A marathi ghazal that I listen to at night, sometimes on repeat
This song is meant to be heard after sunset – is what I feel, but this is not a rule.

What’s behind this great song?

  • Music composition by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar
  • Voice by Asha Bhosale
  • Ghazal poetry (lyrics) by Suresh Bhat
  • Flute played by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya
  • Composed in Bilaskhani Todi raag (watch this for more info on this raag)

Meaning of the song

Suresh Bhat has written this poem which is more like ghazal. He describes the situation in poem where a husband is a little disappointed with his wife and he purposely tries to ignore her and doesn’t talk to her. His wife doesn’t know what happened. She then tries to persuade him and asks him to talk to her.

Before this meaning and context was cleared by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar in a reality show, there were some other interpretations of this song. Some people were thinking it as a death song, where wife asks her husband to wake up, who is already buried in a shroud. (Scary thought!)

In this video, you will know that the actual meaning of this song is different. (Saregamapa Marathi singing show)

Music composition

The song starts with a flute which is very nice tune, played by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya. The flute played by him was his own flute pieces in the song. You can hear this flute and it’s variations at 2-3 places which sounds so nice and blends with the song really nicely.

There are 4 stanzas in song, almost all are different in tune and it shows that Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar has given music to the “Words”. First one “Ajunahi vijhalya na gagani” and Last one “Usalati hrudayaat mazhya” are similar in tune, but they have nice meaning.

Singing

Many singers tried to sing this song, but the original song which was sung by Asha Bhosale (Elder sister of Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar) is outstanding.

Asha once said that it’s very difficult song to sing since it has very low note as well as very high note. The higher note can be heard in 3rd stanza! In the live concerts, Asha Bhosale gets “once more” for that.

I have heard many versions of this song. Putting the list of songs from the Original to the recent one which is sung by Shankar Mahadevan.

#Lyrics

In MarathiIn English
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी,
राजसा निजलास का रे
राजसा निजलास का रे
एवढयातच त्या कुशीवर,
तू असा वळलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

अजूनही विझल्या न गगनी,
तारकांच्या दीपमाला
अजूनही विझल्या न गगनी,
तारकांच्या दीपमाला
अजून मी विझले कुठे रे
हाऽय तू विझलास का रे
राजसा निजलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

सांग या कोजागिरीच्या
चांऽऽदण्याला काय सांगूऽऽ
सांग या कोजागिरीच्या
चांऽऽदण्याला काऽऽय सांगू
उमलते अंगांग माझे
आणि तू मिटलास का रे
राजसा निजलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

बघ तुला पुसतोच आहे,
बघ तुला पुसतोच आहे,
पश्चिमेचा गार वारा
बघ तुला पुसतोच आहे,
पश्चिमेचा गार वारा
रातराणीच्या फुलांचा
गंध तू लूटलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

उसळती हृदयात माझ्या,
अमृताच्या धुंद लाटा
उसळती हृदयात माझ्या,
अमृताच्या धुंद लाटा
तू किनार्‍यासारखा पण
कोरडा उरलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

ओठ अजुनी बंद का रे,
श्वास ही मधुमंद का रे
ओठ अजुनी बंद का रे,
श्वास ही मधुमंद का रे
बोल शेजेच्या फुलावर,
तू असा रुसलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी
राजसा निजलास का रे
एवढयातच त्या कुशीवर,
तू असा वळलास का रे
तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी

राजसा निजलास का रे
Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
tu asa valalaas ka re

Ajunahi vijhalya n gagani taarakaanchya dipamaala
Ajun mi vijhale kuthhe re, haay tu vijhalaas ka re
Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
tu asa valalaas ka re

Saang hya kojaagirichya chaandanyaala kaay saangu
Umalate angaang maajhe ani tu mitalaas ka re
Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
tu asa valalaas ka re

Bagh tula pusatoch ahe pashchimecha gaar waara
Raataraanichya fulaancha gndh tu lutalaas ka re
Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
tu asa valalaas ka re

Usalati hridayaat maajhya amritaachya dhund laata
Tu kinaar‍ayaasaarakha pan
korada uralaas ka re

Othh ajuni bnd ka re, shwaas hi madhumnd ka re
Bol shejechya fulaanwar tu asa rusalaas ka re
Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
tu asa valalaas ka re

Various versions of Tarun ahe ratra ajuni

#1 Asha Bhosale (Original)

#2 Padmaja Phenani

#3 Saregamapa singing show (1997)

Sonu nigam as host. Sung by contestant Sanjeev Ramabhadran.

#4 Arati Ankalikar with Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar (Live show)

#5 Shankar Mahadevan

Watch the making of 2nd version of this song, created by composer himself Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar.

#6 Neha Rajpal

https://gaana.com/song/tarun-aahe-ratra-ajuni-nehha-rajpal

#7 Rahul Deshpande

https://youtu.be/Jz3BGsG8AZQ (Embed disabled by Owner)

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8 Comments

  1. In the Music Section there also should be a comment on the Raag on which this song is loosely – or strongly – based.

    1. Thanks for your suggestion Nandkishore. I’m glad you are interested in raag and classical music.

      I will get these technical and important things included in the articles. 🙂

      Keep listening to such amazing songs.

  2. English Translation – Sanket V. Ashtikar , Nagpur MH.

    तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी राजसा निजलास का रे ?
    एवढ्यातच त्या कुशीवर तू असा वळलास का रे ?

    The night is still young, my dear prince have you slept?
    Did you turn around and rested behind back so early?

    अजुनही विझल्या न गगनी तारकांच्या दीपमाला;
    अजुन मी विझले कुठे रे ? हाय ! तू विझलास का रे ?

    The Garlands of Stars in the deep sky are yet to be extinguished….
    I myself haven’t yet extinguished….
    Ohhh , have you already extinguished ?

    सांग, ह्या कोजागरीच्या चांदण्याला काय सांगू ?
    उमलते अंगांग माझे.. आणि तू मिटलास का रे ?

    Tell me now what should I tell to these stars and waxing gibbous Moon of Kojagiri (full moon)??….
    Every organ in my body is blossoming……
    but have you already became nyctinastic?

    बघ तुला पुसतोच आहे पश्चिमेचा गार वारा..
    रातराणीच्या फुलांचा गंध तू लुटलास का रे ?

    See these chilled westerly winds are asking for you…..
    Have you robbed the fragrance of Night-Blooming Jasmine ?

    उसळती हुदयांत माझ्या अमृताच्या धुंद लाटा..
    तू किनार्‍यासारखा पण कोरडा उरलास का रे ?

    These necterine waves are bouncing in my heart…..
    But why you still remain dry like a seashore ?

    ओठ अजुनी बंद का रे,
    श्वास ही मधुमंद का रे
    बोल शेजेच्या फुलावर,
    तू असा रुसलास का रे

    Why your lips are still locked?…..
    Why your breathing is so low pitched?…..
    Tell me have you still sulky on this flower beside??

    तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी राजसा निजलास का रे ?
    The night is still young, my dear prince have you slept?…….

  3. (Nature is awaiting the rise of moon on the night of KOJAGIRI POORNIMA and moon is taking its own time to rise) Meaning of the poem:-
    Tarun ahe raatr ajuni raajasa nijalaas ka re
    Evadhayaatach tya kushiwar
    tu asa valalaas ka re

    Night is still young, Oh Moon (rajasa with ego , have you slept off
    So soon have you arched on the cushion (sky/cloud)

    Ajunahi vijhalya n gagani taarakaanchya dipamaala
    Ajun mi vijhale kuthhe re, haay tu vijhalaas ka re

    Still in the sky are the unblown garland lit by the starlight,
    Still I (nature) have not become powerless, oh how have you become powerless

    Saang hya kojaagirichya chaandanyaala kaay saangu
    Umalate angaang maajhe ani tu mitalaas ka re
    Tell me, what do I say to the stars on this KOJAGIRI (festival of moon in India) (in case the moon does not appear)
    I am very anxious to see you and where have you hidden yourself

    Bagh tula pusatoch ahe pashchimecha gaar waara
    Raataraanichya fulaancha gndh tu lutalaas ka re

    Look, I think the cold westerly winds are trying to erase you (Push you back from rising)
    Have you stolen the sweet smell of RAATRANI flower (i.e. hiding like a thief)

    Usalati hridayaat maajhya amritaachya dhund laata
    Tu kinaarayaasaarakha pan
    korada uralaas ka re

    In my heart (SEA) tides are emerging like sweet nectar,
    You are always ashore, but remained very dry, why so????
    (Moon brings tides on seas, but moon as such is dry without water)

    Othh ajuni bnd ka re, shwaas hi madhumnd ka re
    Bol shejechya fulaanwar tu asa rusalaas ka re

    Why are you still quiet, why your breath has become slow,
    Tell me, are you angry with the STAR FLOWERS.

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