Song: Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salami Le Le
Singer: Mohammad Rafi | Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni | Music: Naushad Ali
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This song is a poignant farewell to love, filled with melancholy, longing, and a sense of finality. It captures the emotions of a lover who is preparing to leave his beloved, acknowledging the beauty of their shared moments but also the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics are deeply poetic, rich with metaphors and imagery, while the composition is soulful and evocative. Mohammed Rafi’s rendition adds layers of emotion, making the song a timeless classic.
The Lyrics:
The song is a heartfelt farewell from a lover who is about to leave his beloved forever. He compares the night to a bride, symbolizing the beauty and transience of their final moments together. He expresses gratitude for the love he received, even though it was never fully reciprocated. The lyrics reflect themes of sacrifice, unfulfilled love, and the inevitability of parting, all wrapped in a sense of poetic resignation.
The Lyricist:
Shakeel Badayuni was a master of Urdu poetry, known for his ability to convey deep emotions through simple yet profound words. His lyrics often explored themes of love, separation, and longing, and this song is no exception. The metaphors of the night, the flame, and the moth are classic examples of his poetic brilliance, adding depth and universality to the song.
The Music Director:
Naushad Ali, one of the greatest music directors in Indian cinema, composed this song with a blend of classical and semi-classical elements. The melody is haunting and melancholic, perfectly complementing the lyrical content. The use of traditional instruments like the sarangi and tabla adds to the song’s emotional depth, creating a timeless piece of music.
The Singer:
Mohammed Rafi’s rendition of this song is nothing short of magical. His voice captures the pain, longing, and resignation of the lover, making every word resonate with the listener. Rafi’s ability to convey subtle emotions through his singing elevates the song, turning it into an unforgettable experience. Let’s try to understand the emotions expressed by the iconic singer.
Initial Verse:
Ye Raat, Jaise Dulhan, Ban Gayi, Charagon Se (This night, like a bride, has been adorned with lamps): The singer compares the night to a bride adorned with lights, symbolizing its beauty and significance. The tone is wistful, reflecting the bittersweet nature of the moment.
Karunga Aur Ujala, Main Dil Ke Dagon Se (I will create even more light from the scars of my heart): The singer vows to illuminate the night further with the light from his heart’s scars. The vocals convey a sense of sacrifice and emotional depth.
Aaj Ki Raat Mere, Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Tonight, take the salute of my heart): The singer asks his beloved to accept his heartfelt farewell. The tone is tender yet sorrowful, reflecting the finality of the moment.
Kal Teri Bazm Se, Deewana, Chala Jayega (Tomorrow, the mad lover will leave your gathering): The singer declares that he will leave the beloved’s gathering tomorrow. The vocals carry a sense of inevitability and resignation.
Shamma Rah Jayegi, Parwana Chala Jayega (The flame will remain, but the moth will fly away): The singer compares himself to a moth that will leave the flame behind. The tone is melancholic, emphasizing the pain of separation.
Aaj Ki Raat Mere, Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Tonight, take the salute of my heart): The singer asks his beloved to accept his heartfelt farewell. The tone is tender yet sorrowful, reflecting the finality of the moment.
1st Verse:
Teri Mehfil, Tere Jalve Hon Mubarak Tujhko (May your gathering and your splendor be blessed): The singer blesses his beloved’s gatherings and beauty. The vocals are filled with admiration and affection.
Teri Ulfat Se Nahin Aaj Bhi Inkaar Mujhe (Even today, I do not deny your love): The singer acknowledges that his beloved’s love was never fully his. The tone is tinged with regret and acceptance.
Tera Maykhana Salaamat Rahe, Ae Jaan-E-Wafa (May your tavern remain safe, oh beloved of loyalty): The singer wishes for his beloved’s world to remain intact. The vocals convey a sense of selflessness and devotion.
Muskuraakar Tu Zara Dekh Le Ek Baar Mujhe (Smile and look at me just once): The singer asks his beloved to look at him one last time with a smile. The tone is pleading, reflecting his longing for a final moment of connection.
Phir Tere Pyar Ka Mastana, Chala Jayega (Then, the intoxicated lover of your love will leave): The singer reiterates that he will leave, intoxicated by his beloved’s love. The vocals carry a sense of finality and sorrow.
Kal Teri Bazm Se, Deewana, Chala Jayega (Tomorrow, the mad lover will leave your gathering): The singer declares that he will leave the beloved’s gathering tomorrow. The vocals carry a sense of inevitability and resignation.
Shamma Rah Jayegi, Parwana Chala Jayega (The flame will remain, but the moth will fly away): The singer compares himself to a moth that will leave the flame behind. The tone is melancholic, emphasizing the pain of separation.
Aaj Ki Raat Mere, Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Tonight, take the salute of my heart): The singer asks his beloved to accept his heartfelt farewell. The tone is tender yet sorrowful, reflecting the finality of the moment.
2nd Verse:
Maine Chaha Ki Bata Doon, Main Haqeeqat Apni (I wanted to reveal my true feelings): The singer wanted to reveal the truth of his love. The tone is reflective, filled with unspoken emotions.
Tune Lekin Na Mera Raaz-E-Mohabbat Samjha (But you did not understand the secret of my love): The singer laments that his beloved never understood the depth of his love. The vocals convey a sense of frustration and heartbreak.
Meri Uljhan, Mere Halaat Yahan Tak Pahunche (My restlessness and my condition have reached this point): The singer describes how his pain and circumstances have reached a breaking point. The tone is anguished, reflecting his emotional turmoil.
Teri Aankhon Ne Mere Pyar Ko Nafrat Samjha (Your eyes mistook my love for hatred): The singer feels that his love was mistaken for hatred. The vocals are filled with sorrow and disillusionment.
Ab Teri Raah Se Begana, Chala Jayega (Now, a stranger will walk away from your path): The singer declares that he will become a stranger to his beloved’s path. The tone is resolute, emphasizing his decision to leave.
Kal Teri Bazm Se, Deewana, Chala Jayega (Tomorrow, the mad lover will leave your gathering): The singer declares that he will leave the beloved’s gathering tomorrow. The vocals carry a sense of inevitability and resignation.
Shamma Rah Jayegi, Parwana Chala Jayega (The flame will remain, but the moth will fly away): The singer compares himself to a moth that will leave the flame behind. The tone is melancholic, emphasizing the pain of separation.
Aaj Ki Raat Mere, Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Tonight, take the salute of my heart): The singer asks his beloved to accept his heartfelt farewell. The tone is tender yet sorrowful, reflecting the finality of the moment.
3rd Verse:
Tu Mera Saath Na De Raah-E-Mohabbat Mein Sanam (If you do not accompany me on the path of love, oh beloved): The singer acknowledges that his beloved will not accompany him on the path of love. The tone is resigned, reflecting his acceptance of reality.
Chalte Chalte Main Kisi Raah Pe Mud Jaunga (While walking, I will turn onto some other path): The singer says he will turn onto a different path while walking away. The vocals convey a sense of aimlessness and loss.
Kahkashan Chand Sitare Tere Chumenge Kadam (The galaxies, moon, and stars will kiss your feet): The singer imagines the stars and moon kissing his beloved’s footsteps. The tone is poetic, filled with admiration and longing.
Tere Raste Ki Main Ek Dhool Hoon, Ud Jaunga (I am but a speck of dust on your path; I will fly away): The singer compares himself to dust on his beloved’s path, destined to vanish. The vocals are filled with humility and sorrow.
Saath Mere Mera Afsana, Chala Jayega (With me, my story will also leave): The singer says his story will leave with him. The tone is melancholic, emphasizing the finality of his departure.
Kal Teri Bazm Se, Deewana, Chala Jayega (Tomorrow, the mad lover will leave your gathering): The singer declares that he will leave the beloved’s gathering tomorrow. The vocals carry a sense of inevitability and resignation.
Shamma Rah Jayegi, Parwana Chala Jayega (The flame will remain, but the moth will fly away): The singer compares himself to a moth that will leave the flame behind. The tone is melancholic, emphasizing the pain of separation.
Aaj Ki Raat Mere, Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Tonight, take the salute of my heart): The singer asks his beloved to accept his heartfelt farewell. The tone is tender yet sorrowful, reflecting the finality of the moment.
In conclusion, “Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salaami Le Le” is a masterpiece of love, longing, and farewell. Shakeel Badayuni’s poetic lyrics, Naushad’s soulful composition, and Mohammed Rafi’s emotive rendition come together to create a song that resonates deeply with listeners. The song’s themes of unrequited love, sacrifice, and parting are universal, making it a timeless classic in Indian cinema.
Our valued non-Hindi readers are advised to go through the translation for better understanding of the song.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani