Patakha Guddi

 Patakha Guddi

 This song is from “Highway” (Director Imtiaz Ali – 2014). Music by AR Rahman sounds so well that it made me search for the exact meaning of the Punjabi words. It has outstanding lyrics by Irshad Kamil (Kun Haya Kun & Ilahi) and sung by the Nooran sisters - Jyoti and Sultana. The song talks about this free spirited (firebrand - Jugni) girl and her relationship with God who is her protector. Such people are often admired by many … yet they belong to no one. They fascinate people, but the world remains distant from them. For all these wanderers, the Supreme Being acts as a nurturer and protector, freeing them from worldly concerns and letting them live their life on their own terms.

The chant of Ali in this song is referred to Ali who was the cousin of Prophet Mohammed. Incidentally, Ali is also one of the 99 names of Allah, so in the song it’s likely that the name Ali refer’s to God himself.

After understanding the deep meaning, this song rose even higher in my ‘liked” songs.

The movie itself is about self-discovery of a young girl who finds real freedom from her vain & rich family after she is kidnapped by a lowly person. This song plays in the background, picturised on Alia Bhatt as her kidnapper moves her between cities to avoid capture.

Here Patakha Guddi, which means a girl like a fire-cracker kite in Punjabi, is a song of a girl’s freedom. It’s about her desire to be carefree and adventurous. To soar like a kite, to flow like rainwater, to be like the Peepal tree that flourishes, gives shade and becomes so big that it cannot be restricted inside the house. (In parts of India, the Peepul Tree is considered an abode of two demons who bring misfortune, so planting it inside houses and courtyards is considered inauspicious. The tree is often found on roadsides and in gardens near a temple).

Link to the song 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HDTS80dlr4

Here is my literal (word to word non poetic) translation of the Punjabi song.

हां…
मिठ्ठे पान दी गिलोरी                      Like the sweet preparation of a betel leaf,
लठ्ठा सूट दा लहोरी                       The girl in a Lahori suit
फ़ट्टे मारदी बिल्लोरी                     Is like a kitten having fun
जुगनी मेल मेल के, कूद फ़ांद के   Like a firefly she leaps and jumps swiftly
चक चकोते जावे                          Here and there

मौला तेरा माली                            God is her gardener (protector )
ओ हरियाली जंगल वाली               O greenery of the wilderness
तू दे हर गाली पे ताली                   She’s carefree giving high fives on every misfortune
उसकी कदम कदम रखवाली         For god protects her
एवेंयी लोक लाज की सूझ सोच की   Why tie yourself down by thinking of social conventions
क्यों है आफ़त डाली                      You live without a fear
तू ले नाम रब का, नाम साईं का       Just take the name of God
अली अली अली अली                   That’s Ali, the God

शर्फ़ खुदा का , ज़र्फ़ खुदा का                                Honour of God, Wisdom of God,
अली अली अली अली                                           O Lord Ali
अली हो, अली हो, चली ओ रे चली, चली, चली        She comes to your lane
अली अली , तेरी गली, वो तो चली
अली अली , तेरी गली, चली ओ

ओ जुगनी ओ, पटाखा गुड्डी ओ                    O firefly, O fiery kite,
नशे में उड जाए रे हाए रे                            Intoxicated she flies,
सज्जे खब्बे ढब्बे किल्ली हो                         All over the place she flies

मैने तो तेरे तेरे उत्ते छड्डियां डोरियां      I have given my reins to You O Lord, leaving everything to you

तू तो पाक रब दा बांका बच्चा                      You are the innocent kid of God
राज दुलारा तूही!                                           His dearest child
पाक रब दा प्यारा बच्चा                                   
उसका प्यारा तूही!
मालिक ने जो चिन्ता दी तो,                            If God has given worries,

दूर करेगा वो ही!                                           He will take them away as well

नाम अली का लेके तू तो नच ले गली गली      Chanting name of the Lord, dance in streets,
ले नाम अली अली, अली हो, अली हो!           Chant Ali
तू ले नाम रब का, नाम साईं का                   Just take his name
अली अली अली अली

जुगनी रुख पीपल दा होई                          The girl has grown like a Peepal tree
जिस नो पुज्जे ते हर कोई                            Though they worship it
जिसदी फ़सल किसी ना बोई                      No one sows its seed
घर वी रख सके ना कोई                            And no one can confine it inside the house (‘cos she’s in God’s control)

रस्ता नाप रही मरजाणी                             The nomadic girl treads the roads fearlessly
पठ्ठी बारिश दा है पानी                              Akin to the flowing rain water (now here now gone)
जब नजदीक जहां दे आनी                         But once she comes to face the realities of the world
जुगनी मैली सी हो जानी                             She’s ought to carry some of its dirt as well

तू ले नाम रब दा अली अली                        So just chant the name of the Lord Ali
झल खलेरण चली                                     She goes mad with ecstasy
नाम रब दा अली अली                               Saying the name of the Lord …
हर दरवाज़ा अली                                     … At each door-step

साईं रे साईं रे                                           Lord o Lord
मैने तो तेरे तेरे उत्ते छड्डियां डोरियां               I am giving my reins to you