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Meaning of Kinaare: The Anthem of Moving On
The song ‘Kinaare’ literally translates to ‘Riverbanks’ or ‘Shores.’ In the context of the film Queen, the lyrics serve as a beautiful metaphor for finding solid ground after being lost at sea in a broken relationship. Written by Anvita Dutt, the track marks the exact moment of emotional independence for the protagonist. It highlights the liberation of leaving old, painful memories behind and confidently walking toward a brand-new horizon on your own terms.
Kinaare is my favorite song from Queen. Written by Anvita Dutt it beautifully captures the state of mind of the protagonist in the movie.
The song embodies the theme of the movie, independence and self identity; It compares its quest to the search of Shores for someone who is drowning mid sea. It crescendos perfectly in the 5th para, akin to enlightenment, with the realization that “Khud hi To hain hum… Kinaare (We ourselves are our, Shores)”.
There is obviously different ways to interpret the words of the song, here is my honest attempt:
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt
Movie: Queen
Singer: Mohan Kanan
Music: Amit Trivedi
| Urdu / Romanized | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Dhoondhe har ik saans mein, Dubkiyon ke Baad mein, Har Bhanwar ke Paas. Kinare.. | Searching with every gasp of air, After each plunge, after having a dip (in water), Near every storm… Shores |
| Beh rahe jo saath mein, Jo humare khaas thhe, Kar gaye apni baat, Kinare.. | Those flowing with us, The ones that were special, They had their last words… Shores |
| Gar maajhi saare saath mein gair ho bhi jaayein, To khud hi to patwaar Ban Paar honge hum | Even if all the boatmen leave us, Then, we will become oars ourselves, and cross (the ocean) on our own.. |
| Jo Chhoti si har ik neher… Saagar ban bhi jaaye, Koi Tinka Le ke haath mein Dhoondh Lenge hum Kinaare. kinaare. kinaare. | Even if every small waterway… turns into a sea, Then grasping a Twig in out hands, We will find… Shores… Shores… Shores. |
| Khud hi To hain hum… Kinaare. Kaise honge kam… Kinaare Hain jahaan hain hum… Kinare. Khud hi To hain hum… Khud hi To hain hum… | We ourselves are… Shores How will we deplete… Shores. We ourselves are… (Shores) We ourselves are… (Shores) |
| Auron se kya, khud hi se Poochh lenge raahein Yahin kahin maujon mein hi Dhoondh Lenge hum | Why others, we’ll ask ourselves, The paths to follow, Somewhere here in the waves, We will find… (Shores) |
| Boondon se hi to hain bani, Baandh lenge leherein. Pairon taale jo bhi mile, Maan Lenge hum… Kinaare. | They are made of drops itself. We will tie the waves.. Whatever comes by our feet, we will take that to be… Shores. |
Kinaare (Queen) – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does “Kinaare” mean in the song?
A: It means “Shores” or “Riverbanks.” Metaphorically, it represents stability, safety, and reaching a place of emotional clarity and peace after surviving a tumultuous personal storm.
Q: Who sang the song Kinaare?
A: The song was sung beautifully by Arijit Singh, with music composed by the brilliant Amit Trivedi.
Q: What is the main message of the lyrics?
A: The song is a celebration of self-reliance. It delivers a message that you don’t need someone else to complete you, and that stepping away from people who hold you back allows you to find your true direction in life.
🎧 Best Way to Experience This Music
To hear the deep bass and soulful vocals of these translations/songs, I recommend these high-fidelity headphones:
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