Rehna tu translation

2009 February 11
by Tinkerbell

A non-hindi speaking friend of mine had asked me the meaning of “Rehna tu” song from Delhi-6. Since I love translating songs, I couldn’t stop myself from translating it instantly. Prasoon Joshi’s great as ever. Without much frill, posting the translation. I am not much clear about the deeper meaning of the last stanza. Any suggestion people?

Rehna tu, Hai jaisa tu
Stay as you are
Thoda sa dard tu, Thoda Sukun
A little pain, a little relief
Rehna Tu, Hai Jaisa Tu
Stay as you are
Dheema Dheema jhonka, Ya phir junoon
A gentle breeze, a strong gust of wind
Thoda sa resham, Tu hamdam
A little silky, you are my love
Thoda sa khurdura
A little rough
Kabhi tu adh jaaye, Ya ladh jaaye
Sometimes you are stubborn, Sometimes you end up fighting
Ya khushboo se bhara
Sometimes (you are) full of fragrance (sweetness)
Tujhe badalna na chahoon
Don’t want to change you
Rati bhar bhi sanam
Not even a bit
Bina sajawat milawat
Undecorated, Unaltered
Na zyaada na hi kam
Neither more nor less
Tuhje chaahon, jaisa hai tu
I like you, just the way you are
Mujhe teree barish mein beegna hai ghuljana hai
I want to drench myself in rain (of your love).. I seek union with you

Tujhe chaahon, jaisa hai tu
I like you, just the way you are
Mujhe tere lapat mein jalna rakh ho jana hai
I want to get burnt in your tresses…burn away to ashes
Tu zakham de agar
If you torment me,
Marham bhi aakar tu lagaaye
You soothe me too
Zakham mein bhi mujhko pyaar aaye
Even in pain, I find you adorable

Dariya oooo dariya
Doobne de mujhe dariya
Doobne de mujhe dariya
Let me sink in your love (river-like)
Rehna Tu, Hai Jaisa Tu
Stay as you are

Thoda sa dard tu, Thoda Sukun
A little pain, a little relief
Rehna Tu, Hai Jaisa Tu
Dheema Dheema jhonka, Ya phir junoon
A gentle light breeze or a strong gust of wind

Haath thaam chalna ho
If we hold hands and walk
To dono ke daye haath sang kaise
Then how our right hands will be intertwined
Haath thaam chalna ho
If we hold our hands
To dono ke daye haath sang kaise
Then how our right hands will be intertwined
Ek daaya hoga, ek baaiya hoga
Only the left and right hands can join
Tham le, haath yeh thaam le
Hold my hands…hold my hands dear
Chalna hai sang thaam le
Hold my hands…in the journey (of life)

20 Responses leave one →
  1. 2009 February 16

    Hi Tinkerbell… I googled for the translation of Rehna Tu and that’s how I chanced upon your site. Thanks a bunch! I am not a Hindi Speaker, though I can’t help but notice that Ghenda Phool and Masakali doesn’t really sound Hindi. Is it Punjabi? Correct me if I’m wrong.

    :)
    thanks – G

    • 2009 April 8
      Deepti permalink

      both the songs are in Hindi dear.

  2. 2009 February 17

    Hey!
    Thanks so much for this translation. Was googling for this and came across your site.
    I love the song even more knowing their meaning now!
    Gorgeous stuff!
    :)

  3. 2009 February 18

    ahhhh at lastttt….
    thank you so much, i was looking for the meaning of the song for almost an hour….now i know why i fell in love with this song:)

  4. 2009 February 24
    .dot permalink

    i speak hindi too and i think the translation could have been explained better. the song is very poetic and some stuff loses its meaning when translated literally. nonetheless, a job well done. love the song!

    @G:
    Genda Phool – Marigold (flower)
    Masakali – a type of bird
    both are in hindi, although masakali is kinda obscure!

  5. 2009 February 24

    I am not a native hindi speaker. Just a try! I do agree that some meaning is lost when translated literally

    • 2009 February 26

      The lyrics reminds me of Bob Dylan’s All I Really Want To Do

      I ain’t lookin’ to compete with you,
      Beat or cheat or mistreat you,
      Simplify you, classify you,
      Deny, defy or crucify you.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

      No, and I ain’t lookin’ to fight with you,
      Frighten you or uptighten you,
      Drag you down or drain you down,
      Chain you down or bring you down.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

      I ain’t lookin’ to block you up
      Shock or knock or lock you up,
      Analyze you, categorize you,
      Finalize you or advertise you.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

      I don’t want to straight-face you,
      Race or chase you, track or trace you,
      Or disgrace you or displace you,
      Or define you or confine you.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

      I don’t want to meet your kin,
      Make you spin or do you in,
      Or select you or dissect you,
      Or inspect you or reject you.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

      I don’t want to fake you out,
      Take or shake or forsake you out,
      I ain’t lookin’ for you to feel like me,
      See like me or be like me.
      All I really want to do
      Is, baby, be friends with you.

  6. 2009 February 27
    ISHWARYA permalink

    nice translation..pls also translate “maula.. maula..” song from delli 6..

    thanks

  7. 2009 February 28
    Ash permalink

    The last stanza goes like this:

    Haath thaam chalna ho
    To dono ke daye haath sang kaise
    Haath thaam chalna ho
    To dono ke daye haath sang kaise

    Ek daaya hoga, ek baaiya hoga
    Tham le, haath yeh thaam le
    Chalna hai sang thaam le

    We have to walk holding hands
    So how can two right hands be together?
    We have to walk holding hands
    So how can two right hands be together?

    One will be the right, one will be the left.
    Hold on, hold on to my hand.
    We have to walk together, so hold on.

    Hope this helps?

    • 2009 April 8
      Deepti permalink

      superb translation ..
      i was seaching for the meaning of this stanza. The song takes a different turn when it reaches this line, so i was getting confused as to whether i have understood the right meaning of this line. And guess i was right.. after reading ur trnaslation.. tks

  8. 2009 March 13
    Bals permalink

    Hey Dude… Wanted to say the meaning of this song to my honey… Thanks a lot. Just e-mailed her it. I dedicated it as an ode to her… :)

    Luv
    Bals

  9. 2009 March 14
    Kota permalink

    Thats Great Dude!!
    You have given the essence of the song, that was great!
    If you have literally translated it wouldn’t sound good I guess!

  10. 2009 March 22

    Masakalli doesn’t really have a meaning of it’s own..that’s the beauty of the word. It’s just a nonsense phrase that was thought up of when the dove was looked it, and they decided to name her Masakalli.

    I agree; the translation could have been done much better. MUCH better, because all the poetry is lost. But well-tried.

  11. 2009 March 25
    Rams permalink

    Thank you so much man. I bookmarked your site and visit it very frequently from now on to see any new translations.. Thanks again. I googled for translation and found no where!

  12. 2009 April 21
    Sreedevi......... permalink

    thanku……thanku thanku so much!!!!!!!………………….Tinkerbell & Ash…………

  13. 2009 April 24

    lovely

  14. 2009 July 20
    Anonymous permalink

    poor translation, not poetic at all

  15. 2009 August 23
    TUSHAR permalink

    well , i thought about this song in a different perspective…for me its dedicated to the city “DELHI”….as the song says”REHNA TU HAI JAISE TU”..always remain the same as you are…”THODA SA DARD TU THOODA SUKOON”.. u give pain and also on the other side provide peace to heart…
    what do you think of my view..

    • 2009 August 24

      Until I watched the movie, I thought this song was for a girl. Of course after watching movie, it was clear that Rehna Tu was meant for “Delhi”

  16. 2009 November 4

    Lovely song and lovely lyrics. Thanks a mill.

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