Kaifi Azmi's Tribute To Guru Dutt

Kaifi Azmi recited a ghazal as a tribute to Filmmaker/ Actor Guru Dutt who committed suicide in 1964. His recitation exists as part of an interview which was shot for a documentary made on the life of Guru Dutt called “In search of Guru Dutt” by Nasreen Munni Kabir. The poem and the translation is given below.

Documentary- In search of Guru Dutt

Rehne ko sadaa dahar mein aata nahin koi

tum jaise gaye aise bhi jaata nahin koi

ek baar toh khud maut bhi ghabra gayi hogi
yun maut ko seene se lagaata nahin koi

darta hoon kahin khushq na ho jaaye samundar
raakh apni kabhi aap bahaata nahin koi

saaqi se gila tha tumhein, maikhaane se shikwaa
ab zahar se bhi pyaas bujhaata nahin koi

maana ki ujaalon ne tumhein daag diye the
beraat dhale shama bujhaata nahin koi

rehne ko sadaa dahar mein aata nahin koi
tum jaise gaye aise bhi jaata nahin koi

Translation:

No one comes to stay on this earth forever
Yet no one goes the way you did

Even Death must have been taken aback
For no one embraces her the way you did

The startled Sea may dry up soon
For no one’s ever offered her his own ashes

You complained about the Tavern and the Saqi
Yet none quenched thirst with venom your way

I concede sunlight scarred you
Yet the flame should have burned till night gave way

No one comes to stay on this earth forever
Yet no one goes the way you did

You can hear the recitation of this poem in Kaifi Azmi’s voice here: http://mmusicz.com/video/OTLXEdi1JQ0/Tribute\_To\_Guru\_Dutt.html

* The documentary is available at Rhythm House , Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.