Ajj din chadheya - Lyrics breakdown

The one where a lover entreats, bargains, and teases God

This soulful track from "Love Aaj Kal" (2009), written by Irshad Kamil, features an opening line borrowed from a Punjabi poet, Shiv Kumar Batalvi: "Aaj din chadheya tere rang varga" (Today, the day has risen in your colour, like you). The rest of the evocative lyrics belong to Kamil.

Film Context:

In the film, Saif Ali Khan's character, a lovestruck suitor, waits patiently outside the house of his beloved, yearning for her glimpse. On a picturesque day, she steps out onto the balcony, and their eyes meet. They then discreetly exchange gifts for each other. This song underscores this tender moment, without any lip-syncing.

Lyrical Breakdown:

The song expresses a lover's journey, oscillating between pleading, bargaining, and finally, challenging God. It begins with a heartfelt plea, where the lover approaches God as a friend, asking for his beloved to be his, for her to embrace him, and for his dreams to be fulfilled— all for his heart’s sake. (Dard-e-yaar ke, dil da vaasta).

As the song progresses, the lover shifts from a gentle request to an assertive negotiation. He reminds God of how he has forgiven many and granted love to others. Now, the lover asks for the same grace to be bestowed upon him. He describes how her smile lights up his world and how he wishes to spend the rest of his life with her. "Let her be mine, for my heart’s sake," he implores.

Desperation sets in, and the tone becomes more intense. The lover moves from pleading to reasoning. "I have only asked for what is rightfully mine; I haven't demanded heaven. How can you call yourself God if you can't fulfill this one simple wish? Stop hesitating and grant me what I desire."

Perhaps realizing he has overstepped, the lover quickly retraces his steps. He acknowledges God's supremacy and prays for his love to last forever. "Let my life be complete, make her mine, for my heart’s sake," he pleads, with a sombre tone that is beautifully conveyed through Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice modulation.

The song concludes with a repetition of the lover's earnest request. "My days feel endless; please grant me my dream girl. Set aside all else and make my dream come true, for my heart’s sake."

PS: The opening line by Batalvi, accompanied by "Phool sa hai khila hai aaj din" (The day has blossomed like a flower), evokes a vivid image of those perfect November or February days when gleaming sunshine bathes the earth beneath a cloudless blue sky.

Movie: Love Aaj Kal (2009)
Singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Director: Imtiaz Ali, Lyrics: Irshad Kamil