Yeh Lal Rang Kab Mujhe Chhodega English Translation

Yeh Lal Rang Kab Mujhe Chhodega is an Anand Bakshi song for the movie Prem Nagar. Kishor Kumar who makes his voice sound exactly like Rajesh Khanna sings it. It has a lovely 70s style backing music of S.D. Burman, which today is iconic of that period, and always takes me back to that time in Tanzania sipping hot tea in the hot evening sun, and this song blaring loudly on the valve radio.

This song is about lal rang, also known as red wine. This is an interesting song because almost every culture has a song about drinking; however, this one is the most intelligent one I have heard.

All drinkers start out with control over alcohol, however, little by little; it eventually takes control of them! This is because the synapses within the brain habituates and builds resistance against its effects so more is required to get the same high. It can appear that the drink has control over the drinker, hence in the first line, he questions when it (drink) will give him up, instead of when he will give it up.

Yeh, laal rang, kab mujhe, chhodega

When will this red colour give me up?

Mera gham, kab talaaq, mera dil, todega

When will this sadness, which breaks my heart, separate from me?

Kisi ka bhi liya naam to, aayi yaad, tuu hi tuu

Whoevers name I say, it is always you, and only you that I remember.

Yeh to pyara shraab kaa, ban gaya yeh lahoo

This is a loving alcohol; it has become (my) blood!

Peene ki kasam daal de, piyunga, kis taraah

I gave a promise to drink; whom shall I drink to?

Yeh na socha tunee yaar maain, jiyunga, kis taraah

I never thought of a friend in you; whom shall I live for?

Chalaa jauu kahin chhod ke, main tera, yeh sehar

Where will I go, after I leave your town?

Naa to yahaa amrit milaa, peenaa ko, naa zehaar

Here you cannot get ambrosia, nor poison to drink.