Today, a reader Pissu Perera mailed me asking for the English translations of 2 Hindi songs from one of my favourite movies - Rang de Basanti.

"hi, nice blog. i’ve been looking for the english translations of khoon chala and roobaroo with no luck so far.. is there anyway you can help me out? thanks"

"The DVD I got doesn’t have subtitles for the songs and while I can more or less understand dialogues the meanings of songs are above me. The film struck a chord in me so I was just wondering what they meant. I managed to find the translation of Luka Chupi and it is heart breaking."
 

"PS - your post on RDB and the critiquing contest gave me goosebumps just like the film did. Great post."

As the translations were not be found anywhere, I decided to translate the two songs and to post them here for others as well.

Thanks Pissu, I enjoyed listening to the songs with an understanding of the meaning of the lines - they’re beautiful! 

So, here are the lyrics and their translations:

Song: Roobaroo Roshani (face-to-face with light)
Film: Rang de Basanti (Paint me Yellow)
Singers: A. R. Rehman, Naresh Iyer

Watch the song video here  

Translated on Oct 26, 2007 1:14 – 1:49am, Singapore

Hindi Lyrics

English translation

aye saala

O cool

abhi abhi

Just now

huaa yaqeen

I got convinced

ki aag hai

that there is fire

mujh mein kahi

somewhere within me

hui subaah

Dawn arrived

main chal gaya

I walked ahead

suraj ko main

The sun I

nigal gaya

swallowed down

roo-ba-roo

 Face-to-face

roshni (2) hai

 There is light (meaning: finally I see the light)

 

 

jo gumshuda

That (as good as/almost) lost

sa khwaab tha

The dream that was

voh mil gaya

That has been found

voh khil gaya

that has blossomed

woh loha tha

That was iron

pighal gaya

It’s melted

Kheencha kheencha

Stretching stretching

machal gaya

Is jumping with joy

sitaar mein

Into sitar

badal gaya

It has turned

roo-ba-roo

Face-to-face

roshni (2) hai

There is light

 

 

(dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera

The smoke has moved away, my sky has opened up

nayi dagar naya safar mera

It’s a new road, a new journey of mine

jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera

If you can become my co-traveller (companion) in this journey

nazar mila zara) - 2

Let your eyes face mine (meaning: Join me)

 

 

aandhiyon se jhagad rahi hai lau meri

The flame within me is fighting with storms

ab mashaalon si badh rahi hai lau meri

Now the flame within me is growing in size like torches do

naamo nishaan

Any remnants (name or mark)

rahe na rahe

Remain or not

ye kaaravaan

This caravan

rahe na rahe

Remains or not

ujaale mein

The lights I have

pee gaya

Gulped down

roshan huaa

I’ve lit up

jee gaya

I’ve started living

kyon sehte rahein?

Why should we go on tolerating?

roo-ba-roo roshni  (2) hai

Face-to-face there is light (or I’m facing light)

 

 

dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera

The smoke has moved away, my sky has opened up

nayi dagar naya safar mera

It’s a new road, a new journey of mine

jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera

If you can become my co-traveller (companion) in this journey

nazar mila zara

Let your eyes face mine (meaning: Join me)

roo-ba-roo roshni  (2) hai

Face-to-face there is light (or I’m facing light)

aye saala

O cool

 

Song: Khoon chala Khoon chala (Blood travels blood travels)
Film: Rang de Basanti (Paint me Yellow)
Singer: Mohil Chauhan

Watch the song video here

Translated on Oct 26, 2007 1:55 – 2:11am, Singapore

Hindi Lyrics

English translation

kuchh kar guzarne ko

To do something worthwhile

khoon chala khoon chala

Blood travels blood travels

aankhon ke sheeshe mein

In the glass (pupil) of the eyes

utarne ko khoon chala

To get into, blood travels

badan se tapak kar

Having dropped from the body

zameen se lipat kar

Embracing the soil

galiyon se, raston se, ubhar kar

Through narrow lanes, through roads, having emerged

umad kar

Growing in size (swelling)

naye rang bharne ko

To fill with new colours

khoon chala khoon chala

Blood travels blood travels

 

 

khuli-si chhot lekar

Carrying an open injury

badi-si tees lekar

Carrying a big cry

ahista ahista

Slowly slowly

 

 

sawaalon ki ungli

The (pointed) finger of questions

jawaabon ki mutthi

The fist (showing strength) of answers

sang lekar

Carrying with it

Khoon chala

Blood travels

 

 

kuchh kar guzarne ko

To do something worthwhile

khoon chala khoon chala

Blood travels blood travels

aankhon ke sheeshe mein

In the glass (pupil) of the eyes

utarne ko khoon chala

To get into, blood travels

badan se tapak kar

Having dropped from the body

zameen se lipat kar

Embracing the soil

galiyon se, raston se, ubhar kar

Through narrow lanes, through roads, having emerged

umad kar

Growing in size (swelling)

naye rang bharne ko

To fill with new colours

khoon chala khoon chala

Blood travels blood travels

 

 

khoon chala (6)

Blood travels (6)