"Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi" is a popular Hindi song from the Bollywood movie "Inkaar" (2013), sung by Arijit Singh and written by Javed Akhtar. Here are the lyrics with English translation:
For lovers of Urdu poetry and classic Bollywood music, few ghazals resonate as deeply as "Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi." Originally penned by the legendary poet Ibne Insha, and immortalized by the melodious voice of Mehdi Hassan, this song is a masterclass in bittersweet romance.
For reference, here are the standard lyrics as sung by Ghulam Ali: kal chaudhvin ki raat thi lyrics english translation
English Translation: The night was of the fourteenth day (full moon night) Your eyes were more beautiful than the moon I remain lost in your memories
Explanation: The poet describes the ambiance. On a bright full-moon night, everyone is confused. The moonlight is so beautiful that people argue about whether it is the celestial moon or the face of the beloved. "Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi" is a popular
The core theme is indifference. The world is beautiful, but without the beloved, that beauty is meaningless. Mehdi Hassan’s rendition, released in the 1970s film Shagoon, captures the "rolay" (uproar) of the heart versus the silence of the universe.
Kahta hai har zalim sitam, lekin bura kya hai sitam Humne sitam apne kiye, pahle jawab-e-sitam kiya On a bright full-moon night, everyone is confused
Woh mere samne baithe the (She was sitting right in front of me) Beparwah, bekhabar sitaare saare (Carefree, unaware, like the surrounding stars) Jaise kisi jazeere ki raat thi (As if it were a night on some isolated island)
Shabnam smiled, tears slipping down her cheeks. Some translations take a lifetime. But when they finally arrive, the meaning is perfect.