[Reader-list] Moushumi Bhowmick's songs

[hpp at vsnl.com]

Moushumi Bhowmick's songs

V Ramaswamy


In April this year I got the opportunity to hear Moushumi Bhowmick sing.

She is a sensational and phenomenal singer / poet / chanteuse. 

Her songs exist in another space, of a certain sensibility, far away from the daily grind, hustle and bustle, and immediately pull the listener there.

I can't hear the songs without breaking into tears every time.

Moushumi's songs evoke, uphold and inspire the best of this soil of Bengal, in musical expression, in feelings, in values and ideals - when all this is fast becoming a rarity in that very soil. 

She is a precious daughter of Ma Bangla. 

Two of her albums, "Ekhono golpo lekho" and "Aami ghorbahir kori" released by TimesMusic are available. 

I am transcribing / translating below two of her songs.

......


Jokhoni ektu chhuti pai (Whenever I get a little break)



jokhoni ektu chhuti pai
aami chhutey jai chhadey shondhyer mukhey
jokhoni ektu chhuti pai
aami chhutey jai chhadey aakash dekhtey



Whenever I get a little break
I go running to the roof in the early evening
Whenever I get a little break
I go running to the roof in the early evening



chhader mathay aakash daandiye
aakasher gayey koto koto rong
rong bodlaay rong bodlaay
megh pakhi shobi bodliye jaay



Above the roof stands the sky
So many colours in the sky
Colours change, colours change
Clouds, birds all change



daandiye daandiye ei shob dekhi:
jhilik diyeche bidyut rekha
hothaat kokhon taara dekha jaay
omni aakash rong bodlaay!
daandiye daandiye ei shob dekhi:
jhilik diyeche bidyut rekha
hothaat kokhon taara dekha jaay
omni aakash rong bodlaay!
hai! shohorey aakash o eto khela jaaney
tai to aakash adbhut taaney
Ekhono aakash eto khela jaaney
tai to aakash adbhut taaney


Standing there I see all this:
Lines of lightening flash
Suddenly sometimes a star is visible
Just then the sky changes colour!
Standing there I see all this:
Lines of lightening flash
Suddenly sometimes a star is visible
Just then the sky changes colour!
Oh! In the city the sky too knows some many games
That’s why the sky draws so marvellously
Even now the sky knows so many games
That’s why the sky draws so marvellously




jokhoni ektu chhuti pai
aami chhutey jai chhadey shondyer mukhey
jokhoni ektu chhuti pai



Whenever I get a little break
I go running to the roof in the early evening
Whenever I get a little break
I go running to the roof in the early evening



mostoyaakash mosto saagor
diney diney koto rong bodlaay
din raat choley aapon niyomey
aamaro shomoy boyey choley jaay
mostoyaakash mosto saagor
diney diney koto rong bodlaay
din raat choley aapon niyomey
aamaro shomoy boyey choley jaay



vast sky vast ocean
through the days change colour so 
days and nights move by their own rules
my time too is carried away
vast sky vast ocean
through the days change colour so 
days and nights move by their own rules
my time too is carried away


ek din aami surjogrohon dekhechi
hoyto plabono dekhbo
ek din aami purnogrohon dekhechi
hoyto plabono dekhbo
eto bodo dheu eto chhoto aami
shomoyer todey bheshey choley jai
eto bodo dheu eto chhotoyaami
shomoyer todey bheshey choley jai
eto bodo dheu eto chhotoyaami
shomoyer todey bheshey choley jai



One day I saw a solar eclipse
Perhaps I’ll also see a deluge
One day I saw a total eclipse
Perhaps I’ll also see a deluge
such big waves so tiny am I
washed away in the current of time
such big waves so tiny am I
washed away in the current of time
such big waves so tiny am I
washed away in the current of time

....................

Doya koro (Have mercy)



doya koro
ei khoraay aamaar shomosto deho
poeedey poodey chhai 
doya koro
ei shohor shorir shomoy
shokoli poodey poodey chhai 
doya koro
ogo brishti, ogo brishti
tumi trishito shorirey shohorer bukey
jhorey jhorey podo
doya koro ogo brishti



have mercy
in this drought my whole body
burnt to ashes
have mercy
this city, body, time
all burnt to ashes
have mercy
o dear rain, o dear rain
on the thirsty body in the bosom of the city
shower down 
have mercy, o dear rain



doya koro
ei ghorer bhitorey ondho bondho deho mon
tai doya koro
ei stobdho gumot 
ruddho kopaat ghorer bhitorey 
kheley na baatash
doya koro
ei paancheel deyaal
deyaaley taangano picassor potey
nona dhorey achhey
doya koro ogo jhod esho 
ogo jhod eshoyaar
aaghaatey aaghaatey bhengey dao shob
doya koro


have mercy
the blind closed body and mind inside this room 
so have mercy
the paralysed sultry suffocation 
inside this room with closed doors
where the air can’t play
have mercy
these walls-boundaries
the Picasso scroll hung on the wall
has become salted over
have mercy o dear storm come
o dear storm come and
strike and break down everything
have mercy




doya koro
aami bhalo bhalo bhalo bhalo-baasha-baashi
khelatey klanto 
doya koro
ei bhalo thaaka baasha bhalo kora
bhalo bhalo to lagey na 
doya koro
aami ek baar shudhu ek baar
aami 
bairey daandaboi ek baar
tai doya koro
aami bhalo bhalo bhalo 
bhalo-baasha-baashi
khelatey klanto doya koro
ei bhalo thaaka baasha bhalo kora
bhalo bhalo to laagey na
doya koro
aami ek baar shudhu ek baar
aami 
bairey daandabo ek baar
shudhu ek baar 
aami ek baar
aami 
bairey daandabo ek baar
shudhu ek baar 
aami ek baar



have mercy
this good good good loving
I’m tired of playing
have mercy
this being good, loving, doing good
does not feel very good
have mercy
I, once, just once
I 
will stand outside once
so have mercy
good good good
good loving
I’m tired of playing 
have mercy
this being good, loving, doing good
does not feel very good
have mercy
I, once, just once
I,
will stand outside once
just once
I, once
I,
will stand outside once
just once
I, once