Song Title: Din Dhal Jaaye Haaye, Raat Na Jaaye
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Film: Guide (1965)
Lyricist: Shailendra
Music Director: Sachin Dev Burman
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English Translation of Lyrics
Aa aa aa, the day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go
You do not come, your memory torments me – 2), the day fades away
Those who left the whole world for love and became infamous
This is the condition caused by those very hands, trying to hold the heart
They were once ours, now they are strangers
The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go
You do not come, your memory torments me, the day fades away
Just such drizzle, just such fountains, just such was the rain
Separated from oneself and alien to the world, we two were together
Why doesn’t that monsoon come again
The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go
You do not come, your memory torments me, the day fades away
No matter how close you are to my heart, yet how far you seem
You and I are troubled in the heart, both are helpless
In such a state, who should appease whom
The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go
You do not come, your memory torments me
The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go
You do not come, your memory torments me, the day fades away
Note: Hindi readers should refer to the original lyrics, not the translated version.
In-Depth Song Analysis
Film’s Context
The 1965 film “Guide” is acclaimed for its profound storytelling and uncommon emotional depth. The song “Din Dhal Jaaye Haaye, Raat Na Jaaye” captures the anguished longing of the protagonist, reflective of the complex relationships and inner turmoil that pervade the film. At this point in the narrative, the hero is gripped by memories of lost love, symbolized by the haunting refrain of day fading but night never ending. Mohammad Rafi’s soulful rendition encapsulates this emotional tension, adding nuance to the storyline.
Lyrical Quality & Alignment
Shailendra’s lyrics express deep emotional conflict with poetic subtlety. The metaphor of day fading but the night not ending perfectly conveys the torment of unending pain and memory. The mention of “those who left the world for love” connects personal anguish to universal themes of sacrifice and estrangement. The lyrics blend melancholy with an almost spiritual longing, complementing the film’s themes of love, loss, and exile.
Musical Composition Analysis
Sachin Dev Burman’s composition uses a gentle, flowing melody based on Raag Kafi, supporting the song’s mood of sorrowful reflection. The rhythmic structure adheres to Dadra taal (6 beats), which allows flexibility for emotional expression. The orchestration is minimalistic yet rich with flute and strings that weave in and out, evoking the seamless transition of day into night as well as the waves of longing within the protagonist. The musical choices deepen the melancholic and reflective tone essential to the song.
Initial Verse
Aa aa aa, din dhal jaaye haaye, raat na jaaye (The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go): Mohammad Rafi opens with an evocative and plaintive tone, using soft vocalizations to mirror the melancholic dusk. The repeated “aa aa aa” acts like a sigh, drawing the listener into a mood of quiet desperation and yearning.
Tu to na aaye teri yaad sataaye (You do not come, your memory torments me, the day fades away): The phrase carries a restrained intensity, with Rafi’s nuanced inflection evoking deep emotional pain and longing. His voice gently climbs and falls, reflecting the torment of bittersweet remembrance.
Pyar mein jinke, sab jag chhoda, aur hue badnaam (Those who left the whole world for love and became infamous): Rafi’s timbre grows firm yet melancholy, emphasizing sacrifice and the harsh consequences of forsaken worldly ties. His tone is filled with reverence mixed with sorrow.
Unke hi haathon, haal hua ye, baithe hain dil ko thaam (This is the condition caused by those very hands, trying to hold the heart): The voice subtly conveys fragility and helplessness, the “haathon” (hands) metaphorically shaping the protagonist’s broken state. Rafi’s phrasing slows here, enhancing the emotional weight.
Apne kabhi the, ab hain paraaye (They were once ours, now they are strangers): His voice softens to express loss and estrangement, capturing the heartbreak of changed relationships with resigned sadness.
Din dhal jaaye, haay, raat na jaaye (The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go): The refrain is delivered with tender sorrow, the melodic line lingering to evoke the endlessness of night and pain.
Tu to na aaye teri yaad sataye (If you don’t come, your memory torments me): Rafi’s voice becomes fragile and pained, articulating the torment of absence. The pleading nature emerges through gentle vibrato and controlled breath.
Din dhal jaaye (The day fades away): The phrase closes the stanza with an expressive softness, mirroring fading light and hope.
1st Stanza
Aisi hi rim jhim, aisi phuwaarein, aisi hi thi barsaat (Just such drizzle, just such fountains, just such was the rain): The melody swells just enough to convey nostalgia and a wistful tone. Rafi’s phrasing captures delicate memories made vivid through sensory imagery.
Khud se juda aur, jag se paraye, hum dono the saath (Separated from oneself and alien to the world, we two were together): The voice reveals a poignant blend of isolation and intimacy, his measured delivery emphasizing the bittersweet connection.
Phir se vo saavan, ab kyu na aaye (Why doesn’t that monsoon come again): Rafi inflects longing and melancholy, his voice dipping slightly to convey the pain of lost joy and hope.
Din dhal jaaye haay, raat na jaaye (The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go): The refrain returns with a haunting resonance, reinforcing the song’s thematic essence.
2nd Stanza
Tere mere dil ke paas ho kitni, phir bhi ho kitni door (No matter how close you are to my heart, yet how far you seem): Rafi’s voice communicates the paradox of proximity and distance, sincerity blending with subtle tension. The phrasing flows naturally, emphasizing emotional contradiction.
Tum mujhse, main dil se pareshan, dono hain majboor (You and I are troubled in the heart, both are helpless): His tone here conveys shared helplessness and mutual suffering, vocal expression rich in empathy.
Aise mein kisko, kaun manaaye (In such a state, who should appease whom): The line’s delivery is plaintive and contemplative, as if asking a rhetorical question, inviting listeners to feel the complexity of emotional stalemate.
Din dhal jaaye, haaye, raat na jaaye (The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go): The refrain gently persists, bringing the listener back to the core of the song’s unresolved yearning.
Tuu to na aaye teri yaad sataaye (If you don’t come, your memory torments me): The song’s emotional core is reiterated with delicate emotive inflections and subtle vibrato.
Din dhal jaaye haay, raat na jaaye (The day fades away, alas, the night doesn’t go): The closing line echoes softly, carrying the lingering pain and hope.
Summary
“Din Dhal Jaaye Haaye, Raat Na Jaaye” exemplifies the poignant synergy of Shailendra’s evocative poetry, Sachin Dev Burman’s subtle raag-based composition, and Mohammad Rafi’s exquisite vocal nuance. The lyrics profoundly depict the ache of separation and unresolved longing, masterfully weaving universal themes of love and loss.
The melodic framework in Raag Kafi paired with Dadra taal complements the reflective mood perfectly, while Rafi’s voice conveys the delicate balance between despair and hope. This song remains a timeless classic, illustrating the emotional depth and musical richness of 1960s Hindi cinema.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani