Godard and Us

If the youth of Jean Luc Godard's generation were "Children of Marx and Coca-Cola", the youth of today are the off-springs of Gaza and GaaNja. Nothing ever changes, in terms of every generation thinking itself to be the smartest, and the most gifted, and hence getting complacent and turning out to be an embarrassment for the succeeding generation.

Amaake amaar moto thaaktey daao.

Continuing with my habit of translating songs that manage to become my obsession, I have translated the song 'Amaake amaar moto thaakte daao' from the soundtrack of the Bangla-film 'Autograph', into English. I have hardly stayed true to the pace and rhythm of the original, and have interpreted the atypical and unpredictably refreshing lyrics in my own way, and have tweaked a few words here and there for the sake of rhyme. Tell me if you like it. OR NOT.

THE ORIGINAL:
Amaake amaar moto thaakte daao,
Aami nijeke nijer moto guchhiye niyechhi…
Jeta chhilona, chhilona, sheta na pawaii thaak,
Shob pele noshto jibon…

Tomar ei duniya’r jhapsha aalo,
Kichhu shondhe’r guro howa kaancher moto,
Jodi ude jete chaao tobe gaa bhashiye daao,
Doorbiney chokh rakhbo na na na na na na…

Ei jahaaj maastul chharkhaar,
Tobu golpo likhchhi panchbar,
Aami rakhte chaai na aar taar,
Kono raat dupoorer abdaar,
Tai cheshta korchhi Barbar,
Shaantrey paar khonjar…

Kokhono akash beye chup kore,
Jodi neme ashe bhalobasha khub bhore,
Chokh-bhanga ghumey tumi khunjona aamay,
Aashe paashe aami aar nei.

Amaar jonyo aalo jelo na keu,
Aami manusher shomudrey gunechhi dheu,
Ei station er chattorey hariye gechhi,
Shesh train e ghorey phirbo na na na…

Tomar roktey aachhe shopno joto,
Taara chhutchhey raatridin nijer moto,
Kokhono shomoy pele ektu bhebo,
Aanguler phankey aami koi?

Hisheber bhirey aami chaaina chhutey,
Joto shukno peyajkoli fridge er sheetey,
Aami obelar daal-bhaatey phuriye giyechhi,
Gelasher joley bhaashbo na na na…

The TRANSLATION :
Let me exist within my own,
I have reconciled myself with my reality.
That which has stayed unaccomplished,
Let it stay that way,
Excesses mar sanity.

This nebulous light of your numb world,
Feels like shattered-glass fragments of dusk.
Should desires of flight provoke you, fly,
But my binocular vision
Shall not follow you soar,
No, not even a chance…

This voyage of mine, and a mangled mast,
I pen my tale, in its fifth cast.
I shall give way no more,
To your requests, in their late-night rust.
So I try and repeat,
And swim through this distrust.

Whenever love seeps through your sky,
And its layers, in the hours of a violet dawn,
Even as soft-slumber nests on your lids,
Do not look around for me, I’m gone.

Do not bother to switch on the lights,
My vessel’s capsized among these waves of men.
I am lost forever within these station-walls.
I will not take the last train home, ever again.
No, not even a chance…

All your dreams housed in your veins,
They rush forth and back to your heart,
Should time permit, ask yourself sometime,
Why, from between your fingers, did I depart?

In this calculative, humdrum world I don’t
Sympathize with the beans shriveled up in the fridge.
I shall not float around any more in your water-glass.
(For)I begin and end with the lunch-porridge.
No, not even a chance…

Most Memorable Bollywood Onscreen Couples Of The 00's - III (2007-2009)

2007

Irrfan Khan-Tabu(The Namesake) Not stirctly Bollywood, but in this Mira Nair film, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth from 'Maqbool' came back as Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli.

Amitabh Bachchan-Tabu(Cheeni Kum)

Dharmendra-Nafisa Ali(Life In A Metro)

Irrfan Khan-Konkona Sensharma(Life In A Metro)The two found a way into our hearts through their humor. Monty, despite being a cameo, retains his place in our hearts as the most affable of the ensemble cast.Shruti isn't too interested initially, but things work out resulting in a finale with Monty's "Aami eshey gechhi!" Cute.

R. Madhavan-Vidya Balan(Guru)Poignant, very.

Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai(Guru)Akshay-Katrina could make sparks only in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye. Similarly, Abhishek-Aishwarya made sense only in Guru.

ShahRukh Khan-Deepika Padukone(Om Shanti Om)

Shahid Kapur-Kareena Kapoor(Jab We Met)If the 90'shad Raj and Simran, the 00's had Geet and Aditya. And Anshuman :P

Kunnal Kapoor-Konkona Sensharma(Laaga Chunari Mein Daag; Aaja Nachle)

2008

Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai(Jodha-Akbar) The two good-looking crooks from Dhoom-2 came back as Azeem-o-shaan,Akbar and Mallika-e-Hindostan, Jodha Bai. Pure love ensued.

Ranbir Kapoor-Minissha Lamba(Bachna Ae Haseeno)

Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone(Bachna Ae Haseeno)

Imran Khan-Genelia D'Souza(Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)

Imran Khan-Manjari Fadnis(Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)

Naseeruddin Shah-Ratna Pathak Shah(Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)

Arjun Rampal-Shahana Goswami(Rock On...)

Abhishek Bachchan-Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham-Priyanka Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan-John Abraham[:P] (Dostana)

ShahRukh Khan-Anushka Sharma(Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

2009

Abhay Deol-Mahie Gill
and
Abhay Deol-Kalkie Koechlin
(Dev D)
Effective and identifiable modern-day take on Devdas. Terrific screen presence of lesser known Deol, Koechlin and Gill as today's Devdas, Chandramukhi and Parvati.

Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone(Love Aaj Kal)

Saif Ali Khan-Giselle Monteiro/Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh(Love Aaj Kal) People expected more sizzle out of Saif and Deepika. But Veer and Harleen weaved their own magic in the muhallas of Delhi and by the Ganges in Kolkata

John Abraham-Katrina Kaif(New York) The LAST SCENE justifies the inclusion of this one.

Shahid Kapur-Priyanka Chopra(Kaminey)

Ranbir Kapoor-Konkona Sensharma(Wake Up Sid) Aisha Banerjee is an ambitious, intellectual Calcutta girl. Siddhath Mehra is the typical laidback Mumbaikar. How do the two get along? Wake Up Sid shows us beautifully.

Ranbir Kapoor-Katrina Kaif(Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani) Box-office King and Queen come together.

Most Memorable Bollywood Onscreen Couples Of The 00's - II (2004-2006)

2004

Akshay Kumar-Priyanka Chopra(Aitraaz)This one was all about the animal-instincts.

Vivek Oberoi-Aishwarya Rai(Kyun... Ho Gaya Na...)For many they did not work, For me they did. Successful or not, memorable and debated for sure. Also, Aao Na...

Saif Ali Khan-Rani Mukherjee(Hum Tum)

Irrfan Khan-Tabu(Maqbool) Our desi Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Abhishek Bachchan-Rani Mukerji(Yuva)Lallan and Shashi,slum-dwellers both of them, redefined the word 'Chemistry'.

Abhay Deol-Ayesha Takia(Socha Na Tha)The beginning of Imtiaz Ali. AND Abhay Deol. Lovable. Believable. A Classic by now.

ShahRukh Khan-Preity Zinta(Veer-Zaara)

Ajay Devgan-Aishwarya Rai(RainCoat)

Emraan Hashmi-Mallika Sherawat(Murder)

2005

Amitabh Bachchan-Rani Mukerji(Black)This might be a controversial mention, but the tenderness and the interdependence between Michelle and Mr.Sahay qualify for one of the most poignant Big-screen experiences for the Bolly-buff in the 00's.

Abhishek Bachchan-Rani Mukerji(Bunty Aur Babli)Rural, rustic, FUN. Delectable.


Shiney Ahuja-Chitrangda Singh) and Kay Kay Menon-Chitrangda Singh(Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi)

John Abraham-Priyanka Chopra(Karam)

Jimmy Shergill-Minissha Lamba(Yahaan)The mountains and valleys of Kashmir. One taboo love. And a haunting music score. Kabhi kabhi aas-paas chand rehta hai

Saif Ali Khan-Vidya Balan(Parineeta)

Shah Rukh Khan-Rani Mukerji(Paheli) The quaint desert of Rajasthan and allthatresplendence. Visual poetry at its best.

Rajpal Yadav-Rituparna Sengupta(Main Meri Patni Aur Woh)

Sanjay Suri-Purab Kohli(My Brother Nikhil)The first time that homosexuality was not an issue of ridicule.

2006


Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif(Humko Deewana Kar Gaye) Their first outing together. Also, the only one in which the chemistry worked.

Ajay Devgan-Kareena Kapoor(Omkara) He was Othello, she was Desdemona. It was Uttar Pradesh, but together they worked magic in a premise removed from the original Shakespearean era.

Shah Rukh Khan-Preity Zinta,Shah Rukh Khan-Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan-Rani Mukerji(Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna) Nobody expected KANK from Karan Johar. Reason they were pissed off after the movie. Also, this one had every grave situation gift-wrapped in a lot of glitz and glamorous chutzpah,so things looked fake in parts. But there was no denying the chemistry and currents among all the leads.

Rahul Bose-Mallika Sherawat(Pyar Ke Side Effects)Atypical. Unusual. Unconventional.

Salman Khan-Preity Zinta(Jaan-E-Mann)

Shiney Ahuja-Kangna Ranaut(Woh Lamhe) One of MY personal favorites of the decade.

Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai(Dhoom 2)Charm of good-looking people(despite the terrible smooch)