NOTE: Old article that was published on July 26th 2011. We are republishing this as Zoya Akhtar’s cult classic Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara celebrates its 3rd anniversary today. Enjoy the poetry with video and english translation.
The poems recited by Farhan Akhtar and written by his father Javed Akhtar are a big hit with lovers of poetry / shayari all around the world. Many viewers who do not understand Hindi, sent in requests for the English translation. So here it is, we have the English translation for you.
The first poetry is recited when the trio come out of the sea after deep sea-diving, with the focus entirely on Hrithik’s character.
Pighle neelam sa behta ye sama,
neeli neeli si khamoshiyan,
na kahin hai zameen na kahin aasmaan,
sarsaraati hui tehniyaan pattiyaan,
keh raheen hai bas ek tum ho yahan,
bas main hoon,
meri saansein hain aur meri dhadkanein,
aisi gehraiyaan, aisi tanhaiyaan,
aur main… sirf main.
Apne hone par mujhko yakeen aa gaya.
English Translation of the first poetry
The moment seems to flow like a molten sapphire and there’s deep blue silence,
Neither there is earth below, nor sky above,
The rustling branches, leaves are saying that only you are here,
Only me, my breath and my heartbeat, (copyright Indicine.com)
Such deepness, such loneliness and me…only me,
It all makes me believe in my existence.
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The second poem
Ik baat honton tak hai jo aayi nahin
Bas ankhon say hai jhaankti
Tumse kabhi, mujhse kabhi
Kuch lafz hain woh maangti
Jinko pehanke honton tak aa jaaye woh
Aawaaz ki baahon mein baahein daalke ithlaye woh
Lekin jo yeh ik baat hai
Ahsas hi ahsas hai
Khushboo si hai jaise hawa mein tairti
Khushboo jo be-aawaaz hai
Jiska pata tumko bhi hai
Jiski khabar mujhko bhi hai
Duniya se bhi chupta nahin
Yeh jaane kaisa raaz hai
English Translation
A thing that still hasn’t come up to my lips and only peeks through my eyes,
It asks for words, sometimes from me and sometimes from you,
So that it can wear those words and come to the lips,
And so that it could be embraced by words..
But this thing is actually a feeling…only a feeling,
It’s like a fragrance floating in the air, (copyright Indicine.com)
Fragrance, which has no voice…and about which you know and I know too.
It is not hidden from the world, what kind of a secret it is?
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Poem 3 (at the very end of the film when Farhan meets his biological father)
Jab jab dard ka baadal chaya
Jab ghum ka saya lehraya
Jab aansoo palkon tak aya
Jab yeh tanha dil ghabraya
Humne dil ko yeh samjhaya
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai
Duniya mein yunhi hota hai
Yeh jo gehre sannate hain
Waqt ne sabko hi baante hain
Thoda ghum hai sabka qissa
Thodi dhoop hai sabka hissa
Aankh teri bekaar hi nam hai
Har pal ek naya mausam hai
Kyun tu aise pal khota hai
Dil aakhir tu kyun rota hai
English Translation
Whenever the clouds of pain and sadness loomed,
Whenever tears came till the eyelashes,
Whenever this lonely heart got scared,
I told my heart, Oh Heart, why do you cry?
This is what happens in this world…
This deep silence…the world has distributed it to everyone,
Some sadness is a part of everyone’s life,
Some sunshine is a part of everyone’s life,
Your eyes are wet without any reason,
Every second is a new season, (copyright Indicine.com)
Why do you let go of such priceless moments?
Oh Heart, why do you cry?
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And finally the last of the four poems
Dilon me tum apni betabiyan leke chal rahe ho,to zinda ho tum
Nazar me khwaabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho,to zinda ho tum
Hwa ke jhokon ke jaise aazad rehno sekho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise lehron mein behna sekho
Hr ek lamhe se tum milo khole apni baahein
Hr ek pal ek nya sama dekhe nigahein
Jo apni ankhon mein hairanian leke chal rahe ho,to zinda ho tum
Dilon mein tum apni betabian leke chal rahe ho,to zinda ho tum
English Translation
If you have eagerness in your heart, it means you are alive,
If your eyes are filled with dreams, it means you are alive
Learn to be free like the wind, (copyright Indicine.com)
Learn to flow freely like the river,
Embrace every moment with open arms,
See a new horizon every time with your eyes,
If you carry surprise in your eyes, it means you are alive,
If you have eagerness in your heart, it means you are alive…
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Hope you all appreciate the effort. Tell us what you think of the ZNMD Poetry in the comments section below.
it’s one of the beautiful poetry I like the most……. it’s mind blowing… it’s that type of thought a boy can easily moved on……. awesome
i love it and the films so much
omg..!! wht the words wre..!! was truly appreciated by those words. movie was amzng nd FARHAN (Imran) has done mndblng job in that..! movie was awesome.
I personally hv seen that movie 100 tyms..
In the version that I watched, the English subtitle translation of the last line of the first poem was ‘I now believe I exist’. That is my favourite line of poetry ever! I get goosebumps whenever I watch that scene.
It was an epic and superb story telling and the actors played well like i am watching the real life Friendship daily arguments and feelings. Exceptional poetic words and poetry awesome and the one narrated like taking my heart away.
I love this poem! It’s so beautiful and I can really feel the emotions in it.
Fantastic blog post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Loved this English translation of ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’! The poetry is so beautiful and thought-provoking. This translation does justice to the original work. Thank you for sharing!
Such a beautiful translation! I can feel the emotions pouring out of these lines. The poetry is truly a reflection of the ups and downs of life. Thanks for sharing this with us!
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Love this translation! The way the poem captures the essence of the movie title is so beautiful. The lines ‘ Living life without taking a breather, Running towards the destination without a blur’ really resonate with me. Thank you for sharing this great work!
Loved the poem’s translation! It’s amazing how the powerful words can transcend language barriers. The nuances of human emotions are so beautifully captured in this piece