O Saathi Re

Its early 1990s, Sunday 9 am and I am in front of the TV like thousand other kids who couldn’t wait to catch the next episode of Jungle Book (Mowgli).
It had super story line, excellent animation, lovable characters but what I loved the most about the series was the title track

“Jungle jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai, are chaddi pehan ke phul khila hai, phul khila hai”

A 9-year kid understood it, the music was melodious and the kid wanted to listen to it in a loop mode.

Thus, began my introduction to Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj – harmonious combination!!!

One evening while travelling home my “Soothing Songs” playlist played a number that took me back to this duo.
The music by Vishal Bhardwaj is melodious, the rendition of song by Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Bhardwaj is impeccable but what keeps haunting me the most is the lyrics by Gulzar.

I must have heard the song maybe around 100 times so far but it took a bus ride in sunset remembering the days of early courtship that I suddenly understood the lyrics.

They are an expression of the feelings of every couple in love, about time flying away when you are together and not wanting the day to end.

The song I am referring here is “O Saathi Re” from the movie Omkara.

Omkara has amazing songs like “Beedi”, “Omkara”, “Namak” ,”Naina” but this one is the icing on the cake.

The movie has lead characters Omi and Dolly. Omi is a passionate person while Dolly is shown to be very innocent. Both are shown in love and when passion meets innocence sparks fly J

Here goes my version of translation of the lyrics of song “O saathi Re”. Simple in awe of Gulzar who time and again writes something so magical in such simple words capturing the passion and innocence simultaneously.

“O Saathi re, din doobe na,
Aa chal din ko rokein, dhoopa ke piche daude, chaun chue na, O Saathi re”

[Oh my dear, wish the day never ends,
Come, let’s stop the day, run behind the sunshine, don’t let the darkness (shadow) touch us, Oh beloved]

Thaka Thaka sooraj jab, nadi se hokar nikalega
Hari Hari kaayi pe paun pada to phisalega
Tum rok ke rakhana mai jaal giraun
Tum pith pe lena mai haath lagaun
Din Doobe naa”

[When a tired sun sets and reaches the river
His feet will fall on the moss and slip for sure
You stop him from drowning while I drop the net to catch him
You carry him on your back and I will support you with my hand
 Let’s not let the sun to set]

“Teri meri atti batti, daant se kaati katti, re jaiyoo na, O Pihu re
O pihu re, na jaiyoo na”

[This is our pact that we will never leave each other,
Oh my dear, never leave me]

“Kabhi kabhi yun karna, mai daatun aur tum darna
Ubal pade aankhon se mithe paani ka jharna”

[Sometimes let’s pretend that I scold you and you get afraid of me,
Springs of sweet water then simmer from your eyes]

“Tere kahore badan mein , sil jaungi re
Jab karavat lega chil jaungi re
O sanga le jaunga”

[Closeness such that I am stitched to your body in a way that that when you turn on side I get bruised
I will take you wherever I go]”

Teri meri angani manganic, anga sang laagi sangani
Sanga le jaun
O pihu re”

[We both are inseparable…
You will always be by my side, I will take you wherever I go
Oh dear one]

Something more:
This song also reminds me of below lyrics from the songs “Chup ke se” from the movie Saathiya. Another lovely song penned by Gulzar.

“ Din bhi na doobe, Raat na aye, sham kabhi na dhale,
Sham dhale to, subaha na aye, Raat hi raat chale”