The Mystery Solved

Though I don't follow Indian classical music to a great extent, there are songs/ragas that I really like. Especially the songs like Piya Bawari, Man tarpat hain, Ek Shahenshah ne etc. However, the song I like the most in this category is "Laaga chunari me daag" from the movie Dil Hi To Hain (1963). But I never understood the meaning of this song. First of all I didn't understand why a man is singing this song as the lyrics would suggest that it is more of a woman centric song.

The only thing that I could imagine was that a woman is singing this song after having gone through a lot of problems in her life. But finally this mystery was solved when Javed Akthar explained the real meaning of this song in the reality TV show "Mission Ustaad", which I watch just because A R Rahman is a judge.

According to him, this is a philosophical song. In the song, "Chunari" is referring to our "Soul". So essentially the song talks about a man who has come to this earth ("Sasural") from the God's abode ("Baabul") and after coming here, due to his greed has committed lots of sins and polluted his soul ("Hogayi maili mori chunariya"). The man is now contemplating how he will face God after going back to him.

It really bowled me over. What a nice way to convey such great thoughts in such simple words! It also made me realise that I didn't listen to the lyrics of the entire song as the last few lines in the song really explain what it is all about.

Here are the lyrics of the song:

Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag
Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaau Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...

Ho Gayi Mailii Morii Chunariyaa
Kore Badan Sii Korii Chunariyaa
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazaren Milaau Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...

Bhuul Gayi Sab Bachan Bidaa Ke
Kho Gayi Main Sasuraal Me Aake
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...

Korii Chunariyaa Aatmaa Morii
Mail Hai Maayaa Jaal
Woh Duniyaa More Babul Kaa Ghar
Ye Duniyaa Sasuraal
Haan Jaake, Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...