Chaiyya Chaiyya has to be the most popular hindi film song of the late 90s and early 2000s. At its prime, young kids knew every line and rhythm of the song. I too was overtaken in the craze and this remained a personal favorite for a long time. What was surprising was that a very small section of the fans of the song really understood what the song meant. Below is Chaiyya Chaiyya lyrics meaning in english.
When I first truly understood the meaning of the complex imagery in this song, I fell in love with Urdu. It took me even longer to understand the “Urdu meaning” of the song, but when I did I was hooked.
As used poetically in this song (Voh jiski zubaan urdu ki tarah), there is an essence to the Hindustani verses that always gets lost in the translation to english. Its hard to explain but it is like trying to describe to someone how the most delicious dessert you every ate, tasted…
So here is my attempted translation of Chaiyya Chaiyya. Hope it makes it even more special for you.
Chaiyya Chaiyya Lyrics Meaning:
Song: Chaiyya Chaiyya
Film: Dil Se(1998)
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music: AR. Rehman
Vocals: Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi
Jinke sar ho ishq ki chaaon
Paaon ke neeche jaanat hogi
Chal chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya
{adinserter 2}
Those who walk in the shade of love
Must have Paradise under their feet
Keep walking in the shade of loveSar ishq ki chhaaon chal chaiyya chaiyya
Pau janat chale chal chaiyya chaiyya
(Chal chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya) x4In the shade of love, keep walking
Paradise under their feet, keep walking
Keep walking in the shade of loveVoh yaar hai jo khushboo ki tarah
Voh jiski zubaan urdu ki tarah
Meri shaam raat, meri kaayanat
Voh yaar mera sainya sainyaThe companion who walks along like fragrance
Who whispers in a melodious tongue(Urdu)
Is my evening, night, my universe
My beloved, my loveGulposh kabhi itraaye kahin
Mehke to nazar aa jaaye kahin
Taaveez banaake pehnoon usay
Aayat ki tarah mil jaaye kahin(who) conceals herself in the flowers
And is revealed in the fragrance
Made into a charm, I would wear hear
If I ever find her like a miracleVoh yaar hai jo imaam ki tarah
Mera nagma vohi mera qalma vohi
Mera nagma nagma mera qalma qalmaMy companion, who is like a priest to me
She is my song, my declaration of faith
My song, my declaration of faithWoh yaar misaale ous chale
Paaon ke tale firdous chale
Kabhi daal daal, kabhi paat paat
Main hawa pe dhoondhoon uske nishaanMy companion, who moves like the dew drops
With paradise under the feet
Sometimes on the branches, sometimes on the leaves
I search for her trail in the breezeMain uske roop ka shehdaai
Vo dhoop chhanv se harjaai
Vo shokh hai rang badalta hai
Main rangroop ka saudaaiI am a lover of all her forms
Who flirts with light and shadow
She is mischievous, and changes colour
And I am a seeker of the colours and formsChal chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya chaiyya
Keep walking in the shade of love