Yup! Anyone who has lived in Pakistan has seen them. Those colorful lyrics and poems painted behind a number of trucks, buses, rickshaws and taxis. In but a few lines, they convey thoughts and feelings which the average Pakistani would find hard to express.
This is no doubt a great display of creativity. Perhaps our movie-makers and talent-hunters need to consider tapping this abundant resource. After all, it’s not like our movies are any better than these lyrics!
Unable to keep this pool of creativity hidden from the rest of the world, I took the trouble of compiling the top ten of the week…feel free to add your own favourites. For further amusement and the benefit of our readers who don’t speak Urdu, I have translated the lyrics-which makes them even more hilarious. Enjoy!
1.Dekh Magar Pyaar Se (Look at me; But with Love). This had to be number one!
2.Pappu Yaar, Tang Na Kar (Silly, Don’t Bother Me)
3.Maan Ki Dua, Jannat Ki Hawa ( The Mother’s Prayer; The Breeze of Heaven)
4.Kal Raat Aik Baalti Paani Main, Mein Ne Tera Aks Dekha, Phir Usse Hila Hila Ke Tera Raks Dekha (Last Night I saw your reflection in a bucket of water, I them shook it to see your seductive dance)
5.Kaun Kehta Hai Ke Maut Aaegi To Mein Marr Jaoonga, Rickshaw-Wala Hoon; Cut Maar Ke Nikal Jaoonga! (Who says that I will die when death comes to visit me; I’m a rickshaw driver, I’ll swerve past and get away)
6.Saanpon Ko Band Kar Diya Mil Kar Sanpheron Ne, Ke Insaan Hi Kaafi Hai Insaan Ko Dassne Ke Liye (The snake-keepers got together and locked up all the snakes, as they felt humans are sufficient to give venomous bites)
7.Dunya Ke Samander Main, Mohabbat Ki Machli Thi, Tum Aaye Fareb Ke Jahaaz Par Aur Dukh Ka Jaal Daala; Tu Ne Mujhe Phaans Daala, Tu Ne Mujhe Maar Daala ( In the sea of the world, there was a fish of love; You came in a boat of deceit and spread a net of hurt; You caught me, You killed me)
8.Suna Hai Ke Woh Hamein Bhulane Lage Hain; Iss Ka Matlab Hum Unko Yaad Aane Lage Hain ( I have heard that they are trying to forget me; That means that they have started to remember me)
9.Ae Phool Ye Phool Mere Phool Ko Dena, Aur Kehna Ke Ye Phool Tere Phool Ne Iss Phool Ke Haath Bheja (Oh Flower! Give this flower to my flower, And tell her that her flower has sent her this flower in the hands of a flower) Confusing ain’t it?
10.Don’t Jealous!!! (That just says it all…and no translation needed!)
Note: I found the photograph at Flickr; photo credit to cageitfallsinto.
One that I saw, by a realist:
Haseenon ke haath mein bread-makhan
Humaare haath mein steering wheel
Afsoss Ki Dunya (World of Tragedy)!
Maalik ka paisa, driver ka paseena,
Chalti hai sadak pe, ban ke haseena
I apologise in advance for the following piece of poetry in case anyone finds it offensive:
Woh qitab hi kiya jiss ka koi cover nahin
Woh larki hi kiya jiss ka koi lover nahin
Translation:
(It ain’t a book if it doesn’t have a cover
It ain’t a girl if she doesn’t have a lover)
Maine tujhe dekha angle badal badal ke,
Tere baap ne mujhe peeta, sandal badal badal ke
“Prince ko janay do”
“Maan ki dua, janat ki hawa…baap ki sada, chal bachay gad’di chala!”
That is real us. Nice picks.
i saw this one on back of a Taxi, short and simple
“Sirf Tum”
Chal oye chakrray,tenu rab dee khair!
Rickshaw poetry:
“mein bara ho kar corolla banoon ga”
“kabhi aao na Karachi, khashbo laga ke”
“ba-kamaal log, la-jawaab service”
“ay adhmi haram khana chor dey
tyre mehngay hain race lagana chor dey”
“himmath hay tho pass kar, warna bardashth kar”
“Ziddi Saudagar”
This is a bit awkward, but still it is in a class of it’s own:
Muhabat karni hai to bahon main aao, isharon main kiya rakha hai
Sair karni hai to rikshon main aao, kaaron main kiya rakha hai!!!
One of the very Famous…
“JALNAY WALAY KA MU KAALA”
and another one goes like this …
“Humain to apnon nay loota
gharoon main kahan dum tha
Meri kashti thi doobi wahan
jahan paani kam tha “
and a veryyy common…
Haran do
Rasta lo