Cucurrucucú

Cucurrucucú, what a beautiful sound, seems as if like someone clearing her throat before singing some pleasing melody, Maybe a maynah perched above some branches in the tree, half hidden, singing contently without any worries or a damn to the world.

But sadly I cannot digress anymore, This post is not about any other gutteral bird calls or a treatise on nature, Its just a mere translation of the beautiful spanish song, sung by the Brazilian great Caetano Veloso. THis song is beautifully potrayed in the Spanish Movie Hable con ella(Talk to her)

Before I start, Let me Thank the google translator for helping me with the spanish words and Two great translators from Proz, Mercano and Paloma Maciel whose translations gave me the insight into the poems and help me translate it on my own.

Cucurrucucú, Paloma

Film: Hable Con Ella (Talk to her)
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Singer: Caetano Veloso
Music : Tomás Méndez

Dicen que por las noches
no más se le iba en puro llorar;
dicen que no comía,
no más se le iba en puro tomar.

Juran que el mismo cielo
se estremecía al oír su llanto,
cómo sufrió por ella,
y hasta en su muerte la fue llamando.

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ya cantaba,
ay, ay, ay, ay, ya gemía,
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ya cantaba,
de pasión mortal moría.

Que una paloma triste
muy de mañana le va a cantar
a la casita sola
con sus puertitas de par en par;

juran que esa paloma
no es otra cosa más que su alma,
que todavía espera
a que regrese la desdichada.

Cucurrucucú paloma, cucurrucucú no llores.
Las piedras jamás, paloma,
¿qué van a saber de amores?

Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú,
cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú.

Cucurrucucú, Dove

It is said, in the darkness of the nights
All he ever did was cry
They say, food he didn't touch and never did eat
All he did was drink to die

It is sworn that the sky also trembled
As it heard him so bitterly cry
How without her he had so long suffered
That he called out to her as death did pry

Ay ay ay ay yaa, he would so sing
Ay ay ay ay yaa, he would so cry
Ay, ay, ay, yaa, he would so laugh
and of a mortal passion he did die.

What a sad little dove it was,
so early in the morning sang to him
To the tiny little house, the lonely house,
with the doors open wide, little but prim.

It is sworn that this little dove
is no other than his very soul
And with bated eyes, he still waits
For her to come back and be together

Cucurrucucú, dove;
cucurrucucú, dont cry;
Never ever cry for a stone, dove
For what ever do they know of love?

Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú,
cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú.

Haikus on the road

Haikus are the Japanese take on minimalist poetry. Surprising, isnt it, that poems could be further deplumed and create a wonderful tool, celebrating raw narure bereft of any other supplements what so ever.

Before continuing any further, let me be clear that the underwritten are not traditional haikus, as thay are not of 17 syllables, nor does it contain a kigo, Its basically a modern haiku written cleebrating my numerous rides in the jungle of Bangalore traffic.

Haikus
Dark clouds and a light drizzle
Fast cars and an anxious mother
A child orphaned. (1)

Black bird cawing hidden in trees
Curious eyes searching for life
Horns Blare. (2)

An isolated mango hidden amongs the leaves in a tree
Stealing beggar caught by a screaming guard at hand
Onlookers yawn as a child wails hunger. (3)

Girl blowing life in a flower
Flowers galore as a woman clenses
Posters,they inspire. (4)

A child feeding in public view
Hungry kids playing in the prying sun
Bloody beggars!!! (5)

The Temple of pleasure: Madhushala

Let me begin by putting forward my condolences for all those in the world with little or absolutely no knowledge of Hindi... for Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic cannot have any translation.. Its like translating Pushkin's Eugene Onegin from Russian. You can understand the plight of translators like Novakov of Lolita's fame , who translated the 200 lines Eugene Onegin in four volumes...

With all this forward, let me confess that I tried translating atleast 20 stanzas of Madhushala but then was left flabbergasted, How could I dare to change the meter, what about the rhyme scheme.. the alliteration used and concentrating on the technicalities I was bound to compromise on the meaning. For In addition to the deep philosophy that Madhushala professes it is also a poem that can be sung, a poem where the words clutter and stutter, sway and flow like the wine from an bottle.

In addition to this there was the limitation of language.. Now I am not undermining the english language, I cannot, it is so rich, but then its not yet rich enough to assimilate the Indian culture in all glory. What does Madhushala translate into? House of wine, pub, bar; No I cannot but differ. The cup bearer as Saki lacks the exotic flavor and "haala" and "pyala", "madhusha ki baala" even if translatable doesn't hold back the beauty of the word.

But I still havn't lost hope, I am trying but then the post on some of the couplets in Hindi in the anglo Roman Script couldn't wait. The 20 stanzas are selected from the DVD of Madhushala sung by Manna dey and are available in stores. I should add that the first 10 stanzas are in playful mode, mostly the writer being in awe of Madhushala, but then the last ten stanzas bring a sense of gloom and talks of madhushala and death in the same breath. I don't want to give any commentaries, atleast for now, so let me just end here else I start to digress.

Enjoy and do pray for me, I will be needing a lot of those:

Madhushala:

Madiralaya jaane ko ghar se, chalta hai peene wala
kis path se jaaoon asamanjas, me hai woh bholabhala
alag alag path batalate sab, par main yeh batalata hun
raah pakad tu ekk chalachal, paa jaaega madhushala. (1)
Click For Translation

Sun kal-kal chhal-chhal, madhukhat se girti, pyaalon mein haalaa
sun runjhun runjhun chal, vitaran karti madhusha ki baalaa
bas aa pahunche, door nahin, kuch chaar kadam ab chalna hai
chahak rahe sun, peene waale, mehak rahi le madhushala. (2)
Click For Translation

Lal sura ki dhaar lapat si, kehna isse dena jwalaa
hai nil madira hai mat isko, keh dena ur ka chhaalaa
dard nasha hai iss madira ka, Bigat smritiyan saaki hain
peeda mein anand jise ho, aaey meri madhushala. (3)
Click For Translation

Dharma granth sab jalaa chuki hain, jiske antar ki jwalaa
mandir, masjid, girje sab ko, tod chuka jo matwala
pandit, momin, padriyon ke, phandon ko jo kaat chuka
kar sakti hai aaj usi ka, swaagat meri madhushala. (4)
Click For Translation

Lalayit adharon se jisne, haay nahin choomi halaa
harshiv kampit kar se jisne, haay na chuaa madhu ka pyaalaa
haath pakad lajjit saaki ka, pass nahin jisne khincha
vyarth sukhaa daali jeevan ki, usne madhumaya madhushala. (5)
Click For Translation

Bane pujaari premi saaki, gangajal pawan halaa
rahe pherta avirat gati se, madhu ke pyalon ki malaa
aur liye jaa, aur piye jaa, issi mantra ka jaap kare
main Shiv ki pratimaa ban baithun, mandir ho yeh madhushala. (6)
Click For Translation

Ek baras mein ek baar hi, jalti holi ki jwalaa
ek bar hi lagti baazi, jalti deepon ki malaa
duniya waalo kintu kisi din, aa madiralaya mein dekho
din ko holi raat diwali, roz manati madhushala. (7)
Click For Translation

Adharon par ho koi bhi ras, jiwha par lagti halaa
haan jan ho koi haathon mein, lagta rakha hai pyaalaa
har surat saaki ki surat, main parivartit ho jati
aankhon ke aage ho kuchh bhi, aankhon mein hai madhushala. (8)
Click For Translation

Sumukhi tumhara sundar mukh hi, mujh ko kanchan ka pyalaa
chhalak rahi hai, jisme maanik roop madhur maadak halaa
main hi saaki banta main hi, peene waala banta hun
jahan kahin mil baithe hum tum, wahin gai ho madhushala. (9)
Click For Translation

Do din hi madhu mujhe pilaa kar, oob uthi saaki balaa
bhar kar ab khiska deti hai, woh mere aage pyalaa
naaz adaa andazon se ab, haye pilanaa duur huaa
ab to kar deti hai keval, farz-adaaee madhushala. (10)

Chote se jeevan main kitna, pyaar karoon, pee loon halaa
aane ke hi saath jagat main, kahlayaa jaane walaa
swagat ke hi saath bidaa ki, hoti dekhi tayyaari
band lagi hone khulate hi, meri jeevan madhushala.(11)

Shaant sakhi ho kab tak saaqi, pee kar kis ur ki jwaalaa
aur aur ki ratan lagataa, jataa har peene walaa
kitni ichchhaaen, har jane walaa chhod yahan jataa
kitne armaanon ki ban kar, qabra khadi hai madhushala. (12)

Yam aaegaa saaki ban kar, saath liye kaali halaa
pee na hosh main phir aaegaa, sura visudh yah matwaalaa
yah antim behoshi, antim saaki, antim pyaala hai
pathik pyaar se peena isko, phir na milegi madhushala. (13)

Dhalak rahi ho tan ke ghat se, sangini jab jeevan halaa
paatra garal ka le jab antim, saaki ho aanewala
haath paras bhule pyaale ka, swaad sura jwiha bhule
kaanon main tum kehti rehna, madhukan pyaala madhushaala (14)

Girti jaati hai din pratidin, pranayani pranon ki halaa
bhagna hua jaata din pratidin, shubhage mera tan pyala
rooth raha hai mujhse roopasi, din din yauwan ka saaki
sookh rahi hai din din sundari, meri jeevan madhushaala. (15)

Mere adharon par ho antim, vastu na tulsi daal pyalaa
meri jwiha par ho antim, vastu na gangaajal halaa
mere shav ke peechhe chalne walon, yaad isse rakhna
Ram naam hai satya na kehna, kehna sachee madhushaala.(16)

Mere shav par woh roae ho, jiske ansoo mein halaa
aah bhare woh ho jo surbhit, madira pee kar matwalaa
dain mujhko weh kandha jinke, pad-mad-dag-mag hote ho
aur jaloon us thaur jahan par, kabhi rahi ho madhushaala. (17)

Aur chita par jaae undela, patra na ghrit ka par pyaala
ghant bandhi angoor lata me, madhya na jal ho par haala
praan priye yadi shraadh karo tum mera, toh aise karna
peene walon ko bulwakar, khulwa dena madhushala. (18)

Naam agar pooche koi toh, kehna bas peenewaala
kaam dhaalna aur dhalaana, sabko madira ka pyaala
jaati priye pooche yadi koi, keh dena deewanon ki,
dharam batana pyaalon ki le, maala japna madhushaala. (19)

Pitr pakshya me putra uthana, arghya na kar me par pyaala
Baith kahin par jaana ganga, saagar me bhar kar haala
kisi jagah ki mitti bheege, tripti mujhe mil jaayegi
tarpan arpan karna mujhko, padh padh karke madhushala. (20)

Epitaph for the lost love

Note: This is a song which I loved to hear. Tried my hands at translating this song, a very difficult job and nowhere near the original. Please read the translation only if you are not conversant in Hindi.

Info of the song:

Lyricist :Rajendra Krishna
Singer :Talat Mehmood
Music Director :Madan mohan
Movie :Dekh Kabira Roya - 1957

Video:


Lyrics:
Hum se aaya na gaya, tum se bulaya na gaya
Faasla pyar me donon se mitaya na gaya.

Woh ghadi yaad hai, Jab tum se mulakaat hui,
Ek ishaara hua, do haath badhe, baat hui
Dekhte dekhte, din dhal gaya aur raat hui
Woh shama aaj talak dil se bhulaya na gaya

Kya khabar thi, ke mile hain toh bichadne ke liye
Kismatain apni banayi hai, bigadne ke liye
Pyar ka baagh lagaya tha, ujadne ke liye
Iss tarah ujda ke phir, humse basaya na gaya

Yaad rah jaati hai aur waqt gujar jaata hai
Phool khilta bhi hai, aur khil ke bikhar jaata hai
Sab chale jaate hain, kab dard-e-jigar jaata hai,
Daag jo tu ne diya, dil se mitaya na gaya.

Translation:

Not me to make an effort to return, not you to make the plead
The rift that so grew, could not be without an effort breached

Recall the time, when for the first time we met,
A glint, two hands touched and had our hearts did confabulate
But with time's passage, the sun had made way for the dark
The spark that had been ignited then, had left its lasting mark.

Who it was who knew that we had met only to part
Only to crush our destinies we had them so lovingly carved
The garden nurtured with our love was created just to be ruined
No amount of love can have these wrecks ever redeemed

Only the memories remain but time passes on,
The flower blooms and then wilts, after its moment under the sun.
Every one departs someday, but will these heartburns ever digress
The scar of the departed's pain is so difficult for my heart to efface.

Compromise

This Poem is in Hindi and is from the movie ArdhaSatya.. An excellent poem which you have to sit and ponder... Have tried my hands at translating this for guys not so well versed in Hindi ...

Chakravyuh mein ghusne se pehle
kaun tha main aur kaisa tha main
yeh mujhe yaad hi na rahe

Chakravyuh mein ghusne ke baad
mere aur chakravyuh ke beech sirf jaan leva nikatta thi
is ka mujhe patha hi na chaley

Chakravyuh se bahar nikalney par main mukt ho jaun bhaley hi.
phir bhi chakravyuh ke rachna mein farak hi nahin padega

Marun ya maarun
maara jauun ya jaan se maar dun
iska faisla kabhi na ho paayega

soya hua aadmi jab neend se utkhar chalna shuru karta hai
tab sapnon ka sansar usey dubara dikhai dega kya

us roshni mei,jo nirnay ki roshni hai
sab kuch samaan hoga kya?

ek paldey mei napunsakta
dushray paldey par paarush
aur theek tarazu ke beech ke kaantey par

ArdhaSatya

Translation(Plain):

Before entering the field with encircling enemies
Who was I and How was I,
This I hope I dont still remember

After entering the field of enemies
There was a deathly nearness between them and me
This i hope I dont even get to know

Once I get I out of this field of madness
I may be freed of the world
but there will no difference in the field of enemies itself

If I die or I kill,
If I am killed or destroy another life
That decission can never be taken

A sleeping man after waking up when starts walking
then will he be able to see the world of dreams

In that light, which is the light of deliverance
will everything be weighed equal

In one balance there is cowardice on the other there is valour
and lies exactly in the middle of the scale is ...

Half Truth

Moonlight that had kept me awake

There was darkness all around
The night had eclipsed the sun,
The night, all dark crept slowly to break hearts
The hearts thumped slowly in anxiety and anguish,
the terrors of darkness being manifold

I saw the battle happen, the mighty battle of the sun
All wishes were with him to shine again
To fill the planet with its brilliance, the world with serenity
The serenity that would have brought the world to a glorius future,
all bright, all happy

In darkenss the other night when I lay
A stream of cool moonlight fell on my face,
making my face bright with hope,
raising the sensetations sweet
making me aware of the presence,
the presence that proclaims victory,
The victory of the sun over darkness, of yang over ying
of may be good over evil.
I slept under the moon
with an enligtened smile on my lips
Dreaming of the setting sun and its rising reflection
and the shining dewey blades of the green green grass.

A flower's odyssey

A solitary flower stood at the corner of a vast garden
enjoying her beauty under the heat of the morning sun
Dressed brightly, the flower laughed
A little proud, A little vain
laughing in her innocent pride.
She smiled at the playing children
She winked at the cooing lovers
and painted her life with all the hope
An optimistic picture of what only time would reveal.
Slowly she blossomed, radiating her beauty
Her fragnance filled the world
She stirred with every touch,
the soft touch of the passing wind
The warm touch of an innocent child
The firm but nurturing touch of the gardner
And she waited for her fate, Matured as she waited.

She attracted everyone who saw her
Ants and insects, bees and man
The bees swarmed around her
Drinking her nectar, licking her sweetness
Draining her beauty, making her hollow.
A light breeze now took the flower away
She fell on the hard ground with a life all spent
The petals were covered with dewey the tears
As she faced a different world all bleak , all white

A warm touch made her fly away from the hell
to a temple resonanting the sweet sound of faith
And she reached the divinity's head
Hundreds fell at her feet, thousands admired her
as she pleaded for time to stay

The next day she was dumped
All spent, All forgotten, she faded away

The stalking fear:

The road lay in front of me
The road winding up ahead rising to kiss the foot of a stranger
The road, red with the blood of a dirty labourer or blushing at the newly weds who walked on to their dreams.
A silent observer dwelling firm on the ground and looking with envy at the floating clouds above.
There suddenly was a bang.
A few clatters, a terrifying cry and then silence.
The silence that echoed in every heart.
The silence that silenced the resonating hopes of a young widow, waiting for her love in a red attire,
With hands full of bangles, a gleaming vermillion and eyes sparkling with love, with hopes, with dreams.
The dreams broke in an instant,
The heart was trodded on in an instant
The flower lay plucked in an instant.
The bangles lay broken, The vermillion was wiped
And the colorful red was replaced with white
And the silence was broken, broken with dread, with grief, with more silence.
The dread is still there in our heart
The heart still blooms with fear
The fear that is death, the gloomy inevitable death
The goal has long been set
The path has long been made
And we have long been marching.
But all along we dread to die
But all along we dream to live
But all along we dare to dream.