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19th century Lucknow was the heart of India's beauty and culture. The hearbeat of which was Umrao Jaan Adaa. But the tragedy is that this heartbeat had a beating heart of her own, that nobody listened to while she lived. Umrao Jaan’s every song was the sound of her heartbeat, the longing cry of her lonely heart."
Many people may like to believe that Umraojaan existed for real, but to this date there is a controversy on whether such a courtesan existed in the 19th century, as depicted in Umra-O-Jaan-E-Ada, a novel written in 1904 by Mirza Mohammed Hadi Ruswa.
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| In life, Umrao Jaan had the whole of Awadh, an Indian province, at her
feet. In death, she rests alone. In life, she craved for the love of her
life, Nawab Sultan; in death, she seeks peace. In life, Umrao Jaan had the whole of Awadh,
an Indian province, at her feet. In death, she rests alone. In life, she
craved for the love of her life, Nawab Sultan; in death, she seeks
peace.
A courtesan and a poetess in the 19th century Lucknow, in northern
Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Umrao Jaan 'Ada' has spawned a novel,
which in turn set off two Bollywood filmmakers to showcase her life on
the silver screen.
But, in old Lucknow, where she was buried, Umrao Jaan has few visitors. Her grave has no epitaph, no flowers.
In 19th century, when her mehfils were a rage in Lucknow. People said
if Lucknow is heart of Awadh, she is its heartbeat. But, now even her
tombstone has fallen prey to encroachment. Only a part of it is visible.
The rest has been covered by a cemented road that leads to the
Imam-e-Ali Rauza, the replica of the tomb of Ali, the eighth Imam of the
Shiites.
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Born in 1857, Ruswa was a teacher, poet and an author and wrote only five novels in his lifetime. This novel is the story of Ameeran, a girl from a lower middle class family. She is kidnapped as a child and ends up a nautch girl, rechristened as Umrao Jaan.
The only work of his that enjoyed acclaim after this was the novel Sharif Zada. Ruswa eventually moved out of Lucknow and settled down in Hyderabad before he passed away in 1931.
Amaresh Misra, author Lucknow: Fire of Grace believes Umrao Jaan really existed.
"Ruswa met Umrao in 1882 when she was reduced to penury," says Misra. "She was living as a destitute and she told her life story to him."
In his opinion, Umrao Jaan left Lucknow for Bhairach district in 1858 after Lucknow fell to Britishers, and moved back only much later in life, at an old age.
Amaresh is convinced Umrao was real because he feels there is historic evidence backing him.
"The character of dacoit Fazal Ali existed and he was killed in 1856. He was from Gonda and people of Gonda fought against Britishers in 1857 during the revolt because they killed their leader. This fact is recorded in history."
In the book, Fazal Ali meets Umrao and falls in love with her after Nawab Sultan refuses to marry her.
Fazal Ali's character (called Faiz Ali in the movies) was played by Raj Babbar in 1981, and will be played by Suniel Shetty in the new film.
"Secondly," says Amaresh, "there's the character of Azizunbai, the famous courtesan. When the Britishers deposed Azizunbai for plotting against them in 1857, she said she was a disciple of Umrao Jaan, and this fact too is recorded in history."
The British executed Azizunbai, and till this day her grave exists in Kanpur.
Interestingly, the new Umrao Jaan will be Bollywood's fourth attempt at telling Ruswa's story. The first film came in 1958, called Mehndi, after which Zindagi Aur Toofan followed in 1975. Then came the 1981 classic by Muzaffar Ali.
The latest director J P Dutta says, "There is still a lot of speculation and awe about Umrao Jaan in Lucknow; whether she was really there, if she is a real character or Ruswa's imagination. Some people also say that she was Ruswa's mother."
Concludes Iftakhar Imam Siddiqui, noted Urdu poet, "I believe Umrao Jaan was not a real character and Ruswa wrote that character reflecting its time. His character Umrao Jaan became more famous than him."
Those who will fulfil a promise
Kum hote hai
Are very few
Ishq na karna
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| 'Haasil-e-sahre jahan kuch nahin, hairaani hai' |
In love there is nothing but sorrow
Main na milakoon jo tumse
If I am not able to meet you
Meri justajoo na karna
Do not remember me
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
For my sake
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Do not long for me
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Mujhe jis se hai mohabbat
The one who I love
Use hai ajab hai yeh aadat
Has a strange habbit
Mujhe jis se hai mohabbat
Use hai ajab hai yeh aadat
Kabhi moo ko pher lena kabhi guftagoo na karna
Sometimes he turns his face, and sometimes stops talking to me
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Maine chaaha tha kisiko
I loved somebody
Mera haal kya hai dekho
And look what happened to me
Jo kiya kasoor maine wohi tum kabhi na karna
The fault I made, never make it youself
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Meri ho agar buraaee
If I am disrespected somewhere
To na dena tum safaee
Do not stand up for me
Meri ho agar buraaee
To na dena tum safaee
Mera saath khud ko ruswa kabhi koobakoo na karna
Never make your name drop for the sake of mine
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Koi pooche badnaseebi
If someone asks, does bad luck
Ki hai intehaa bhi koi
Have a limit
Koi pooche badnaseebi
Ki hai intehaa bhi koi
To meri misaal dena to mujhe namoona karna
Then tell them my name, make an example of me
Tumhe meri hi kasam hain
Meri aarzoo na karna
Main na milakoon jo tumse
Meri justajoo na karna
Ik toote huwe dil ki aawaaz mujhe kahiye
Tell me the sound of a broken heart
Sur jis mein hain sab gham ke
The melody where all grief is
Woh saaz mujhe kahiye
Tell me of that instrument
Main kaun hoon aur kya hoon
Who am I and what am I
Kis ke liye zinda hoon
Who am I alive for
Main khud bhi nahi samjhi
What I couldn't understand myself
Woh raaz mujhe kahiye
.......Tell me that secret?????? |
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Aarzoo thi humein ik naa
One wish is all I had
Zahe kismet miljaaye
And my life would be complete
Saari duniya mein kisi se to
In this whole world
Mohabbat mil jaaye
If only I had found some love/compassion
Jeeteji paaya na kuch humne zamaanewana
I have received nothing from the world all my life
Ab janaaze ko to rukhsat ki ijaazat mil jaaye
At least allow me to let my funeral procession pass
Pooch rahe hain
They are asking
Poochne waale
The people who are asking
Pooch rahe hain
Poochne waale Lekin hum batlaaye kya
But what should I tell them
Lekin hum batlaaye kya
Daagh yeh dil ne paaye hain kaise
How my heart got these stains
Daagh yeh dil ne paaye hain kaise
Unko hum samjhaaye kya
How can I explain it to them
Unko hum samjhaaye kya
Pooch rahe hain Poochne waale Kitne daagh hai iss daaman mein
How many marks are there on my body
Kitne daagh hai maathe par
And on my head
Kitne daagh hai iss daaman mein
Kitne daagh hai maathe par Jo humko apna sakte the
When those who could have kept me close didn�t
Sach hai humein apnaaye kya
Why should anyone else
Daagh yeh dil ne paaye hain kaise
Unko hum samjhaaye kya Pooch rahe hain Poochne waale Jo apno ki gasti thi ab
She used to be among her own people
Nagari hai begaano ki
Now she is among strangers
Jo apno ki gasti thi ab
Nagari hai begaano ki Kaun yahaan hai sun ne waala
Who here will listen though
Dil ki baat sunaaye kya
So what should I say about what my heart feels
Daagh yeh dil ne paaye hain kaise
Unko hum samjhaaye kya Pooch rahe hain Poochne waale Patthar ab kya phaik rahe ho
You throw stones at me
Hum pehle se zakhmi hai
I am already injured
Patthar ab kya phaik rahe ho
Hum pehle se zakhmi hai Dil par kitne zakhm lage hain
The amount of wounds on my heart
Chhoro tumhe ginwaaye kya
Forget it, how can I make you count them
Daagh yeh dil ne paaye hain kaise
Unko hum samjhaaye kya Pooch rahe hain Poochne waale |
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| Kaun kisko yahaan bhalaa samjhaa
Who here understands anyone
Humne kya samjha tum ne kya samjha
What did I understand what did you understand
Bewafaa humne tumko samjha sanam
We thought you were unfaithful my love
Tumne humko hi bewafaa samjha
And you thought of us as unfaithful
Jhoote ilzaam meri jaan lagaaya na karo
Do not throw false accusations, my dear
Jhoote ilzaam meri jaan lagaaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo
The heart is fragile, do not hurt it like this
Jhoote ilzaam meri jaan lagaaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam
False accusations
Meri aankhon mein jo acche nahi lagte aansoo
These tears do no look good in my eyes
Meri aankhon mein jo acche nahi lagte aansoo To jalaaya na karo mujhko sataaya na karo
So do not burn me or tease me thus
To jalaaya na karo mujhko sataaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam Tum kisi aur ki qismat mein ho tum mere nahee
You are meant for someone else, you are not mine
Tum kisi aur ki qismat mein ho tum mere nahee Yeh agar sach bhi hai toh mujhko bataaya na karo
Even if this is true, do not tell me about it
Yeh agar sach bhi hai toh mujhko bataaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam Ya to taabeer bataao mere sab khaabon ki
Either tell me the meaning of these dreams
Ya to taabeer bataao mere sab khaabon ki Ya koi khaab in aankhon ko dikhaaya na karo
Or do not show my eyes any more dreams
Ya koi khaab in aankhon ko dikhaaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam Abhi aaye ho abhi baithe abhi jaate ho
You just got here, sat and now you leave
Abhi aaye ho abhi baithe abhi jaate ho Sirf ik rasm nibhaane ko to aaya na karo
Do not just come to fulfil one obligation
Sirf ik rasm nibhaane ko to aaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam meri jaan lagaaya na karo Dil hai naazuk isse tum aise dukhaaya na karo Jhoote ilzaam |
Ab jo kiye ho data, aisa na keejo
What you did this time, Oh God, don't do it again...
Agle Janam mohe bitiya na keejo
Don't let me come as a daughter in my next birth
Hamre sajanwa hamra dil aisa toran,
My beloved broke my heart in such a way....
u ghar basaayin hamka rastaa ma choran
He married someone else, and left me standing on the road
jaise ke lalla koi khilauna jo paawe,
Just like how a baby finds a toy...
dui chaar din to khile, phir bhul jaawe
to play with for a few days, only to forget afterwards
Ro bhi na paawe issi gudiya na kijiyo
Do not make me like this doll, who can't even shed her tears...
Agle janam mohe bitiya na kijiyo
jo ab kiye ho data aisa na kijiyo
Aisi bidaai bolo dekhi kahin hai
Tell me, have you ever seen a bride sent off like this
maiya na babul bhaiya, kauno nahin ha
Mother, father, not even a brother, there is no one
aasoon ke gehne aur dukh ke hai doli
With only tears as her jewellery, and sadness as her palanquin
Bandh kiwaliya more ghar ki yeh bolie
Says the closed door of my house
Iss aur sapno mein bhi aayaa na keejo
please don't visit me now, not even in my dreams...
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What you did this time oh God don't do it again
Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo Agle janam mohe bitiya na keejo
Don't let me come as a daughter in my next birth
Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo Agle janam mohe bitiya na keejo Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo Kaisa naseeba jag mein
What fate is this
Har bitiya paaye
All daughters must face
Apna jinhe samjhat hai
Who you thought were your own
Tanu paraaye
Turn out to be strangers to you
Baabul ka angna chor kar
You must leave your father's home
Maiyya ka anchalraa
And mother's lap
Bholi chirayya paaye
And all the bird gets
Bas ek pinjra
Is a cage
Phir bhi yeh sab samjhaawe tarpaa na keejo
Even so she explains to everyone not to fear
Agle janam mohe bitiya na keejo Agle janam mohe bitiya na keejo Jo ab kiye ho data aisa na keejo 
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