I'd read about Amir Khusrau's Aaj rang hai but never heard it sung. I did yesterday. Struck gold with a CD called Mast Qalandar and Nusrat brought it alight.
There are many stories about why this song was written - some say it's a celebration of Holi, but my favourite version goes that it was the day young Khusrau met Nizammuddin Aulia. He had been seeking a pir and when he met him, of course, he knew. He came home in an ecstatic daze and sang to his mother:
Aaj rang hai, ri maa, rang hai ri...
Mohe pir paayo Nijamudin aulia
Nijamudin aulia mohay pir payoo...
Here Nusrat slides fluidly to Des:
Des bades mein dhoondh phiree hoon
Toraa rang man bhayo ri....
Jag ujiyaaro, jagat ujiyaaro,
Main to aiso rang aur nahin dekhi ray
And finally, a line that hasn't failed to make my hair stand on end or force me blink back the tears...
Main to jab dekhun more sung hai, ri ma, rang hai ri.
Aaj rang hai, ri maa, rang hai ri...
Kya bolun? Aaj rang hai, ri maa, rang hai ri...
I felt exactly what you have written.
ReplyDeleteInfact after hearing this, I realized that this is also sung in one of hindi film "Maqbool" made by Vishal Bhardwaj.
And there is also one sung by Abida Parveen
My curiosity for Ameer Khushro started after listining to one of his all time great "Chaap Tilak Sab Chinni"
Rahul, Maqbool has a version of Aaj rang hai? I must listen, then.
ReplyDeleteI visited your blog - nice post on Khusrau.
Ive heard a variation by Sabri brothers, it is also v good..
ReplyDeleteIm not v good at understanding urdu lyrics, anybody know what is the meaning of
"Raini chadi re sool ki, so rang maula ke haath;
jinka chola rang diya so dhan dhanwa ke saath "
The Sabri brothers sing it before starting "aaj rang hai ..."
yes i agree with that amazing line. it was smthing that mad me stand back in amzement.
ReplyDelete"main to jahaan dekhoon more sang hai". abida did a wonderful job with what tkhusro wrote..
You should listen to a version of this song sung by Shankar Shambhu Qawwal. Long ago HMV released an LP titled "The Genious of Amir Khusrau". They sang both Man Kunto Maula & Aaj Rang hai. I like Shankar Shambhu's version better than Nusrat Fateh Ali's.
ReplyDelete-- Shailendra
Shailendra: That LP was a compilation of many artists' renditions, wasn't it? Any idea where I might find the songs online?
ReplyDeleteHi Sheetal ,
ReplyDeleteHere is what can be the best description about the Urdu/Farsi word Rand (Its not colour , may be u can describe it as " Happiness ")
It is almost impossible to translate the word rung into English. It is not colour, hue or anything like that. May be something like glow or brilliance or gorgeousness may come close to it. There are many different legends explaining the use of this word in the qawwali.
The fact that Amir Khusro sang these line ecstatically when he came back to his mother after meeting Nizamuddin Aulia for the first time, after a long search for an ideal sufi master – reason why the lines are addressed to the mother
"Raini chadi re sool ki, so rang maula ke haath;
ReplyDeletejinka chola rang diya so dhan dhanwa ke saath
This is not urdu, it is Brij bhasha.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHeya Sheetal, came across your while googling for a version of "Aaj Rang Hai by Abida that has the lines @main to aiso rang aur nayyo dekhna...O nijamuddin Auliya, kalamuddin Auliya". I heard it once and it lifted me, as Prithu put it, to a different "platitude". Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteSharing few more 'sher' that same poem of Amir Khusraur i liked.
ReplyDeleteLali mere lal ki,
Jit dekhun vich lal.
Lali dekhen main gayee,
Mai to ho gayee aap hi lal.
Mati ke deevaron tum sunlo meri baat.
Aaj khwaja nizam ke rang hain.
Tum chalna saath,aaj ki raat.
Aisi rang do ,rang nahi chute,
Dhobiya dhoye chahe sari umariya.
Lal na rangaun,hari na rangaun.
Apne hi rang mein rang do chunariya.
The Complete Lyric
ReplyDeleteAaj Rung Hai Re Maa Rung Hai Ree
(Such Gorgeousness I see, Mother Such Glow. I’ve Found the Beloved, yes I Found Him)
Maati K Tum Deewaray, Maati K Tum Deewaray, Jo Suno Hamari Baat
Maati K Tum Deewaray, Maati K Tum Deewaray, Jo Suno Hamari Baat
Aaj Milaavra Piya Ka Tum Jaguo Sari Raat
Aaj Rung Hai Ree Maan Rung Hai Ree
Aaj Rung Hai Ree Maan Rung Hai Ree
Mairay Khuwaja K Ghar Rung Hai Ree
Aaj Rung Hai Ree Maan Rung Hai Ree
Mairay Khuwaja K Ghar Rung Hai Ree
Ahey Rung Hai Mairay Mehboob K Ghar Rung Hai
Mairay Mehboob K Ghar Rung Hai
Rung Hai Rung Hai Mairay Mehboob K Ghar Rung Hai Ree
Aaj Sajn Milaavra Moray Aangan Mein
Sajn Milaavra Moray Aangan Mein
Aaj Rung Hai Ree Maan Rung Hai Ree
Ey Aahay Mein Peer Payo Nizaam Uddin Auliyah
Mohay Peer Payo Nizaam Uddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Sabir Ala Uddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Data Fareed Uddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Khuwaja Qutub Uddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Khuwaja Moin Uddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Meeera Mohhauddin Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Ey Data Gunj Baqsh Auliyah Mohay Peer Payo
Payo Nizaam Uddin Auliyah Nizaam Uddin Auliyah Alauddin Auliyah
Mein To Jab Daikhoon Moray Sung Hai Ree Ma Rung Hai Ree
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon,
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Gokal Daikha Mathra Daikha, Per To Sa Na Koi Rung Daikha
Ey Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon,
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Porab Daikha Pacham Daikha Uttar Daikha Dakkan Daikha
Ray Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon,
Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Tohay Dhoond Phiri Hoon, Tohay Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Mohay Tora Rung Mun Bhaayo Moin Uddin
Tora Rung Mun Bhaayo Moin Uddin
Mohay Apne He Rung Mein Rung Lay Khuwaja Ji
Mohay Apne He Rung Mein Rung Lay Khuwaja Ji
Mohay Rung Basanti Rung Day Khuwaja Ji
Mohay Rung Basanti Rung Day Khuwaja Ji
Mohay Apne He Rung Mein Rung Day
Choyiaan Penai, Chundarya Uraii, Khaasi Dulhanya Banayi
Ey Mori Churioon Ki Laaj Khuwaja Rakhna
Mori Churioon Ki Laaj Khuwaja Rakhna
Yeh To Pehn Layi Ub Rut Rakhna
Yeh To Pehn Layi Ub Rut Rakhna
Ey Tero Haath Hai Mero Suhaag Khuwaja
Mein To Joog Na Tum Pe Luta Baithi
Mohay Apne He Rung Mein Rung Lay Khuwaja Ji
Mohay Apne He Rung Mein Rung Lay Rangelay
Mohay Rung Basanti Rung Day Khuwaja Ji
Jo Tu Maangay Rung Ki Rangai
Jo Tu Maangay Rung Ki Rangai
Mora Joban Girwi Rakhlay Khuwaja Ji
Ahay Dais Badais Mein Dhoond Phiri Hoon
Mohay Tora Rung Manwayo Moin Uddin
Aiso Rung Aur Na He Daikho Kaheen Bhi
Mein To Aiso Rung Aur Na He Daikho Kaheen Bhi
Ahay Nizam Uddin Auliya Jag Ujiaro
Ey Jag Ujiaro Jagat Ujiaro
Jag Ujiaro Jagat Ujiaro
Nizam Uddin Auliya Jag Ujiaro
Meharwa Rus Bonda Barsay
Ahay Boonda Barsay Rus Boonda Barsay
Boonda Barasay Rus Boonda Barsay
Khuwajgaan K Darbaaran Mein
Aaj Daikho Gun Garjay
Aaj Daikho Gun Garjay
Rus Boonda Barsay Meharwa Rus Boonda Barsay
Ey Sub Sakhiyan K Paas Piya Hein
Mora Piya K Milan Ko Jiyara Tarasay
Mora Piya K Milan Ko Jiyara Tarsay
Rus Boonda Barsay Meharwa Rus Boonda Barsay
Khuwaja Moin Uddin Khuwaja Qutub Uddin
Ganj Shakar Mehboob E Ilahi
Khuwaja Nizam Uddin Khuwaja Nasir Uddin
Aaj Shohra Nizaam O Naseer Uddin Ka
Laal Mehboob Bana, Bana Mehboob Bana
Laal Mehboob Bana, Laal Mehboob Bana
Sub Sakhiyan K Paas Hein Piya
Mora Piya K Milan Ko Jiyara Tarasay
Mora Piya K Milan Ko Jiyara Tarasay
Rus Boonda Barsay Meharwa Rus Boonda Barsay
Nizam Uddin Auliya Jag Ujiaro
Ey Jag Ujiaro Jagat Ujiaro
Ey Woh To Jo Maangay Per Sung Hai Ree Maa Rung Hai Ree
Woh To Jo Maangay Per Sung Hai Ree Maa Rung Hai Ree
Aaj Rung Hai Ree Maan Rung Hai Ree
Aaj Rung Hai Ree
I stumbled across your blog looking for the complete lyrics of another verse by Khusro, "mohay apnay hi rung main rung day", was trying to translate it.
ReplyDeleteYou could listen to it at http://leenahnasir.blogspot.com/2010/02/carve-me-out-into-mould-of-urs-o-love.html
Lovely blog. I am so glad I happened to come across it.
Leenah, thanks for visiting! and also for that link. That's a lovely rendition even with its non-traditional orchestration.
ReplyDeleteheetal leenah... nusrats version arent these the same songs
ReplyDeletePrithu, yes, Nusrat has a version too.
ReplyDeleteyes he has a version and so in that version, "mohe apne hi rang mein rang le khwaa ji, " and " aaj rang hai" are the same songs, if am not wrong..mohe apne hi rang mein is a long taal chanting stanza .. somewhere in the middle
ReplyDeleteNo, they're separate songs as far as my versions go.
ReplyDeletehehe : ) i dont know man..hehehe.... out of the blue got some email in my mail box... got me back to my suif music days..these days its dylan and pavarotti .... great blog.... great help.... greta work
ReplyDeleteYeah Sheetal, these are two different qawwalis; though both carry almost similar theme which is Khusro's trademark: a splash of color and longing.
ReplyDeleteNusrat's version is the one that 'Abhi' here has already posted. Its a long poem. While the one I mentioned is a short, a few couplets poem. Just translated and uploaded at http://leenahnasir.blogspot.com/
this blog has sure been a great help :)
This song depicts love of hazrat amir khusro towards his peer hazrar nizzamuddin aulia...friends if u want to listen even more mast qwallis then buy cd of qwall "habeeb painter".
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to many versions of this,once in the movie junoon, once in Maqbool, Abida's version, and Sabri Bros version, I feel that only Nusrat was able to do justice to Khusro's genious..
ReplyDeleteHat's off to both of them!
BTW, being a Western UPian, I adore khusro alot..Places like Budayun, Sheikhupur etc; are filled with his essence..
@Sheetal,
ReplyDeletebeautiful blog. I have a blog on inter-faith mysticism, you might find it interesting.
@Irshad, rang is a Farsi word which in this context means Divine radiance.
Aaj Rung ha is a poetry that describes true love of a follower Hazrat Amir Khusro(RA) for his Peer Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizam Uddin Auliya (RA) this state is called Fana fe Sheikh. This poetry has true love and emotions in it and one can feel it while listening to it
ReplyDelete@Sheetal, Wallahil Azeem - I felt exactly the same way as you, when I first murmured this Kalaam in my heart...
ReplyDeleteWould cherish it if found full translation of Lyrics of rang in English.
ReplyDelete"Raini chadi re sool ki, so rang maula ke haath;
ReplyDeletejinka chola rang diya so dhan dhanwa ke saath.
it is Brij bhasha.
Can u please translate this.
I love these lines.
It's actually this:
ReplyDelete"Raini chadi rasool ki, so rang maula ke haath;
jinka chola rang diya so dhan-dhan wa ke bhag."
I can't translate the first line properly but the second one becomes self explanatory here - "the one whose garment has been coloured has a blessed fate"
I'm jumping in here rather late. If anyone can source "Rang" by late Padmashri Aziz Ahmed Warsi, that is perhaps one of the best I have heard of this particular qawwali. Agree Nusrat did it great justice and the Sabri Brothers also carried it nicely, but the icing on the cake undoubtedly came from Aziz. I have been searching for some time for this but still unable to find it. Aziz also had a tradition that he would ALWAYS end his qawwali mehfils with "Rang", usually set in raag Bhairavi or Bilawal.
ReplyDeleteHumayun, I'd never heard Aziz Ahmed Warsi - and found a few things on the internet. Simply amazing - I found one endearing short called Humein bhi ya Rasool Allah shaoor-e-bandagi de do. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I also found a version of Rang. Magnificent. Will try to share in a couple of hours.
Anonymous from March 3rd: Sorry for the delayed response.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of being very right but my interpretation would be:
Raini chadi rasool ki, so rang maula ke haath;
jinka chola rang diya so dhan-dhan wa ke bhag.
The night of the Rasool is in ascendance, come be coloured by the beloved
He, whose garment he chooses to colour, is showered with good fortune.
Sorry, that is very inadequate - "dhan dhan wa ke bhaag" is untranslatable - something like "that person has hit the gold mine"... prosperous, fortunate beyond description.
I must have listened to multiple versions of rung and loved all of them, but this one is my favorite. Hope you guys enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uh8vnW2VA4
ReplyDeleteAmir
there's a lovely rendition with subtitles in this opening scene of benegal's junoon, that you all might like
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVvYe_2Ii9k
Love this thread...got to listen to plenty more versions of one of my all time favourites "aaj rang hai". Been listening to it every day for a few months now and it never ceases to amaze me. Loved Nusrat, Abida, Jamil Ahmed (a bit). My favourite version, which surprisingly is missing from this thread, is the one by Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammed. It is incredible...the coke studio one as well as the one sung at Hazrat Nizamuddin. Have a look at it guys.
ReplyDeletewhile came to your blog for searching lyrics for aaj rung hai..musy listen Rung from Farid Ayaza and Abu Muhammad Coke Studio Pakistan as well Kangna...
ReplyDeleteAmit, New Delhi
For Abhinav Agarwal, Sheetal and others please:
ReplyDeleteraini chaṛhi rasool ki
The night of the Prophet’s celebration has dawned
jiski chunri rang di
Whoever’s veil he chose to colour
dhan dhan uske bhaag
Blessed became his fortune
Regards,
Atif Husayn
Can any one explain this in english please.
ReplyDelete