Charkha by Javed Bashir

‘Charkha’ is a sufi song which has been sung by a lot of singers over the years and we’ve discussed about the song in the version sung by the sufi maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Here we are talking about the version which has been rendered by the Pakistani Sufi singer Javed Bashir. Javed Bashir came grab the attention of Indian audience with the 2012 bollywood song ‘Piya Tu Kahe Rootha Re’ from the movie Kahani and ‘Tera Naam Japdi Firan’ from Cocktail. He has also sung beautiful numbers like ‘O Rangrez’ from the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which shows that he is a master of classical music also. He is educated in Hindustani Classical music which is apparent in his singing. The song ‘Charkha’ which we are discussing here was performed by Javed Bashir in Coke Studio season-7 (Year 2014). This version is one of my favorites. It just compels you to tap your feet with the beats of the instruments in perfect sync of his magical voice. 

Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re

When it comes to sing Amir Khusrau Dehlavi (1253-1325)  nobody can ever match Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re is a sufi kalam which should be sung in a mood of intense Love to God. As we all know that Qawwali is the most well known form of Sufi music and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was one of the foremost sufi Qawwal. When he would sing all the universe submerged into eternity. Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re is one of the best sufi Qawwalis of Amir Khusro sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Here you would find a live version of the song which would definitely enwrap your mind and soul into his singing. 

Lyrics:

खुसरो रैन सुहाग की मैं जगी पी के संग
तन मोरा मन पिया का जो दोनों एक ही रंग
खुसरो दरिया प्रेम का जो उल्टी वा की धार
जो उबरा सो डूब गया जो डूबा सो पार
खुसरो बाज़ी प्रेम का मैं खेलूँ पी के संग
जीत गयी तो पिया मोरे हारी पी के संग

मैं तो पिया से नैना लगा आयी रे
गर नारी गँवारी कहे सो कहे
अब जो होगा सो देखेंगे
सच कहती हूँ क्या डर मोहे
प्रीत करी कि मैं चोरी करी रे
सोहनी सुरतिया मोहनी मुरतिया
मैं तो हिरदय के बीच समा आयी रे
खुसरो निजाम के बल बल जैय्या
मैं तो बिनमोल / अनमोल चेली कहा आई रे
मैं तो अपनी छब बना के जो पी के पास गयी
छब देखी जो पीया के मोहे अपनी भूल गयी

Khusrau Raen Suhaag Ki, Mein Jaagi Pi Ke Sang 

Tan Mora Man Piya Ka, Jo Dono Ek Hee Rang 

Khusrau Darya Prem Ka, Jo Ulti Wa Ki Dhaar 

Jo Ubhra So Doob Gaya, Jo Dooba So Paar 

Khusrau Baazi Prem Ki Main Khelun Pi Ke Sung, 

Jeet Gayi To Piya Moray, Haari, Pi Kay Sung
Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re
Gar Naari Ganwari Kahe So Kahe

Ab Jo Hoga So Daikhen Ge

Sach Kehti Hoon Kya Dar Mohe

Preet Kari ki Mein Chori Kari Re 

Sohni Suratiya, Mohni Muratiya, 

Main To Hirday Ke Beech Samaa Aayi Re

Khusrau Nijaam Ke Bal Bal Jaiyya

Main To Binmol / Anmol Cheli Kaha Aayi Re

Main to Apni Chab Banaa Ke Jo Pi Ke Paas Gayi 

Chab Dekhi Jab Piya Ki Mohe Apni Bhool Gayi

Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re
Main To Piya Say Naina Laga Aayi Re

Alif allah chambe di booti by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

"Alif allah chambe di booti, murshad man vich laai hu.
Nafi asbaat da paani mileyo, har ragge har jaai hu.
Andar buti mushk machaiya, jaan phulaan te ayi hu.
Jeeve murshad kaamil bahu, jaen eh booti laayi hu"

       The song recently appeared in the movie Cocktail and in coke studio, both versions by Arif Lohar and it was a huge hit. The kalaam is written by Hazrat Sultan Bahu. The tradition song has been sung by a lot of singers over the time. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan presented it as a classical sufi Qawwali. what makes it a special is the variation of tempo used by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the song. He goes from low scale to high scale and enthrills you. A different and lovely sufi kalaam to listen.

Charkha by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

"Charkha", is a popular song, a kind of Heer..where the beloved yearns for his lover and calls him, though the love is not just earthly, it is more divine..The song was penned by the great sufi mystic Bulleh Shah. Almost every sufi singer has performed the song over the years. It is a great sufi number and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan here sings it in his true spirit of a Performer..It is noteworthy that when he sings you feel a kind of vigour and zeal in your soul to meet the person you love most..

   The Song has been sung by a wide community and singers so it has different versions, some short and some quite long.. A few lines from the song has been given here with their meaning:-

Maira aye charKha naoN laKha kuRey

("My existence is priceless" (Here charKha - a yarn spinning wheel - is used as a symbol of life and one's experience through life)

NeuN katdi katdi pakka kuRey
(Matured and nurtured by my (selfless) love)

MeiN tey mang RanjheN di hoi aN
(I've given myself to my Ranjha)

Mera babul karda aye dhakka kurey
(But people force me to abandon my beloved)

LokaN bhaNey chaak mahiN da
(For others, Ranjha is only a meager servant)

Mairey paa da Makkah kurey
(For me he is my Mecca)

LokaN bhaNey ishq soKhala
(People think to love is easy)

Aye ishq nahiN chaDda phakka kuRey
(Love destroys everything and leaves nothing behind)

Bulleh Shah naiN sach kar jata
(Bulleh Shah realized the truth)

Maira Shah Anayet guru pakka kuRey
(Shah Anayet is indeed my true spiritual leader (murshid))

Tere Bahjon Dil Deya Mehrama Ve

(oh keeper of my heart?)

Mera Jeona Kehre Chajda Ve..

(What good is my life without you?)

Mere Loon Loon Vich Meri Nas Nas Vich

(In every pore and every vein of my being)

Teri Yaad Da Tumba Vajda Ve…

(The song of your memory strums)

Aja Har Charkhe De Gere

(Come with every turn of the wheel)

Mein Tenu Yaad Kardi..

(I yearn for you)

Kade Aa Tatri De Vehre

(Come to the courtyard)

Mein Tenu Yaad Kardi ….

(to the one who longs for you)

Aja

(Come)

Ishq Da Charkha, Dukhan Diya Puniyan

(The spindle of love, the unspun fibers of sorrow)

Jiyon Jiyon Katti Javan Hon Payiyan Gunniyan

(The more I spin, the more they seem to increase)

Yaar Fareed Qabool Karein

(My friend Fareed, please avow)

Meda Sanwal Mithra

(My sweet beloved)

Sham Salonda Atay Sanwal Yar o Yar

(Dark as the evening is my beloved, friend oh friend)

Meda Sanwal Mithra Sham Saloon Saloondaa

(Salty, dark as the evening is my sweet beloved)

Yaar Mile Lajpal Mile Tad Yari Lawan Chas Hai

(Finding the friend, the protector, makes friendship worth it)

Jiyon Tere Pyar Mein Karu Intezar Main Kisi Se Kaha Jaye Naaaaaa

(Live in your love I wait for you, cannot tell anyone)

Jalon Tere Pyar Main Karon Intizar Main

 (Burning in your love I wait for you)

Kisi Se Kaha Jaye Naaa

(Cannot tell anyone)

Mera Eh Charkha Nolakha Kure….

(This spindle of mine is priceless)

Mera Eh Charkha Nolakha Kure…..

(This spindle of mine is priceless)

Mera Eh Charkha Nolakha Kure….

(This spindle of mine is priceless.)

Aja

(Come)

Saanson ki maala pe by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

The bhajan "Saanson ki maala pe" was originally sung by Meera Bai, a 16th-century Hindu Mystic. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has sung this song as a Sufi Qawwali and has added a divine flavour of Love and music to it. It was one of the most popular song in his Qawwali concerts. His divine voice plus divine lyrics of the song make it my one of the favourite songs in Qawwali format..

Aa Piya In Nainan Mein, Main Palk Dhamp Tohe Loon
Naan Mein Dekhoon Gair Ko Naan Mein Tohe Dekhan Doon

Kajal Daloon Karkira Jo Surma Diya Na Jaal
Jin Nainan Mein Piya Basey, Bala Doojha Koun Samaaye

Neel Gagan Se Bhi Pare Saiya Ji Ka Gaon
Darshan Jal Ki Kamna Pat Rakheo Ri Ram

Abb Kismat Ke Haath Hai Iss Bandan Ki Laaj
Maine To Mann Likh Diya Sawariya Ke Naam

Janey Koun Se Beiss Mein Sawarian Mil Jaye
Jhuk Jhuk Kar Sansaar Mai Sab Ko Karoon Salaam

Woh Chatar Hai Kamni Woh Hai Sundar Nar
Jiss Pagli Ne Kar Liya Sajan Ka Mann Ram

Jab Se Radha Shaam Ke Nain Hue Hain Char
Shaam Banne Hain Radhika Radha Ban Gaye Shaam

Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam
Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam

Apne Mann Ki Main Janoo Aur Pi Ke Mann Ki Ram
Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam

Yehi Meri Bandagi Hai Yehi Meri Pooja
Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam


Ik Ka Sajan Mandir Mein Ik Ka Preetam Masjid Mein
Par Main Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam

Ham Aur Nahi Kachu Kaam Ke Matware Pi Ke Naam Ke
Sansoon Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam

Sajni Paati Tab Likhoon Jo Preetam Ho Pardes
Tann Mein Mann Mein Piya Basey Ab Bejhoon Kise

Har Har Mein Har Basey, Har ko Har ki Aass
Har Ko Har Har Dhoon Phiri Aur Har Hai Morey Paas

Prem Ke Raang Mein Aisi Doobi Ban Gaya Ek Hi Roop
Prem Ki Mala Japte Japte Aap Bani Main Shaam

Preetam Ka Kuch Dosh Nahi Hai Woh To Hai Nirdosh
Aapne Aap Se Batein Karke Ho Gayee Main Badnaam

Prem Piyala Jab Se Piya Hai Jee Ka Hai Ye Haal
Angaroon Pe Neend Aajaye Kantoo Pe Aaraam

Jeevan Ka Shingar Hai Preetam Mang Pe Hai Sindoor
Preetam Ki Nazron Se Girr Karr Jeena Hai Kis Kaam

Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam
Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam