Translation — Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi Lyrics English

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the night of the fourteenth moon) Shab bhar ki baat thi (And the conversation lasted all night long)

Woh shab bhar ki baat thi (That conversation that lasted all night) Jo kahu'n main to khwab si baat thi (If I were to speak of it, it was like a dream)

Woh mere samne baithe the (She was sitting right in front of me) Mere naseeb mein na tha (But she was not written in my destiny)

Woh mere samne baithe the (She was sitting right in front of me) Beparwah, bekhabar sitaare saare (Carefree, unaware, like the surrounding stars) Jaise kisi jazeere ki raat thi (As if it were a night on some isolated island)

Honth zara khule the uske (Her lips were slightly parted) Zulfein hawa mein udd rahi thin (Her tresses were flying in the breeze)

Honth zara khule the uske (Her lips were slightly parted) Aisa laga dhadak raha hai mera dil (It felt as if my heart was beating) Ki wahin rakh di gayi hai baat thi (Right there... as if the conversation had been placed) kal chaudhvin ki raat thi lyrics english translation

Main karta kyaa jo dekhta unhen (What could I do? I was watching her) Bhaap sa ban ke aa'ti thi sans (My breath came like a vapor/fog)

Main karta kyaa jo dekhta unhen (What could I do when I watched her?) Palkon ko jab jhapte dekha maine (When I saw her eyelids flutter) Lagi sadiyon ki raat thi (It felt like a night lasting centuries)

Ab to yeh dil kehta hai (Now this heart says) Khwaab kyun tod diya zanhaar (Why did you break the dream, O cruel one?)

Ab to yeh dil kehta hai (Now this heart says) Woh the mere paas jo kahu'n to (She was with me... if I say it) Mere paas kya kya baat thi (How much I had... what a conversation it was)

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the night of the fourteenth moon) Shab bhar ki baat thi (And the conversation lasted all night long) Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the

Roman: Kya rolay tere shahr mein, Kya fog-e-khumar-e-ishq mein Hum se to kinara kar liya, Tum ne bhi ghalat ki hai

English Translation: What an uproar in your city, what a crowd in the drowsiness of love! You have distanced yourself from me, You have also made a mistake.

Explanation: The poet confronts the beloved. He says that because of their separation, the entire city feels chaotic. He finally accuses the beloved directly: "You pulling away from me was a mistake."

Roman: Jab raat ne li angrai, Aur subah hui ik zai Mana ke machalne wale, Thodi si shab-e-tari thi

English Translation: When the night stretched (like a yawn), and the dawn turned into a coil/braid, I admit that those who were restless, That night was a little bit dark. Roman: Kya rolay tere shahr mein, Kya fog-e-khumar-e-ishq

Explanation: The poet admits that he was uneasy. He calls the night tari (dark), despite it being a full moon night. For him, without the beloved's presence, even a full moon night feels pitch black.

For lovers of Urdu poetry and classic Bollywood music, few ghazals resonate as deeply as "Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi." Originally penned by the legendary poet Ibne Insha, and immortalized by the melodious voice of Mehdi Hassan, this song is a masterclass in bittersweet romance.

If you have searched for "kal chaudhvin ki raat thi lyrics english translation," you are likely not just looking for a word-for-word conversion. You want to understand the soul of the poem—the metaphors of the moon, the night, and the ache of unfulfilled love.

In this article, we provide the original Urdu (Romanized script), the precise English translation, and an explanation of why this ghazal remains timeless, 50+ years after its release.

Roman: Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi, Shab bhar raha charcha tera Kuch ne kaha ye chaand hai, Kuch ne kaha chehra tera

English Translation: Last night was the night of the full moon, All night long, there was a discussion about you. Some said, "This is the moon," Others said, "No, this is your face."

Explanation: The poet describes the ambiance. On a bright full-moon night, everyone is confused. The moonlight is so beautiful that people argue about whether it is the celestial moon or the face of the beloved.