दिल चीज़ क्या है, आप मेरी जान लीजिये

The listener is struck by the simplicity of the woman's plea, with abandon. "You ask for my heart? Why don't you take my life [which is dearer] ..."

दोस्त दोस्त न रहा, प्यार प्यार न रहा

A man is dejected because of betrayal by his friend.

प्यार हुआ चुपके से

Nice elaboration of how a woman feels when she recognizes she is in love.

ದೋಣಿ ಸಾಗಲಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಲಿ ದೂರ ತೀರವ ಸೇರಲಿ

In a recent web surf to find Kannada songs based on classical ragas, I ran into this song from yesteryears, based on raag ♫पहाड़ी. There is already a nice Kannada presentation of the lyrics on the web, and hence you won't find any here.

बनाके क्यों बिगाड़ा रे

A woman who has suffered an ill-fated incident in her life questions whether she can trust God. Why? Because of the injustice meted out to her (by God, she thinks).

वैष्णव जन तो ...

No collection of songs would be complete if the most favorite bhajan of Mahatma Gandhi were not included. October 2 is Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. The song goes on to define what a Vaishnav, i.e., a liberated one, is by elaborating on various characteristics of such an individual.

Since the original lyrics were composed in Gujarati, I won't give the lyrics here, but refer you instead to other web pages through the buttons below.

La Isla Bonita

The lilting music of this song is a delight for the ears. Madonna reminisces about an island that she once visited (either for real or in imagination).

कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे

A rather helpful Rajesh Khanna consoling a sad Sharmila Tagore.

यह हसीं वादियाँ, यह खुला आसमाँ

Mutual appreciation between lovers.

वादा कर ले साजना

A simple wish between the lovers, each exacting promise of love for ever from the other.

Observe the metaphors created by the poet, in describing the complementary nature of the lovers:

Singer (below)	Female	Male
Female	Heartbeat	Heart
Female	Wick	Lamp
Male	Destination	Traveler
Male	Shore	Wave

ज्योत से ज्योत जगाते चलो

The poet writes a very simple set of lyrics to promote universal brotherhood, to suggest actions particularly when we meet the poor, unhappy, under-privileged, etc.

I first heard this song in Kargal, as shown in the map below.


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आये हो मेरी ज़िंदगी में, तुम बहार बनके

"You have come into my life like the spring ..." Singing provides an effect that mere prose cannot convey.

हमें तुमसे प्यार कितना, यह हम नहीं जानते

"You don't know how much I love you ..."

यह क्या हुआ? कैसे हुआ?

A memorable, easy to sing, sad song sung by the versatile Kishore Kumar. The lyrics are such that they can be easily made applicable to many more real life situations than just the one pictured in the video.

जब से तेरे नैना, मेरे नैनों से, लागे रे

A surprisingly interesting lyric from the movie Saawariya. The movie itself was a dud.

ಬಾಡಿ ಹೋದ ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದ ಹೂವು ಅರಳಬಲ್ಲದೇ?

I recall having heard this song when I was an youngster in India. Although I don't remember having seen the movie, it seems that the singer is recalling how fate has worked its ways against his wishes.

I have reconstructed the lyrics by listening to the audio/video.

ಉಳ್ಳವರು ಶಿವಾಲಯವ ಮಾಡುವರು

A simple plea by an ordinary person to appeal to God. A presentation by Vijay Prakash of ' Jai Ho' fame

If you know Kannada, you will appreciate the simplicity of the meaning conveyed in the lyrics. Rough English translation:

Rich people create temple
But, I am a poor fellow
I have nothing to give you, God, except myself:
My feet are the pillars
My body is the temple
My head is the "top ornament"
Even stationary objects providing support — a column — may perish some day
But, for Jangama, for God, there is no perishing, i.e., God is eternal.

It will require a singer like Vijay Prakash to bring out the plea with full force.

(The number starts at about 1:50 in the video clip).

ಕಾಡು ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯೊಂದು ಕಾಡಿನಲಿ ನರಳುತಿದೆ ಬಾಡಿ ಹೋಗುವ ಮುನ್ನ

A lovely metaphor in the form of a flower somewhere in the woods that feels isolated and not appreciated, because it feels that it has not gotten a chance to decorate someone's hairdo. The song appears also to refer to an individual that feels detached from the world, and longs not only to reach God but, at least, to be valued in the world. It is very ably sung by Vijay Prakash of 'Jai Ho' fame.

As you listen to it, you can also feel the pain that the flower might feel ... Glory to the poet who captured the emotion in words, and to the singer who brings the emotion alive.

In this case, it is not necessary for me to create a Kannada transliteration: It is already available on the web.

ನಿನ್ನ ನೋಡಲೆಂತೋ, ಮಾತನಾಡಲೆಂತೋ

The lovers sing to each other [in their imagination] about their inability to profess their love to each other. A melodious song number is a mechanism Indian directors use rather well to make their point. Shreya Ghoshal is superb in this number.

चांदी की दीवार न तोडी, प्यार भरा दिल तोड़ दिया

A Mukesh number where the man is unhappy that his lover has deserted him.

उसको नहीं देखा हमने कभी

On Mother's Day 2010, it is somewhat appropriate that we take a look at this song I encountered recently. While although मात्र देवो भव is a well known concept ingrained in Indian culture at an early age of a child, this song is a very good and melodious elaboration of that concept.

तुझे देखा तो यह जाना सनम

Another Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol number, song and dance, ... Bollywood has an interesting way to describe love. For example, in this song, the female lover declares:
"You called out, ... I came ...
What promise is bigger than love?"

सूरज हुआ मद्दिम, चाँद जलने लगा

Another Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol number, song and dance, on the virtues of romantic love.

जीवन से भरी तेरी आँखें

A very good poetic way of describing the desirability of the lover, particularly if the lover is feminine.

ನಾರಾಯಣಾ ನಿನ್ನ ನಾಮದ ಸ್ಮರಣೆಯ ಸಾರಾಮೃತವು ಎನ್ನ ನಾಲಿಗೆಗೆ ಬರಲಿ

The poet wishes that he be conscious of God always — whether in difficulty, whether in success, or whether even when all the faculties have withered — and wishes also that the God's memory be always on his tongue, i.e., speech.

Very powerful idea expressed in simple lyrics.

ರಾಮ ನಾಮ ಪಾಯಸಕೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ನಾಮ ಸಕ್ಕರೆ

In this song, the poet uses powerful metaphors to characterize valuable human traits. For example, the word ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ, meaning a certain unwavering & determined approach, is compared to a grindstone; the grindstone is used to grind wheat to make, eventually, a very satisfying pudding; so satisfying, in fact, that it would induce a couple of hearty belches after the meal. And, the following are the complete metaphors:

1. pudding = ರಾಮ ನಾಮ
2. sugar = ಕೃಷ್ಣ ನಾಮ
3. ghee = ವಿಠಲ ನಾಮ
4. wheat
5. grindstone = ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ
6. cream of wheat = ಸಜ್ಜಿಗೆ
7. vermicelli = ಶಾವಿಗೆ
8. cooking pot = ಹೃದಯ
9. water = ಭಾವ
10. make syrup using intelligence = ಬುದ್ಧಿ

Finally, once you eat and enjoy the pudding, remember God, ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠಲ. 

क्यों चलती है पवन? [न तुम जानो न हम]

...
Why does love have such an effect?
Neither do you know, nor I
...

तुझसे नाराज़ नहीं ज़िन्दगी, हैरान हूँ मैं

On the innocence of a young boy, and the trying questions he poses to the adult. Background song, mixed with dialog, makes the presentation very moving.

ಮುದಾಕರಾತ ಮೋದಕಂ ಸದಾ ವಿಮುಕ್ತಿ ಸಾಧಕಂ

This is a nice stotra composed by Adi Sankara on Lord Ganesha. It elaborates on the various characteristics of Lord Ganesha. And, the rhythm is very catchy. Although it is originally composed in Sanskrit, many people would like to see the lyrics in the Kannada language, and hence this blog post. (I have diverged slightly from the referenced transliteration to match the singing by M S Subbulakshmi).

आजा पिया, तोहे प्यार दूँ

Although I used to hear this song as a teenager, I did not pay attention to its meaning until very recently. I don't know the story in the movie, but the woman's offer to her lover seems quite selfless, and therefore comes across as genuine.

भय्या मेरी, राखी के बंधन को निभाना

I recall hearing this song on radio broadcasts when I was a kid -- yes, no TV those days in India. Now, the lyrics make a lot more sense: brother-sister love.

दिल खो गया, हो गया किसीका ... तेरी ओर

Katrina's dance is rather attractive.

पल भर के लिए कोई हमें प्यार कर ले

A rather naughty means of expressing romantic love.

नूर-ऐ-खुदा

The poet brings out a recall of unhappy events, and a plea to God to produce justice, by the character in the film.

Other singers of this song are Shankar Mahadevan & Adnan Sami. (I could not fit these names in the Labels field). That Shankar Mahadevan has brought out a musical piece that sounds like an original Arabic singer's rendering, is a testament to the universal nature of music and, of course, to Shankar's musical abilities.

ತೊರೆದು ಜೀವಿಸಬಹುದೇ ಹರಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಚರಣವ

[Translations are notorious for not being able to preserve the originally intended meaning].
The poet, Kanaka Dasa, recalls how an individual can easily do various things:

1. Abandon parents in pursuit of penance, i.e., a determined undertaking
2. Avoid relatives
3. A king, if required, can let go of his kingdom
4. Can avoid eating even when he is hungry
5. Let go of assets acquired
6. Leave wife and children
7. Can even pay with one's life
8. Can lower the head in shame

But, proclaims the poet, that there is one thing an individual is not advised to do: i.e., cannot live without the blessings of God.

ಏನಾಗಲೀ ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗು ನೀ

I have not seen this movie yet, but one of my friends has liked it. Sounds rather sentimental ... admonishes a certain philosophy of life, it seems like. I have reconstructed the lyrics by listening to the music videos: there is another piece in addition to the one in the video button.

इन दिनों, दिल मेरा, मुझसे है कह रहा

I don't know the complete story behind this song, but I liked it in a rendering in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, 29 January 2010.

ज़िंदगी का सफ़र है ये कैसा सफ़र

Simple summary of life, although through the eyes of an unhappy man.

"What kind of a journey is this life
That no one understands, no one learns about."

भीगी भीगी रातों में ...

Playfulness induced by song and dance in the rain, in a manner that only Bollywood can come up with.

ಕರುಣಿಸೋ ರಂಗಾ ... ಹಗಲು ಇರುಳು ನಿನ್ನ ಸ್ಮರಣೆಯ ಮರೆಯದಂತೆ

The poet sings that, although he does not have the many good characters of various [mythological] personalities before him, he wishes to plead only one thing: ಹಗಲು ಇರುಳು ನಿನ್ನ ಸ್ಮರಣೆಯ ಮರೆಯದಂತೆ, ಕರುಣಿಸೋ ರಂಗಾ.

In other words, he appeals to God that He grant him the ability to remember, or be aware of, Him day and night.

मैं यहाँ तू वहाँ

A rather moving rendering of separation of two lovers.