets by Mirza Ghalib, these couplets are taken from various ghazals written by Ghalib.

One cannot appreciate ghalib until he has some taste for sarcastic humor, Ghalib goes on to criticize common misconceptions, contradicting phrases, by his sarcastic lines and taunts.

Ghalib writes extensively about love and its negative effects, how one starts drinking when destroyed in love. And how a beauty attracts someone, and is treated something divine.

This particular qawwali is based on the couplets that go with the lines "koi umeed bar nahin aati", the situations where we lose hopes and feel exasperated.

I have not translated any lines for two reasons 1.) its fun to try to understand a line with the given meanings. and 2.) A line can have multiple meanings, you can form different meanings and might relate more to one meaning than the other. So if you have any doubt feel free to post a comment :)

Enjoy Ghalib

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Afreen Afreen

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Afreen Afreen 
Lyrics - Javed Akhtar

Traditional Version



Remixed Version



Husn -e- jana ki tareef mumkin nahi
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen
Tu bhi dekhe agar to kahe humnasheen
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen 
[Husn-e-Jana = Beauty of the beloved, Afreen = Excellent, Humnasheen = companion]

Aisa dekha nahi khoobsurat koi
Jism jaise Ajanta ki moorat koi
Jism jaise nigaahon pe jaadu koi
Jism naghma koi, jism khushboo koi
Jism jaise machalti hui raagni
Jism jaise mehekti hui chandni
Jism jaise ke khilta hua ek chaman
Jism jaise ke sooraj ki pehli kiran
Jism tarsha hua dil-kash o dil-nasheen

[Khoobsurat=Beautiful, Jism=Body, Ajanta ki Moorat= statues of Ajanta , Naghma = Song,

Machalti Ragini = the delicate fluctuating notes in a complicated Raagini (kind of classical music),

Chaman= Garden, Tarsha=skillfully carved(used for sculptures), Dilkash=Lovely, Dilnasheen=Sweet heart ]

Sandali sandali, marmari marmari
Afreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

[sandali=sandal wood , marmari= marble]

Husn e jana ki tareef mumkin nahi
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

Chehra ek phool ki tarah shadaab hai
Chehra uska hai ya koi mehtaab hai
Chehra jaise ghazal, chehra jaan e ghazal
Chehra jaise kali, chehra jaise kanwal
Chehra jaise tasawwur bhi tasveer bhi
Chehra ek khwaab bhi, chehra taabeer bhi
Chehra koi alif laila ki dastaan
Chehra ek pal yaqeen, chehra ek pal gumaan
Chehra jaisa ki chehra kaheen bhi naheen

[Shadaab = fresh, mehtaab=light of moon, kanwal=lotus,

Tasavvur=imagination, tasveer= picture, tabeer= interpretation of a dream,

Yaqeen= certainity, gumaan= doubt  ]

Maahroo maahroo, mehjabeen mehjabeen
aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

[mahroo= face of moon, , mehjabeen= beauty like moon]

husn e jana ki tareef mumkin nahi
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

aankhein dekhi to mein daikhta reh gaya
jaam do aur donon he do aatisha
aankhein ya maikade ke yeh do baab hein
aankhein inko kahoon ya kahoon khuwaab hein
aankhein neechi hui to haya bun gayi
aankhein unchi hui to dua bun gayi
aankhein uth ker jhuki to ada bun gayi
aankhein jhuk ker uthi to qaza bun gayi
Aankhein jin mein qaid aasman o zameen

[jaam=goblet of wine, aatisha= burning , maikade=wine house, baab=doors

Haya= modesty, dua= prayer, ada= charm/grace, qaza= judgement   ]

Nargisi nargisi, surmayi surmayi
aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

[nargisi = like the nargis flower, surmayi = at break of dawn]

husn e jana ki tareef mumkin nahi
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

zulf-e-janaan ki bhi lambi hai daastan
zulf ki mere dil par hain parchiyaan
zulf jaisay ke umdi howi ho ghata
zulf jaisay ke ho koi kaali bala
zulf uljhay to duniya pareshaan ho
zulf suljhay to yeh zeest aasan ho
zulf bikhray siyah raat chaanay lagay
zulf lehraye to raat ganay lagay
zulf zanjeer hai phir bhi kitni haseen

[umdi = gathered, ghata=clouds, kaali bala = evil spirits,

Zeest=life and existence, siyah raat= darkness of the night]

Reshmi reshmi, amberi amberi
aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

[reshmi= silky, amberi= fragrant ]

Husn e jana ki tareef mumkin nahi
Aafreen aafreen, aafreen aafreen

Afreen Afreen is one of those songs that has attempted to portray beauty in a song, which is a great attempt in itself and it is done so beautifully in this song. each verse is like a visual of different natural beautiful things. And has compared to the beauty of his beloved. Starting from Jism (body) , Chehra(face), Aakhen(eyes), and Zulf (Tresses). Each and every line in itself makes you imagine something more beautiful than the other. And the praise is still not possible. So true, "Husn-e-jaana ki tareef mumkin nahin."

Tere bin - Uzair Jaswal

Tere bin - Uzair Jaswal
It was long back, around a year ago when i first heard this song, and it was stuck in my head for a long time, I thought may be its temporary. But recently i was remembering its lyrics and listened to it again and again, and the melody just mesmerizes

Chanda chandani bikhere
tu hai nahi paas mere
Ab toh aajao mere sohniya

Sooni tere bin yeh raatein sooni
Sooni saari baatein
yu na humain tarpaway sohniyaaa

Tere bin.. nahi lagay jiyaa
Tere bin.. ab to aaja piya
Tere bin.. nahi laagay jiyaa

Yaad aayen teri baatein,
Nahi bhayen barsaatein
Tu hai meri zindigani sohnyaa

Tere bin mere naina kahin,
Payein na chaina
Tu hai dil ki kahani sohniyaa

Tere bin.. nahi lagay jiyaa
Tere bin.. ab to aaja piya
Tere bin.. nahi laagay jiyaa

Tum jo gaye pal tham gaye
Bikhray woh khwab tere meray
Dil ye kahay ab jo milay
Keh dunga main tum ho meray

Tere bin.. nahi lagay jiyaa
Tere bin.. ab tou aaja piya
Tere bin.. nahi laagay jiyaa
Tere bin.. ab toh aaja piyaaa


Indeed a sweet and melodious song, but each time you listen a picture comes to our mind of somebody whom we are missing a lot at the moment..

The very first line with 'chanda chaandni bikhere' is symbol of a full moon night which being in love you must have experienced, how a full moon looks just so romantic. Mostly when you are living away from each other and are having a conversation on phone and you happen to see the moon, you just can't stop yourself from mentioning it and you feel a sense of proximity wth your partner that very moment :) That's the beauty of the Moon.

He remembers her and misses her presence in front of his eyes, while rains makes him feel even worse.. And he makes a resolve if they meet again he will express his love for her completely :)

Paani diyan chhallan - Mannat (Feroz Khan & Rani Randeep)

Here is one punjabi song from a punjabi movie named 'Mannat' sung by Feroz Khan & Rani Randeep. The song describes a perfect date, an atmosphere everyone wants when he/she is with his/her loved one. I'll say don't just listen, imagine the song and you will discover the true beauty of the song.

The song goes like -

[ Boy to his girl- ]

apaan kite ikalle beh ke
dil de dard vandayiye
[ May we sit somewhere in solitude, sharing sorrows of our hearts ]

tu hoven ik main hovan
kul duniya nu bhull jayiye
[ Let there be just you and me, and we may forget rest of the world ]

paani diyan chhallan hoven
tu hoven main hovan
[ May it be just you, me and water-ripples ]

pyar diyan gallan hoven
tu hoven main hovan -2
[ May it be just you, me and talks of love ]

kuchh gallan tu karen
kuchh gallan main karaan
mukke na sadi gall baat
[ You say some thing, i say some thing and the conversation may grow endlessly ]

paani diyan chhallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan

pyar diyan gallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan 

moran di run jhun hove

chidiyan diyan chehkan hoven

[ May there be dancing of peacocks
 and singing of birds ]
  

paunan wich ghuliyan nazuk

kaliyan diyan mehkan hovan

[ Flower buds' sensitive aroma may fill the surroundings ]

rim jhim jehi hoyi hove

tu hoven main hovan

hor na koi hove

tu hoven main hovan

[ May it be just you, me, a light drizzle and no one else ]

kuchh gallan tu karen

kuchh gallan main karaan

sutti payi hove kaynaat

[ You say some thing, i say some thing and the rest of the world is sleeping ]

paani diyan chhallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan

pyar diyan gallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan 

punneyan da chann v apne

joban te aaya hove
[ May the full moon is also in its most bright form ]

masti wich aa ke saara

aalam nasheyaya hove

[ The whole world may be intoxicated with playfulness ]

masti hi masti hove

tu hoven main hovan

[ May it be just you, me and playfulness ]

ikk rabb di hasti hove

tu hoven main hovan

[ May it be just you, me and God's figure ]

kuchh gallan tu karen

kuchh gallan main karaan

umron lameri ho jaye raat

[ You say some thing, i say some thing and we may spend a lifetime in a single night ]

paani diyan chhallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan

pyar diyan gallan hoven

tu hoven main hovan

aaja aj likh hi deyiye

ikk duje naam jindagani
[ Lets write our lives in each other's name today ]

umra layi reh jandi hai

koi na koi pyar nishani

[ Some signs of love last for a lifetime ]
Here sign of love refers to having a child :)


[ Girl to her boy- ]

ae mere dilbar jani

tu hoven main hovan

[ O my beloved, may there be just you and me ]

ikk sadi pyar nishani

tu hoven main hovan

[ May it be just you, me and the sign of our love ]

kuchh gallan tu kare

kuchh gallan main karaan

mukke na saadi mulakaat

[ You say some thing, i say some thing and may our meeting doesn't end ever ]

[ Boy to his girl- ]

ae mere dilbar jani

tu hoven main hovan

[ Duet- ]

ik sadi pyar nishani

tu hoven main hovan

hoo tu hoven main hovan

After listening to this song, you will definitely wish for something similar in your life ...
Even if you don't understand Punjabi, you can watch the video one time, and second time, you're simply gonna love it when you close your eyes and imagine everything in your head. :)

Dil Janiya – Hadiqa Kiyani

Hi everyone,

The song is from the movie Bol, A phenomenal movie which talks about a very sensitive issue. Please do watch it’s a personal recommendation :)

Inkaar karde, ikraar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Jo yeh dil karta hai, ik baari kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
[You can choose to refuse or accept, my love, o my love,
But whatever your heart says, do it once, my love, o my love]

Inkaar karde, ikraar karde … is a deeply touching song that captures the agony of a girl’s heart. She is completely in love with her man but the guy seems to be unable to make up his mind for sure. She basically urges him to simply follow his heart.

Teri baah phadke, teri lad lag ke, channa main bhul gayi
Sadh sadke swaha hoyian saj sadran, jindri rul gayi haye
Kisi hor nu jaan dil daar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Ik vaar chhadh ke lakh vaar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
[Holding your arm, being with you, I was forgotten,
I have rotten due to crying continuously, my life is spoilt
Go and make someone else your lover, my love, o my love
Leave me once, and do it (love someone else) a hundred times, my love, o my love.]

The girl realizes how she has forgotten herself and has become completely lost in his love. She is reminded of the ordeals she has had faced for him. She is not at all permitting her love to Leave her once (and for all). Rather what she means is this – ‘You dare love someone else!’

Kadi jaan padna ae kadi gair lagna ae, teri ki marzi
Kadi hona hai fida kadi rehna hai judaa, teri ki marzi haye
Din apne da, itebaar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Jinna karna ae soch vichar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
[Sometimes you are ready to die for me, sometimes you act as a complete stranger, what's your wish?
Sometimes you forfeit yourself for me, sometimes you stay away, what is your wish
Believe your own heart, my love, o my love.
You can do as much thinking as you may have to, my love, o my love.]

Inkaar karde, ikraar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Jo yeh dil karta hai, ik baari kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Jinna karna ae soch vichaar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya
Jinna karna ae soch vichaar kar lai, dil janiya O dil janiya

She has no problem with her love taking time to think. But she demands a final and straight-forward response from him. The core point being – she wants him to believe in his heart.

The song has not only got a deep meaning, but excellent sound track as well. And Hadiqa Kiani’s melodious voice to top it all. In addition to highlighting this song’s beauty, I’d personally like to urge all the people out there to whom this song may apply (be it a boy or a girl). ‘Har kisi ko nahi milta yahaan pyaar zindagi mein’. Someone doesn’t love you because you are special. Rather, you are special because there is a person who will always love you no matter what. If you are indeed lucky to have found such a person in your life, don’t act stupid. Never – ever let her (or him) go.

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