Song Title: Agar Bewafa Tujhko Pehchan Jaate
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Film: Raat Ke Andhere Mein (1969)
Lyricist: Prem Dhawan
Music Director: Prem Dhawan
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English Translation of Lyrics
If I had known you were unfaithful
I swear by God, I would never have loved you
If I had known this would be the end of love
I wouldn’t have dared to set my heart on you
If I had known you were unfaithful
I swear by God, I would never have loved you
Those whom you thought were my betrayals
Were actually the compulsions of my life
Our love had to face a test
Those few days of separation — they were brief
If our love had been true
You wouldn’t have faltered in your complaints
If I had known you were unfaithful
I swear by God, I would never have loved you
What we suffered, only I know
Which torment it was, and what I endured
Still in my eyes stays your face
In every breath came your message
If you had known you would accuse me
I would never have loved you, even by mistake
If I had known you were unfaithful
I swear by God, I would never have loved you
Note: Hindi readers should refer to the original lyrics, not the translated version.
In-Depth Song Analysis
Film’s Context
Raat Ke Andhere Mein (1969) is an emotional drama that delves into themes of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. The song marks a pivotal moment in the film’s narrative that reveals the protagonist’s inner turmoil and pain caused by misunderstanding and perceived disloyalty.
Lyrical Quality & Alignment
Prem Dhawan’s lyrics are simple yet powerful, capturing the emotional turmoil and regret through straightforward expression. The repeated refrain intensifies the narrator’s feeling of heartbreak and denial, perfectly aligned with the film’s sombre and introspective tone.
Musical Composition Analysis
Composed in Raag Bhimpalasi, which is traditionally associated with longing and melancholy, the song’s melody naturally reflects its tragic theme. The 8-beat Keherwa Taal keeps a steady rhythm that supports the emotive delivery of Mohammad Rafi, allowing nuanced expressions of grief and regret to unfold.
Vocal Nuances & Emotional Expressions (Line-by-Line)
Initial Verse
Agar bewafa tujhko pehchaan jaate (If I had known you were unfaithful): Mohammad Rafi’s voice opens with tender vulnerability. His soft modulation and subtle vibrato communicate shock and emotional pain, while his phrasing gently expresses disbelief and sorrow. The subtle pauses and dynamic shifts emphasize the raw, personal betrayal he feels, allowing listeners to connect intimately with the heartfelt confession.
Khuda ki kasam hum muhabbat na karte (I swear by God, I would never have loved you): The solemn tone in Rafi’s voice reinforces the seriousness of the vow. His control and steady intonation convey a deep sense of regret and earnestness. This line is delivered with weight and conviction, expressing the pain of investing love where it was not deserved.
Jo maloom hota ye anjaam-e-ulfat to (If I had known this would be the end of love): Here, the voice rises subtly in pitch and intensity, portraying tragic realization. Rafi’s delicate phrasing lends dramatic depth, capturing the inevitability of heartbreak and the sorrow of unexpected outcomes.
Dil ko lagane ki zurrat na karte (I wouldn’t have dared to set my heart on you): This line is sung with soft introspection. The lingering notes and gentle tempo communicate vulnerability and remorse, as if the singer is lamenting his own risk in trusting love. His emotive delivery invites empathy and reinforces the theme of guarded affection.
Agar bewafa tujhko pehchaan jaate (If I had known you were unfaithful): The repeated refrain is delivered with resigned sadness. The voice softens, almost like a sigh, underscoring the pain of acceptance and the cyclical nature of heartbreak.
1st Stanza
Jinhein tumne samjha meri bewafai (Those whom you thought were my betrayals): Rafi blends hurt pride and defensiveness in his tone. Slight roughness adds texture, reflecting the emotional turmoil of being misunderstood and unjustly accused. The phrase carries a sense of frustration mingled with sorrow.
Meri zindagi ki woh majbooriyan thin (Were actually the compulsions of my life): This phrase is paced deliberately, with subtle vibrato underscoring helplessness and inevitability. The vocal delivery conveys a resigned explanation, reflective of circumstances beyond control.
Hamari muhabbat ka ik imtehan tha (Our love had to face a test): The tone gently rises with solemnity, evoking endurance. Rafi’s controlled modulation portrays the steadfastness required to face relational trials, reinforcing the song’s theme of hardship.
Ye do din ki thodi si jo dooriyan thin (Those few days of separation — they were brief): Soft and drawn out, this line emphasizes the sharp pain of even brief separations. The tender delivery expresses a poignant yearning and the weight of distance despite its brevity.
Agar sacchi hoti muhabbat hamari to (If our love had been true): The vocal pitch subtly ascends here, conveying hopeful longing and wistfulness. This modulation evokes the dream of enduring, sincere love amid struggle.
Ghabrake tum yun shikayat na karte (You wouldn’t have faltered in your complaints): The delivery is tender and pleading. Rafi’s voice balances gentle reproach with deep yearning, embodying vulnerability and a plea for understanding.
Agar bewafa tujhko pehchaan jaate (If I had known you were unfaithful): The refrain returns with reflective softness, echoing the persistent emotional ache.
2nd Stanza
Jo hum pe hai gujri humiin jaante hain (What we suffered, only I know): The voice deepens to a grave tone, communicating solitude and profound personal pain. Rafi’s solemn vocals emphasize the weight of unshared suffering.
Sitam kaun sa hai nahi jo uthaya (Which torment it was, and what I endured): Subtle vocal cracks reveal exhaustion and vulnerability. His expressive delivery captures the burden of torment carried silently.
Nigahon mein phir bhi rahi teri soorat (Still in my eyes stays your face): Warmth floods Rafi’s vocals here, reflecting the lingering memory and affection despite pain. This emotional contrast enriches the narrative of complex love.
Har ek saans mein tera paigham aaya (In every breath came your message): The elongated phrasing and careful dynamics illustrate the omnipresence of the beloved’s influence. The haunting vocalization evokes intense longing and deep emotional connection.
Agar jaante tum hi ilzam doge to (If you had known you would accuse me): The voice becomes firmer yet laden with hurt pride and sorrow. Rafi’s tone poignantly expresses the turmoil of being unjustly blamed.
Bhoole se bhi hum to ulfat na karte (I would never have loved you, even by mistake): Sustained melancholic notes communicate irrevocable heartbreak. The solemnity in Rafi’s singing underlines the finality of lost love.
Agar bewafa tujhko pehchaan jaate (If I had known you were unfaithful): The song closes with a fading, sorrowful refrain, leaving a lingering sense of resignation and melancholy.
Closing Thoughts
Mohammad Rafi’s expert vocal nuances breathe life into Prem Dhawan’s deeply reflective lyrics. Supported by the haunting melodies of Raag Bhimpalasi and the measured rhythm of Keherwa Taal, this song remains a timeless anthem of love, pain, and regret in Hindi cinema.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani