Few years back a certain TV serial
took Bengali Satellite TV viewers by storm. It had all the elements in place
for the Bengali intellectual; the ones taking their last breath in a century
that’s completely alien to their philosophy of life. The serial was called
Gaaner Opare. It was a clash between the old and the new; traditions and
modernity; almost the same things that every Bengali Soap is made of (if not about
the members of the extended family trying to kill each other). But it had one
major difference; the context of Gaaner Opare was Rabindrasangeet. The male
protagonist was the dream of every teenager going to JU or Presi (Jadavpur
University or Presidency College for the uninitiated). He was a rock singer trying
to redefine Tagore. That’s explosive and he had the drop dead intellectual
looks of his dad; the second most loved “Feluda”. The female protagonist on the
other hand was someone who every mother in Bengal wanted as her daughter in
law. Independent yet upholding tradition; wearing the most gorgeous Sari in the
day and age of Jeans and T shirts and a voice of gold singing Rabindrasangeet
in just the right way.
Cutting a long story short; the
show ended as well; thankfully without trying to extend it’s runtime. But
Gaaner Opare left a mark. A few days back a friend with a strong connection to
Calcutta suddenly pinged me asking me about the true meaning of this song. And
I was dumbfounded. Probably one of the most esoteric of Tagore’s songs; like
many of his later works it masquerades as a love song in the grey area between spirituality
and platonic, unfulfilled love. And therefore as the rains lash Mumbai forcing
me inside my house and on my bean bag; here’s an attempt.
The Original Bengali Genius
Dariye acho tumi aamar gaaner oparey
x 2
Amar shurguli paay choron, ami pai
ne tomare.
Dariye acho tumi aamar gaaner
oparey.
Batash bohey mori mori, aar bedhe
rekho na tori. x 2
Esho esho paar hoye mor hridoy
majhare.
Dariye acho tumi aamar gaaner
oparey.
Tomar saathey gaaner khela duurer
khela je,
Bedonate baanshi bajay shokol bela
je.
Kobey niye aamar baanshi bajabe go
apni ashi; x2
Anondomoy nirob raater nibir
aandharey.
Dariye acho tumi aamar gaaner
oparey.
Amar shurguli paay choron, ami pai
ne tomare.
Dariye acho tumi aamar gaaner
oparey.
My English Transliteration Attempt
You stand beyond the realms of my
song x2
Probably my tunes reach you in
their trembling steps;
but I have never been able to get
to you
As you stand beyond the realms of
my song
The winds blow; oh how
beautifully; do not hold your boat back
x2
Come cross over to the very centre
of my heart
And yet you stand beyond the
realms of my song.
Singing a song with you; is
celebrating the song of distances
The pain of it emanates from my
flute all day long;
When will you take my flute to
play your beauteous tunes? X2
In the darkness of the night
filled with unspeakable happiness?
You stand beyond the realms of my
song
Probably my tunes reach you in
their trembling steps;
but I have never been able to get
to you
As you stand beyond the realms of
my song
3 comments:
Cannot think of a better translation of the song Madhurjyada
Thanks Shibu :)
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