A Blast From The Past

The title song of a very popular TV serial ‘Malgudi Days’ based on the charming books of R.K.Narayan dealing with life in the fictional South Indian village of Malgudi. Illustrations by his equally famous brother R.K.Laxman





The Hindi title song to the serial ‘Jungle Book’. Lyrics by the inimitable Gulzar




the lyrics are


Jangal Jangal Baat Chali Hai, Pata Chala Hai
Arre Chaddi Pahan Ke Phool Khila Hai

Ek Parinda, tha sharminda, tha woh nanga
Bhai isse to ande ke andar, tha woh changa
Soch raha hai bahar aakhir kyon nikla hai
Chaddi Pahan ke Phool Khila Hai


A rough translation goes like this


The word’s got round the jungle, they have heard
That a flower has bloomed, wearing chaddis (shorts)

A dove, embarrassed because he’s naked
Is thinking he was better-off inside the egg
Is now pondering on why the hell he’s stepped-out
…a flower has bloomed, wearing chaddis (shorts)


The translation..... my translation may not sound great, but the original is….



An educational Films Division documentary ‘Ek Chidiya’