Roz Roz Aankhon Tale English Translation

Roz roz aankhon tale was a song written by Gulzar and featured in the 1986 film "Jeeva". This English translation of the lyrics is an approximation because the song is a complex one, which explores the philosophical symmetry in life. For example, life teaches one the importance of death, but death gives meaning to life. Sadness and happiness are also symmetrical, because each gives the other meaning.

Asha’s lovely angelic voice conveys sadness very well and it works brilliantly as she demonstrates her immense singing talent. This is by far one of her best songs, which she sings effortlessly.

When I first heard this song, I quickly scribbled the lyrics down on some paper, and later realised that it was a Gulzar song.

Roz roz aankhon tale, ek hi sapana chale

Every day under the eyes, a dream goes by

The words "Aankhon tale" approximates to "under the eyes" in this lovely language, which is an elaborate way to describe tears and implies crying. Every day dreams go by under her eyes... implying she cries over a future that could have been.

raat bhar kaajal jalee,

The words raat bhar approximates to fullness of night or the whole night in modern language. Raat bhar kaajal jale means that her eye shadow runs all night, implying that she cries throughout the night. However Gulzar uses a double meaning because kajjal is a black lamp as well!

aankh mein, jis tarah, khwaab ka diya jale

in (her) eyes, just as, the light of her hopes burn.

Although we approximate khwaab to dreams, it approximates better to hopes.

Jale approximates to burns. Gulzar uses imagery to juxtapose the way a lamp burns (diya) and the way kaajal runs down in tears by saying that both are burning.

Jab se, tumhaari naam ki misri, honth lagaayi hai

Ever since, the sweetness of your name, (I) applied to (my) lips

Misri is the sweet holy water a Hindu priest places in the palm of your hand, which you bring close to your lips to touch, but not to drink.

mithhaa saa gham hai, aur mithi si tanhaii hai

Sweet my sorrow became, and sweet my lonliness (now) is

Gulzar uses symmetry here to show that if you can understand that death gives life meaning, then your sadness is just half of the equation that can become sweet.

Chhoti si dil ki uljhan hai, ye suljhaa do tum

It is a small confusion of the heart, that you can clarify

jeena to sikhaa hai marke, maranaa sikhaa do tum

living taught (me) death, but you can teach (me) what it is to die

(Because dying teaches you what it is to live… This passage gives the impression that her sweetheart might be dead already.)

Aankhon par kuchh, aise tumne, zulf giraa di hai

over your eyes, like a veil, you have covered with your hair

bechaare se, kuchh khawaabo ki, nind udaa di hai

poor (girl), lost (her) sleep over some hope.

This music has that iconic 60s style that always takes me back to that period. If you reduce the speed by 6%, the tempo improves slightly. A slight bass boost will also bring forward the guitar rhythm, which augments the music well.