My final submit was additionally on alankars; that was the jewelry girls put on on completely different components of their physique. The language additionally wants alankars to beautify it. With out figures of speech a language could be fairly bland. A British author Nate White’s article, “Why do some British folks not like Trump” went viral someday again. It was not due to his xenophobic, bigoted, racist insurance policies, nor his incoherent rantings, it was as a result of he was crass in language, he didn’t present any wit, any wry humour, by no means stated something amusing or remotely humorous – briefly he was devoid of any determine of speech. They’re integral to our on a regular basis utilization and we use many figures of speech with none acutely aware effort. Actually the 2 meanings of ‘alankar’ themselves represent a determine of speech known as ‘Yamak’ – that’s, the identical phrase is talked about greater than as soon as in a textual content, every having a distinct that means.
On and off, a customer to the weblog posts a remark (in Hindi) form of disapproving why a weblog on Hindi movie songs must be in English. I don’t have nice fancy for any sort of vigilantism. I politely thank him for his love for our language and that I might be vastly happy to work together with him on Hindi literature on mail. However that set me considering, if we are able to focus on onomatopoeia, synecdoche and metonymy, why can’t we अनुप्रास, यमक, श्लेष, उत्प्रेक्षा, उपमा, रूपक and so forth.
Anupras (अनुप्रास): Alliteration
On the very early levels of Hindi literature a poet was lauded for writing traces like this:
तरणि तनूजा तट तमाल तरुवर बहु छाए
Trendy Hindi poetry has lengthy moved away from such alliteration. In movie songs too, you’ll hardly ever discover a music with such अनुप्रास. That is confined to humorous scenes in movies, resembling Amitabh Bachchan’s act with Kachcha paapad, pakka paapad. After repeating it quick just a few occasions you might be more likely to lose observe and get entangled within the tongue-twister. More easy, although longer, is Chandu ke chacha ne Chandu ki chachi ko chaandni raat mein chaandi ke chammach se chatni chataai. A protracted passage the place each phrase begins with the letter ‘t’, attributed to Shashi Tharoor (?), is right here:
A tribute to letter “T”
By Sashi TharoorThe tongue’s horrible tendency to inform tall tales completely tarnishes conventional transcommunication theories. The tempestuous tirades traceable to the tongue testify to the traumatic techniques of this tiny tab of tissue. 1000’s that take the time to suppose, attempt to tame the tumultuous torrent of the too talkative tongue. Quickly, the tide turns. Towering tempers flip to tenderness. Then, tragically, the development tapers. The tongue journeys, teeters, then takes a tumble; the temptation to trifling twaddle triumphs.
Take time to tabulate this timeless fact: to coach the tongue takes the super expertise of belief. Theology teaches that belief thrives by toil. Due to this fact, throttle the testy tongue! Terminate the trivial matters that tinge the tenor of speak! Trim the trashy, tasteless phrases that transgress traditions of fact! Trounce the trite themes that toady to inconsiderate tattling!
Theoretically, the tantalizing goal of a real, tactful, temperate tongue torments and teases those who sort out the duty. To inform the reality, thrilling triumph throngs the tracks of the powerful, tenacious thwarter of tawdry speak !!!!!
(I really feel all such artistic excesses are wrongly attributed to Shashi Tharoor. His English is simply too elegant for such tips. – AK)
1. Teetar ke do age teetar teetar ke do peechhe teetar, bolo kitne teetar by Asha Bhosle, Simi Grewal and Mukesh from Mera Naam Joker (1970), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar-Jaikishan
Amongst uncommon anupras songs, I may discover a wonderful music Teetar ke do aage teetar. Its antaras, too, are filled with alliteration which should have impressed Amitabh Bachchan’s comedian Kachcha paapad pakka paapad. Have a look at this stanza from the music.
Chaar kachare kachhe chacha
Chaar kachare pakke
Pakke kachare kachhe chacha
Kachche kachare pakke
Yamak (Homonym?)/ Shlesh
They’re shut cousins. The primary refers to 2 equivalent phrases utilized in poetry/music having completely different meanings. I began this submit with a Yamak. The second refers back to the similar phrase used as soon as having two completely different meanings. Yamak is sort of frequent in literature as additionally in songs. Shlesh is rarer.
Rahim wrote fairly just a few didactic couplets utilizing Yamak. A pleasant one is:
कनक कनक ते सौ गुना मादकता अधिकाय
The primary kanak means gold (wealth), the second kanak, the toxic plant dhatoora. The poet says, gold (wealth) is 100 occasions extra poisonous than dhatoora – one’s mere possession makes an individual intoxicated with vanity, the opposite it’s a must to devour to go loopy.
My fellow blogger Anita Rupavataran, who can also be serious about language and literature, as soon as wrote a pleasant article on ‘Homonym in songs’ and he or she was capable of compile an excellent variety of Yamak songs. Nonetheless, in English, at occasions ‘homonym’ is utilized in a wider sense to incorporate phrases like sent-cent-scent or knot-not or cell-sell or know/no. Hindi being a phonetic language, such conditions should not more likely to come up – each the phrases in Yamak would have equivalent spellings. To recover from this problem, English grammar has created a narrower class of ‘homophones’ for related sounding however in another way spelt phrases. That would depart ‘homonyms’ with sufficient pure Yamak phrases, resembling, “Mbappe travelled by practice from Dusseldorf to Hamburg to practice there for his subsequent match”. “PM in his public tackle didn’t tackle the core points.”
2. Tumne kisi ki jaan ko jaate huye dekha hai, wo dekho mujhse roothkar meri jaan ja rahi hai by Rafi from Rajkumar (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar-Jaikishan
Have you ever seen somebody’s life ebbing away? Look there, my beloved goes away from me in a giant sulk. This SJ composition has lengthy been my favorite, it at all times involves my thoughts for Yamak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Jg5pGJ4vM
3. Meri jaan kuchh bhi kijiye, chaahe jaan meri lijiye, par dil humin ko dijiye by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar from Chhalia (1960), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Kalyanji-Anandji
The 2 jaans have the identical that means as within the earlier music, however this music exhibits the distinction extra clearly.
4. Jab se tujhe jaan gayi, haye meri jaan gayi by Lata Mangeshkar from Bluff Grasp (1963), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Kalyanji-Anandji
This one is a novel Yamak music with two jaans able to totally completely different units of that means in two other ways. Right here the primary jaan is within the sense of the French verb ‘savoir’. Within the body Saira Bano, Pran and Shammi Kapoor are all there. She alternatively goes to Pran and Shammi Kapor, however the expression modifications. Due to this fact, it lends itself to 2 units of Yamak interpretations. To the villain: For the reason that day I understood you, I’ve been residing in mortal worry. To the hero: For the reason that day I’ve identified you, you have got taken my breath away. Or, For the reason that day I got here to know you, you have got swept me off my ft.
5. Sajna hai mujhe sajna ke liye by Asha Bhosle from Saudagar (1973), lyrics and music Ravindra Jain
Shifting away from jaan, here’s a good Yamak music with two sajnas – one that means is ‘to decorate up’, and the opposite, the husband in a romantic sense. Padma Khanna forgets that Amitabh Bachchan has to in the end make a residing by promoting गुड़ within the village haat. In her obsession with dressing up she forgot that the gur within the pot on the oven could be badly burnt. The sajna would blast her for losing her time in dressing up, and spoiling his enterprise.
Yamak is extra versatile due to the fashionable song-writers; they don’t seem to be involved with enhancing the literary magnificence. An fascinating music is:
जुम्मा चुम्मा दे दे
तू बोली थी पिछले जुम्मे को, चुम्मा दूंगी अगले जुम्मे को
आज जुम्मा है, तो आ जा आ जा
जुम्मा चुम्मा दे दे
In earlier days, our heroes have been shy. The Sadi ke Mahanayak is extra direct in messaging. “O Jumma (Kimi Ketkar)! You had promised final Jumma (Friday) that you’d give a kiss on the subsequent Friday. Now Friday has come, and I’ve come too, so come Jumma, and provides me chumma.” The virtuous girl does the benevolent act as per her promise made on a holy day, additionally giving pleasure to a whole bunch of raucous dock staff.
Now I’m leaving it to the readers to give you extra Yamak songs with different phrases.
श्लेष
Shlesh refers to a single phrase having two distinct meanings in the identical sentence. It isn’t frequent in literature and rarer nonetheless in songs. However it has are available in frequent utilization within the punchline of some jokes the place the humour is predicated on a wholly surprising that means of a phrase or expression. A pleasant joke doing the rounds within the context of Pakistan’s abysmal efficiency within the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 went as follows:
A US decide needed to determine the custody of an American baby. OK, you say your mother and father beat you, would you prefer to go along with your aunt. Oh, no! She has been beating me since my childhood.
Then, what about your grandmother? No, by no means with that outdated hag, she is the worst of the lot.
Oh, I see you’ve got fairly a household of child-beaters. Giving paramount significance to the kid’s welfare, the decide requested him, then you definitely determine who would you prefer to stay with. Your Honour! Please give my custody to the Pakistani cricket workforce.
The flummoxed decide who, like most People, had not heard of cricket, requested the child wide-eyed: What, why on the earth? As a result of they will’t beat anybody!
That was a pleasant joke, however most such jokes are risqué – the type we describe in our lingo as non-veg jokes. Dada Kondke as soon as grew to become well-known for his double entendres, not match for blended firm. However in 1982 one such music entered the mainstream. Now the bar has been lowered – you will notice it in Kapil Sharma present or some OTT collection. Even Dada Kondke has now turn out to be mainstream – Zee Traditional lately showcased a retrospective of his well-known movies, resembling Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haath Mein.
(Pakistan have continued their washout efficiency in ICC Championship 2025, too. So this joke could be tailored to the more moderen occasion with slight variations. There’s something common about Shlesh jokes – as additionally jokes usually.)
6. Saat saheliyan khadi khadi, fariyad sunavein ghadi ghadi by Kishore Kumar, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal, Hemlata, Kanchan, Padmini Kolhapure, Sadhana Sargam and Shivangi Kolhapure from Vidhata (1982), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Kalyanji-Anandji
I feel the movie obtained a U certificates, however this music beats any Dada Kondke double entendre. The darzi’s spouse laments: Raat bhar muaa sone na de, taanka lagave ghadi ghadi. And in an identical vein, engine driver’s spouse: Raat bhar muaa sone na de, bhonpu bajave ghadi ghadi and so forth. With every punchline the gesture on the stage leaves nothing to creativeness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbvmoBZlt9U
7. Panna ki tamanna hai ki Heera mujhe mil jaye by Kishore Kumar from Heera Panna (1973), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music RD Burman
Here’s a clear music which you’ll stretch to imply a Shlesh music. Panna (Zeenat Aman) covets the heera (diamond) and likewise Heera (Dev Anand).
Saare ke saare ga ma ko lekar gaate chale is an fascinating music which has each Yamak and Shlesh. ‘Saare ke saare’ is an idiomatic expression signifying ‘all of them’. However every phrase may be considered within the context as the primary two musical notes within the sargam – Sa (Shadaj) and Re (Rishabh).
Yamak/Shlesh within the movie Shree 420 (1955)
An intresting use of Yamak/Shesh is within the movie Shree 420. When Raj Kapoor goes to a laundry to hunt a job, the supervisor asks him, Istri to kar loge? Raj Kapoor replies, Ji, pagar milni shuru ho jayegi, aur ghar ho jayega, to istri bhi kar lunga. The supervisor needed to make clear, Wo istri nahin. Iron for urgent garments. This must be Yamak, because the phrase is used twice, each having completely different meanings. One other scene, and see how the identical phrase is used as Shlesh. The Havildar Saheb smiles at Raj Kapoor-Nargis on the sea seaside. He remembers his first encounter with them, and nonetheless underneath the misunderstanding that they’re a quarrelling married couple, asks Raj, Ab tumhari istri garam to nahin hoti? (Does your spouse nonetheless get indignant with you?) Raj Kapoor out of the blue remembers that he has left the recent iron on the fabric on the ironing desk, rushes there solely to search out the fabric is burnt to ashes. Good Shlesh, now with two phrases Istri (lady/iron press); garam (indignant/sizzling)
उत्प्रेक्षा, उपमा, रूपक
We’re accustomed to Upama (simile). It’s a easy comparability of an object (Upamey) with a extra well-known object (Upaman). Comparable to, Chandrama sa mukh. Upama is the most typical; however in our grammar there are two extra comparisons. You’ll be able to consider Utpreksha, Upama and Roopak as completely different levels of comparability just like the phrases in an Arithmetic Development (AP). The primary, Utpreksha is tentative within the sense that there’s a chance – ‘as if’, मानो – that the Upamey is just like the Upaman. In Upama the tentativeness is gone and ‘her eyes are like that of a doe’. Roopak goes a step additional and the girl turns into Mrignayani or Chandramukhi – the Upamey and Upman although distinct, turn out to be one. A really apt illustration to know the distinction between Upama and Roopak is the essence of the movie Sujata (1959). When requested by kinfolk, Nutan’s foster mom Sulochana turns into defensive in regards to the orphaned daughter of an untouchable and describes her, Nahin ye hamari beti nahin, lekin ye bhi beti jaisi hai. Within the climax, Sulochana accepts Nutan, Nahin beti jaisi nahin, tu hamari beti hai. Nutan is emotionally overwhelmed and breaks down in a flood of tears. The distinction between Upama and Roopak is the distinction between ‘beti jaisi’ and ‘beti’.
Utpreksha
8. Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga jaise khilta gulab, jaise shayar ka khwab.. by Kumar Sanu from 1942 A Love Story (1994), lyrics Javed Akhtar, music RD Burman
This can be a good Utpreksha music. Each comparability is preceded by Aisa laga jaise…. Because of Anita once more, I do know that this music can also be an excellent instance of one other determine of speech ‘Anaphora’. Its Hindi equal must be पुनरावृत्ति. I’ve not seen it being talked about as a proper determine of speech in Hindi. Although not so frequent in songs, it’s fairly frequent in speeches in political campaigns. The best examples of oratory within the historical past have this function, as Martin Luther King’s I’ve a dream.., Winston Churchill’s We will combat them on the… Now I see most leaders prompting the general public to repeat just a few catchy phrases after them in election speeches.
9. Aisa lagta hai tum ban ke baadal by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Ajnabi (1974), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music RD Burman
This music has a few Utprekshas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsBn80hqz8M
Upama/ Roopak
10. Nain ka chain churakar le gayi kar gayi neend haram, chadrama sa mukh tha uska Chandramukhi tha naam by Mukesh from Chandramukhi (1960), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi
Itemizing Upama songs could be fairly trite as there are such a lot of of them. Hers is a music which has each Upama (Chandrama sa mukh) and Roopak (Chandramukhi). This should be a B-Grade film, however Mukesh was on the peak of his vocal prowess. He has sung an immortal music.
11. O mrignayani chandramukhi important hun tera prem deewana by Vasantrao Deshpande and Kumari Faiyaz from Rang Birangi (1983), lyrics Yogesh, music RD Burman
Senior residents even have a proper to turn out to be romantic. Right here is a good music which has two very good Roopaks – mrignayani and chandramukhi – within the opening line. Vasantrao Deshpande is a legend in Marathi tradition and music, and now we have mentioned this music earlier in one other context. Om Prakash and Chhaya Devi do an incredible job in emoting it on the display screen.
पुनरावृत्ति (Anaphora)
We simply found, by the way, that the Utpreksha music – Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga – additionally occurred to be a Punaraavritti music. However are there any unbiased Punaraavritti songs? There should be a number of. Anita has posted some good ones in her compilation of Anaphora songs. Kaahe koel shor machaye re at all times got here to my thoughts as a पुनरावृत्ति music.
12. Kaahe koyal shor machaaye re, mohe apna koi yaad aaye re by Shamshad Begum from Aag (1948), lyrics Behzad Lakhanvi, music Ram Ganguly
Kaahe koyal shor machaaye re, mohe apna koi yaad aaye re
Mere dil se nikale jo haaye re, koi dosh mera batlaaye re
Kah do kah do koyal se na gaaye re, O mohe apna koi yaad aaye re
Extra nainon mein neend bhar aaye re, mohe beete wo din yaad aaye re
Mera jeevan pal pal jaaye re, rahun kab tak aas lagaaye re
Koi jaake use samjhaye re, O meri maut ke pahle aaye re
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWRUlCN1Bs8
After cautious examination I discover there’s a higher instance of Anaphora music from the identical movie, Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji. Whether or not Mukesh or Shamshad Begum, every repeats this group of phrases in each line.
13. Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji chamke taare by Shamshad Begum and Mukesh from Aag (1948), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, Music Ram Ganguly
You’ll be able to’t get a greater instance of पुनरावृत्ति (Anaphora) music.
Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji chamke taare
Dekh balam mohe ankhiyan maare ji important mar gayi Ram
Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji bole papihara
Bhed khole tera-mera mera-tera ji important kya karun Ram
Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji chamke chanda
…….
Raat ko ji haye raat ko ji udate baadal
…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnSN5SwtNU
विडम्बना/ व्यंग्य
You’ll be able to’t think about English language with out irony, satire or sarcasm. Our historic Sanskrit language was primarily non secular. The classical Sanskrit drama had a Vidushak, who supplied some trite humour. In between we had a practice of Subhashits resembling Vidya dadaati vinayam, or Vasudhaiva kutumbakam. The sources of most subhashits are unknown. In classical poetry the main target was extra on aesthetic gildings. However fashionable Hindi literature has taken to irony, satire and sarcasm in a giant means. You’ll be able to consider Raag Darbari as a wonderful work of satire all through. It was instantly heralded as one of many best novels in Hindi ever. In Hindi movie songs my favorite instance of विडम्बना/ व्यंग्य is that this nice bhangara from the movie Jaagte Raho. Going again to Sujata once more, when Sulochana first hears Tarun Bose use the identify Sujata for Budhua’s daughter, she exclaims, Aapne ye naam use kab diya? Aankh ke andhe naam nayansukh! Good vidambana.
14. Aivein duniya deve duhaai jhootha paundi shor by Rafi and Balbir from Jaagte Raho (1956), lyrics Prem Dhawan, music Salil Chowdhury
This was a uncommon RK movie through which Raj Kapoor was not the director, although he acted in it with a really small and virtually non-speaking function. The music director was an uncommon Salil Chowdhury, and equally uncommon was the lyricist Prem Dhawan, and extra uncommon for Salil Chowdhury – he composes a really reasonable bhangra music with hard-hitting lyrics on the hypocrisy of the civilised society. A hungry and thirsty, poor villager Raj Kapoor strays into an city multi-storeyed residential society in the hunt for water. His dishevelled look sends an alarm {that a} thief has entered the Society. All hell breaks unfastened. An evening-long watch by volunteers and a home to deal with search is mounted which reveals that the civilised and rich folks have been engaged in numerous nefarious actions – from printing faux currencies to creating spurious medicine, to illicit liquor, to beating their wives and so forth. Among the many volunteer teams is one in every of bhangra singers. The puzzled intruder Raj Kapoor, who’s the reason for all of the mayhem, bumps into the group. And what befitting lyrics of irony and satire:
Folks have turn out to be rich trampling on the rights of others
I name it out as theft, the world calls it future
Am I telling a lie? No, by no means.
….
We have now seen pandits, epitome of kindness and charity
They chant Ram’s identify, however they enrich themselves from the donation given to goshala
Am I telling a lie? No, by no means.
…..
We have now seen righteous folks going to the gallows
And the sinners having fun with life.
Folks say it’s God’s will, I say it’s injustice.
Am I telling a lie? No, by no means.
(Authentic lyrics)
Ainve duninya deve duhayi jhootha paundi shor
Te apne dil ko puchh ke vekho kaun nahin ai chor
Te ke important jhooth bolya, koi na
Te ke important kufra toleya, koi na
Te ke important jahar gholeya, koi na ji koi na
….
Hak dooje da maar maar ke ban de log ameer
Predominant ainu kanhda chori duniya kanhdi taqdeer
Te ke important jhooth boliyan, koi na..
…..
Vekhe pandit gyani dhyani daya dharam de bande
Ram naam jap de te khande gaushala ke chande
Te ke important jhooth boliya, koi na
…….
Sachche phansi chadh de vekhe jhootha mauj udaye
Log ki kanhdi rab di maya important kanhda anyay
Te ke important jhooth boliya, koi na
Te ke kufra tolya, koi na
Te ke important jahar gholiya, koi na, ji koi na, ji koi na
Notes, Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
1. I had some helpful dialogue with my pal Brijeshwar Singh.
2. These accustomed to Sanskrit grammar would recognise many Roopaks fall underneath some type of Tatpurush or Bahubrihi Samas.
3. Lest it’s best to suppose Sanskrit is totally devoid of Vidambana/ Vyangya (irony/satire), Bhartrihari in his Nitishatak amidst dozens of subhashits comes up with मतिमताम् च विलोक्यदरिद्रता विधिरहो बलवानिति मतिः, and सर्वे गुणा: कांचनमाश्रयन्ते (Seeing the penury of the discovered, one can solely conclude, the destiny may be very highly effective./ The rich have all of the virtues.)
4. The music hyperlinks have been embedded from the YouTube just for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This weblog has no business curiosity and claims or suggests no copyright over these songs which vests with the respective rights house owners.
