I love it when Urdu poets create parallels between emotions and otherwise mundane aspects of nature. It's such a romantic way of giving a deeper meaning and richer texture to ordinary feelings, and makes one appreciate the beauty of the world just a little bit more.

While nowhere in the league of Ghalib and other great poets, a recent song reminded me how much I love this stuff. From Fanaa, "Mere Haath Mein" didn't make much of an impact on me when I heard it during the movie. But I've been listening to it closely and I really love the lyrics and now the song makes a lot more sense in terms of why it showed up in the movie where it did. Aamir and Kajol's relationship had been fraught with separation and misunderstandings, and this was their coming-together song - hence the emphasis on "paas paas" and closeness. If I'd heard the song more closely during the movie (or before it), and known the context, I think I may have enjoyed it a lot more!

Mere Haath Mein
Film: Fanaa
Music: Jatin-Lalit
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Mere haath mein tera haath ho
Saari jannatein mere saath hon
Tu jo paas ho, phir kya yeh jahaan
Tere pyar mein hojaoon fanaa

Kitne paas hai khushbu saans ke
Jitne paas honton ke sargam
Jaise saath hai karvat yaad ke
Jaise saath baahon ke sangam

Jitne paas paas khwabon ke nazar
Utne paas tu rehna humsafar
Tu jo paas ho, phir kya yeh jahaan
Tere pyar mein hojaoon fanaa

Rone de aaj humko, tu aankhein sujaane de
Baahon mein lele aur khud ko bheeg jaane de
Hai jo seene mein qaid darya, woh choot jayega
Hai itna dard ke tera daaman bheeg jayega

Jitne paas paas dhadhkan ke hai raaz
Jitne paas boondon ke badal
Jaise saath saath chanda ke hai raat
Jitne paas nainon ke kaajal

Jitne paas paas saagar ke leher
Utne paas tu rehna humsafar
Tu jo paas ho, phir kya yeh jahaan
Tere pyar mein hojaoon fanaa

Adhoori saans thi, dhadhkan adhoori thi, adhoore hum
Magar ab chand poora hai falak pe
Aur ab poore hain hum