nagarii merii kab tak yuu.nhii barabaad rahegii

har shaam hu_ii sub'ha ko ek Kwaab-e-faraamosh
duniyaa yahii duniyaa hai to kyaa yaad rahegii
-yaas yagaana changezi


Josh Malihabadi used a misra for a song of "Man Ki Jeet"
nagarii merii kab tak yuu.nhii barabaad rahegii
duniyaa yahii duniyaa hai to kyaa yaad rahegii

rasm-e-ulfat kisii suurat se nibhaaye na bane

The following Ghazal of Mirza Ghalib's is wildly popular and has been sung by many singers --

nuktacheeN hai, Gham-e-dil usko sunaaye na bane
kyaa bane baat jahaaN baat banaaye na bane

maiN bulaataa to hooN usko magar ay jazba-e-dil
us pe ban jaaye kuchh aisi ke bin aaye na bane
... ... ... ...
'ishq par zor naheeN hai yeh woh aatish 'Ghalib'
ke lagaaye na lage aur bujhaaye na bane

Jigar Moradabadi also has a Ghazal that follows the same metric structure (a.k.a behr), but has a slightly different rhyming pattern (a.k.a radeef-qaafiya). This Ghazal has been sung, among others, by Jagjit Singh. The matl'a of this Ghazal is --

daastaan-e-Gham-e-dil unko sunaayi na gayi
baat big.Di thi kuchh aisi ke banaayi na gayi
... ... ...
'ishq par kuchh na chalaa deeda-e-tar kaa jaaduu
is ne woh aag lagaayi ke bujhaayi na gayi

Lyricists Shams Lucknowi and Anjum Pilibhiti appear to have married the second line of Jigar's matl'a with Ghalib's radeef-qaafiya pattern and come up with the words of this lovely Shamshad Begum song from the film Humayun (1945), tuned by the master tunesmith Ghulam Haider.

rasm-e-ulfat kisi soorat se nibhaaye na bane
baat kuchh big.Di hai aisi ke banaaye na bane

husn majboor idhar 'ishq pareeshaan udhar
aisaa kuchh uljhaa hai daaman ke chhu.Daaye na bane

meraa ghar jal gayaa majboor haiN dunyaa waale
hai yeh woh aag jo paani se bujhaaye na bane

kyaa karooN, kyaa na karooN, donoN tarah mushkil hai
aap jaaye na bane, unko bulaaye na bane

Observe how Shams and Anjum have used Ghalib's "bulaana aur na jaanaa" imagery in the final couplet. Note also the familiar metaphor of "aag lagnaa aur bujhaa na paanaa" that is used in all three Ghazals.




As a bonus, here's a rendition of the Jigar Moradabadi Ghazal by an unknown artiste we found on YouTube. The lad had a very pleasant voice, whoever he is. If you know his name, be sure and let us know, please!

more jobanaa ka dekho ubhaar/ek laRakii ko dekhaa to

Josh Malihabadi penned this song for the film Man Ki Jeet (1945)




more jobana ka dekho ubhaar
paapii jobana ka dekho ubhaar

jaise naddii kii mauj
jaise turko.n kii fauj
jaise sulage se bam
jaise baalak udham
jaise koyal pukaar


jaise hirnii kulel
jaise tuufaan mel
jaise bha.nware kii jhuum
jaise saawan kii dhuum
jaise gaatii phuaar

jaise saagar pe bhor
jaise uRataa chakor
jaise gendavaa khile
jaise laTTuu hile
jaise gaddar anaar

more jobana ka dekho ubhaar
paapii jobana ka dekho ubhaar


Javed Akhtar penned this for 1942 A Love Story (1993).

ek laRakii ko dekha to aisa lagaa
ek laRakii ko dekhaa to aisaa lagaa.

jaise khilataa gulaab
jaise shaayar ka Kwaab
jaise ujali kiran
jaise ban mein hiran
jaise chaa.ndani raat
jaise narmii ki baat
jaise ma.ndir me.n ho ek jalta diya

ek laRakii ko dekhaa to aisaa lagaa

jaise subhaa ka ruup
jaise sardii kii dhuup
jaise biinaa kii taan
jaise ra.ngo.n ki jaan
jaise bal khaa_e bel
jaise laharo.n ka khel
jaise Kushbuu liye aaye ThanDii havaa

ek laRakii ko dekhaa to aisaa lagaa

jaise naachata mor
jaise resham kii dor
jaise pariyo.n ka raag
jaise sa.ndal ki aag
jaise solah si.ngaar
jaise ras ki phuaar
jaise aahista aahista baRhata nashaa



This is what Film India commented with a 'literal' translation ...

FilmIndia commented :

Hazrat Josh Malihabadi who is considered to be the best rebel poet of
the nation. He has clearly prostituted his mighty pen in writing those
filthy lines. It must have been for money. Because it is difficult to
believe that a poet of Josh's eminence could have so radically changed
his ideals of poetry for our people. ... If Josh continues his present
career in film writing with songs like this, he should drop that
Hazrat that is fixed to his name. He doesn't deserve that even today,
with that filthy song broadcast to the world.

More Joban Ka Dekho Ubhaar
(Come look at the giddy blossom of my youthful breasts)
Paapi Joban Ka Dekho Ubhaar
(Come look at the bloom of my sinning breasts)
Jaise Nadi Ki Mauj, Jaise Turkon Ki Fauj
(My breasts are like the ripples on a river bed
My breasts are as militant as Turkish soldiers)
Jaise Sulage Se Bum, Jaise Balak Udham
(My breasts are like impregnated bombs
My breasts are like impudent kids)
Jaise Koyal Pukaare - More
(My breasts are like the call of the cuckoo)
Jaise Hirni Kulel, Jaise Toofan Mail
(My breasts are gambol like little deers
My breasts have the speed of Toofan Mail)
Jaise Bhanware Ki Joom, Jaise Sawan Ki Dhoom
(My breasts are like the whirl of butterflies
My breasts are like the storm of monsoon)
Jaise Gaati Phoohaar - More
(My breasts sing the music of early rain drops)
Jaise Sagar Pe Bhor, Jaise Udtaa Chakor
(My breasts herald the dawn on the horizon
My breasts are like fire eating birds of the skies)
Jaise Gendva Khilem Jaise Latto Hile
(My breasts are like marigolds in blossom
My breasts are dizzy like toy tops)
Jaise Gadhdhar Anaar - More
(My breasts are like half ripe pomegranates)
More Joban Ka Dekho Ubhaar
(Come look at the giddy blossom of my youthful breasts)
Paapi Joban Ka Dekho Ubhaar
(Come look at the bloom of my sinning breasts)