आगे भी जाने न तू, पीछे भी जाने न तू

When you hear an instrumental of this song, as I did tonight, it seems to be more poignant in reaching you. It is true, isn't it, that you don't know what the future holds, and you don't quite know why certain things happened in the past? This song reminds you that all there really is, is the present. The song exhorts that listener "to seize the present to fulfill the wishes'.

A Bollywood version of Carpe diem.

ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चँचल हवा

Kishore Kumar's rendering of

ये बाहों में बाहें, ये बहकी निगाहें
लो आने लगा ज़िंदगी का मज़ा

is a treat to listen to. Bollywood seems to excel when producing rhythmic music capturing romance.

चौदवीं का चाँद हो, या अफताब हो

Sonu Nigam's concert in San Jose on 23 June 2012 reminded of how beautiful this song is.

Description of a lover. The brilliance of the female [face] is likened to the full moon, sun, ... and the description culminates in "whatever you are, you are second to none."

Hair, face and lips are described, in poetic fashion.

[Note: You are recommended to understand the meaning before you enjoy the song in its fullest].

दिल के अरमाँ आँसुओं में बह गए

When you listen to this song, even without knowing its context¹, you can sense the feeling of sadness that the singer exudes. But, when you understand the meaning of the lines, it is even more touching. In particular, the feeling of loneliness — हम वफ़ा करके भी तनहा रह गए — is not something that anyone relishes.

You wish always that no one goes through the kind of feeling that the song describes.

(After I published this post, I learnt that Ravi, the music director for this song, passed away just two days earlier).

आगे भी जाने न तू, पीछे भी जाने न तू

The song starts out on a philosophical note: "You don't know the future, you don't know the past, whatever there is, is just the present moment ..."

How this philosophical note is woven into the music, and the story, is somewhat of a unique contribution of Bollywood to world cinema.

"Living in the present" is such a popular phrase that, if you google for it, you'll find many web sites that collect quotes on that subject. One example is Famous Quotes on Living in the Present... posted by John Kuypers.