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?"