Let’s take the sentence below as our example Crudely speaking, in Urdu there are lots of parts to analyse, such as case markers, which are integral to how we interpret events.Ĭase marking gives you information about what the nouns are doing it can tell you who is hitting who. Morphology analyses the structure of words and parts of words. Such flexibility in word order is very common for Urdu-Hindi and closely related languages like Punjabi and Pahari-Pothwari because they have lots of morphology. While the standard word-order can be interpreted as more serious than the atypical word order, and thus less playful and dramatic. Why the atypical word order? Any deviations from the typical order are used to mark a special meaning and are generally associated with shifts in prominence, emphasis, and semantic effects.įor native speakers, it is intuitive knowledge that the chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko sounds more intense, dramatic, and playful than tumne jo dilko chura liya hai. Having the verb at the front emphasises the stealing metaphor-type meaning and gets one’s attention immediately.
You can compare the two types of word orders here However with some shuffling around, we can put the chorus into the standard Urdu-Hindi word order. While in English, the typical word order is SVO Ĭhura liya hai has a VSO word order which is in contrast to the typical SVO order found in Urdu. Javeria is the subject, Salim is the object and maara tha are the verbs. The typical word order in Urdu-Hindi and sister languages like Punjabi and Pahari-Pothwari is SOV subject + object + verb(s). In dissecting and analysing the meaning of this verse, we can see rich and intricate patterns that contribute to the overall playful meaning of chura liya hai tumne jo dilko. Let’s begin with the word order. Metaphors are an obvious example of language creativity, but what about language creativity that is woven deeply into the grammar that contributes to the meaning of the sentence too? The deeper meanings of any type of sentence is intimately connected to the type of words that are in the sentence the ordering of the words and the grammar of the words. Whether you have a Bollywood palate or not, the metaphor gets your attention and dependent on your palate, it will be followed by giggles and/or a lingering thought of what not. But no doubt a metaphor that is universally understood at some level. There is a type of metaphorical meaning in chura liya hai tumne jo dilko and some might go further to say a rather dramatic and cheesy one too. This sentiment comes through in the line that follows immediately nazar nahin churaana sanam ‘My beloved, don’t look away’. Īsha Bhosle opens the song by singing chura liya hai tumne jo dilko in a sort of overwhelmed and perhaps even defeated tone, yet one with a feeling of satisfaction and recognition. It forms part of the soundtrack for the first ever Masala film in the Indian Bollywood industry, released in 1973 Yaadon Ki Baaraat ‘Deluge of Memories’. Composed by Rahul Dev Burman and sang by the beloved Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle. You may already know that the chorus is from the well-known and much loved song written by the poet and lyricist known for writing in all genres and moods Majrooh Sultanpuri. And recently I have found myself in random moments “singing” this song, by which I mean repeating the nostalgic chorus chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko – ‘You have stolen my heart’.
The song chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko has echoed around the world and back, from India, Pakistan and their respective diaspora communities to South Africa, Malaysia, and the Middle East.