Its the magical words of Javed Akhtar that bring to life the essence of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Here are the four poems that Imraan narrates in the film (along with my translations)
Pighlay neelam sa behta hua yeh sama,
Neeli neeli si khamoshiyan;
Na kahin hai zameen,
Na kahin aasmaan;
Sarsaraati hui tehniyaan, pattiyaan;
Keh rahi hain ki bas ek tum ho yahaan,
Sirf main hoon, meri saansein hain, aur meri dhadkanein;
Aisi gehraiyaan,
Aisi tanhaiyaan,
Aur main sirf main
Apne honay pe mujhko yaqeen aa gaya…
This moment flows by like liquid sapphire
Silence like the blueness of the sea
No Earth below,
No Sky above.
The rustling of the branches and leaves
Whispering that only you are here
Only me, My breath, and my heartbeat
Depth like this (moment),
Loneliness like this (moment)
And me only me
And now I believe… I exist
—-
Ik baat honton tak hai jo aayi nahi,
Bas ankhon say hai jhaankti,
Tumse kabhi, mujhse kabhi,
Kuch lafz hain woh maangti,
Jinko pehanke honton tak aa jaaye woh,
Aawaaz ki baahon mein baahein daalke ithlaye woh
Lekin jo yeh ik baat hai,
Ehsaas hi ehsaas hai…
Khushboo si hai jaise hawa mein tairti,
Khushboo jo be-aawaaz hai;
Jiska pata tumko bhi hai,
Jiski khabar mujhko bhi hai;
Duniya se bhi chupta nahin,
Yeh jaane kaisa raaz hai.
The truth that almost come to my lips
Is clear from my eyes
Sometimes from you, sometimes from me
It asks for words
To give it structure and come to my lips
To dance in the embrace of my voice
But this truth
Is a feeling, just a feeling…
Like a fragrance it floats in air,
A mute fragrance,
That you know is there,
That I know is there,
And is not hidden from this world,
What kind of secret is this?
—-
Jab jab dard ka baadal chaya
Jab ghum ka saya lehraya
Jab aansoo palkon tak aya
Jab yeh tanha dil ghabraya
Humne dil ko yeh samjhaya
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai
Duniya mein yunhi hota hai.
Yeh jo gehre sannaate hain
Waqt ne sabko hi baante hain
Thoda ghum hai sabka qissa
Thodi dhoop hai sabka hissa
Aankh teri bekaar hi namm hai
Har pal ek naya mausam hai
Kyun tu aise pal khota hai
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai
Whenever the cloud of pain loomed
Whenever the shadow of suffering threatened
Whenever tears filled my eyes
Whenever this lonely heart was afraid
I consoled my heart
Why do you cry for my heart?
This happens everywhere in this world
These dark lonely moments.
Time has distributed them to all.
Some sadness is a part of everyone’s story,
Some sunshine a part of everyone’s life
You cry for an unworthy reason,
Every moment is a new season
Why do you lose your precious moments,
Why do you cry for my heart?
—-
Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum;
Nazar mein khwabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum;
Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise aazad rehno sikho,
Tum ek dariya ke jaise lehron mein behna sikho,
Har ek lamhe se tum milo khole apni bhaayein,
Har ek pal ek naya samha dekhen yeh nigahaein,
Jo apni aankhon mein hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum;
Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum;
If you carry impatience in your heart then you are alive
If you carry the sparkle of dreams in your eyes then you are alive
Learn to live like the gust of wind
Learn to flow like the stream among the waves
Receive every moment in life with open arms
See every moment as a new beginning
If you carry surprise in your eyes then you are alive
If you carry impatience in your heart then you are alive
– Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara