A SearchKashmir production.
Second in the series on Kashmiri poetry
Rahul Wanchoo brings alive an old forgotten work of Abdul Ahad Azad (1903–1948). Azad’s work titled “Shikwa-e-Kashmir” had imagined Kashmir as a figure narrating its own tumultuous history, all that it witnessed in all the centuries, concluding that world is always in constant motion, always has been, always will be, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, that man has to learn from history, from mistakes and hope for a better future. The video puts the poem in context of present history of Kashmir, and reimagines it as a lament by a Kashmiri Pandit. In the end, optimism of Azad (of 1940s) is contrasted by pessimism that surrounds us in present times.
I asked Rahul, we need to shoot this in an abandoned Kashmiri Pandit house. I want to see you sing it in those ruins. Finding the house proved to be a challenge, not that there are not many such houses in Kashmir. Fear. There is fear. The people visiting are afraid. The “guardians” and in some cases, the pandits still in Kashmir, are afraid what camera might be used for and how it would impact them. Something so simple became tricky. In the end, Rahul mentioned his mother’s birth house is still there in Kashmir. I asked him, “What about your own house?” He replied, “It is a rubble.” So, the song was shot in Rahul’s matamaal, or what remains of it. Once the song was done, I asked him to give me some Sahir Ludhianvi.
Video Link
Audio steam and Download available here:
Saavn: Link
Lyrics:
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Kaman Baharan Karaan Dadvun
Many a Gardens, it burns down
Kaman Baharan Karaan Dadvun
Many a Gardens, it burns down
Kaman Dadvanan Bahaara
Many a burnt ones, it returns to Spring
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Kwcchee be rechhnaev-thas
cradled in Lap
Kwcchee be rechhnaev-thas
cradled in Lap
Kwcchee be rechhnaev-thas
cradled in Lap
Kwcchee be rechhnaev-thas
cradled in Lap
Timai ttaa’tthy karum yimoov sanz gulshanu’ky paa’tthy
dear ones, those bedecked like a garden fair
na rood-y tim gul na rood-y bulbul
neither the garden, nor its birds, now remain
dilas me gai Khaar Khara
My heart it turned dust and ashes
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Yimav achaev wuch me
With these eyes I have seen
Yimav achaev wuch me
With these eyes I have seen
Yimav achaev wuch me
With these eyes I have seen
Yimav achaev wuch me
With these eyes I have seen
Raaz Laltaaditas hiwi gul falaan wariyah
many a blooming flowers like King Lalitaditya
timan achan tal no’ treesh naagan
Before my eyes, those springs have dried
gatshaan baagan chhu loorpara
my Gardens, they stand pillaged
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Zamaan Kaetyah Karaan che Gardish
World, how it spins
Na chus araam na chus karaar
knows no relief, finds no peace
Zamaan wuch wuch hi banaan chu insaan
Watching the world, people learn
wuchum ti wariyah hetchum ti wariyah
I have seen a lot, learnt a lot
Zamaan wuch wuch hi banaan chu insaan
Watching the world, people learn
wuchum ti wariyah hetchum ti wariyah
I have seen a lot, learnt a lot
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