Ek Tara Bole

By request. :) A song featuring a simple yet endearing instrument described by "ajnabi" of washerman's dog blogspot. Personally when I think of the "Ektara" or "Ek Tara" instrument I think of the song Ek Tara Vajda Ve Ranjhana which is more traditionally sung as "Do Tara Vajda Ve". The word tara means string/wire and it sounds identical to the word in Hindi and Punjabi that means star. Recently it was sadly wrongly translated on the acoustic version of Ek Tara (from the album Pure Desi Volume 2, produced by Jeet Bhogal, vocals by Jaswinder Jassi) in the intro as "one star" instead of "one string". Both the Ektara and the Dotara show us that it does not take a fancy instrument to make beautiful music.

Film: Yaadgar

Singer: Mahendra Kapoor & Chorus
Lyrics: Varma Malik
MD: Kalyanji - Anandji

Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
ektara says "tun tun"
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
what is it saying to you? listen...
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Baat Hai Lambi, Matlab Gol
it's a long story, it's meaning circular
Khol Na De Yeh Sab Ke Pol
I hope it doesn't expose everyone's secrets
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad...
then after that
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Kuch Aaise Log Bhi Hote Hai
Kuch Aaise Log Bhi Hote Hai
there are such people
Apni Galti Pe Rote Hai
that cry about their mistakes
Apna Tau Bhet Nahin Bhartha
they can't fill their own stomachs
Par Das Das Bachay Hote Hai
Par Das Das Bachay Hote Hai
yet they have 10 children
Har Saal Calendar Chhap Diya
every year a calendar gets printed
Parivaar Niyojan Saaf Kiya
family planing disappears
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad...
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Pehle Tau Tha Chola Burkha
Pehle Tau Tha Chola Burkha
first, there was the chola (long shirt) and burkha (veil)
Phir Khat Khat Ke Woh Hua Kurta
then it was cut and became the kurta (short shirt)
Chole Ke Ab Choli Hai Bani
now the chola (long shirt) has become the choli (very short shirt)
Choli Se Aage Kya Hoga
what will come next? (after the choli)
Choli Se Aage Kya Hoga
Yeh Fashion Bhartha Bhartha Gaya
if fashion keeps growing like this
Aur Kapda Tan Se Khatda Gaya
and cloth that covers the body keeps diminishing
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Arre He Teri Aaisi Taisi
Arre He Teri Aaisi Taisi
tit for tat
Surat Hai Ladki Jaisi
you look like a girl
Tang Pant, Patli Tangein
(with your) tight pants, tight pantlegs
Lagti Hai Cigarette Jaisi
(you) look like a cigarette
Lagti Hai Cigarette Jaisi
Desh Ka Yehi Jawan Hai Tau
if the soldiers (youth) of this nation are like this
Desh Ki Yeh Santan Hai
if the children of this nation are like this
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Arre Rocket Koi Chadhata Hai
Arre Rocket Koi Chadhata Hai
someone flies a rocket
Koi Atam Bomb Banata Hai
someone else makes an atom bomb
Aman Ke Naam Pe Dekho Woh
look, in the name of peace
Duniya Pe Rob Jamata Hai
they demonstrate their power
Duniya Pe Rog Jamata Hai
Barood Agar Yeh Chal Jaye
if these weapons go off
Saari Duniya Jal Jaye
if the whole world burns
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Mandir Se Log Ghabrate Hai
Mandir Se Log Ghabrate Hai
people are afraid of the Mandir
Aur Roz Club Mein Jaate Hai
and go to clubs all the time
Log Bhakti Bhajan Sab Bhool Gaye
people have forgotten the religious hymns
Aur Filmi Gaane Gaate Hai
and they sing film songs
Jab Dharm Nahin Aur Sharm Nahin
when there is no religion and no shame
Koi Bhi Accha Karm Nahin
and no good deeds
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun

Do Kism Ke Neta Hote Hai
Ek Deta Hai Ek Paata Hai
there are two kinds of leaders
Ohhhhh
Ek Desh Ko Loot Ke Khata Hai
one that takes from his country
Ek Desh Pe Jaan Lootata Hai
and one that gives his life for his country
Ohhhhh
Ek Zinda Reh Kar Marta Hai
one dies while living
Ek Mar Kar Jeevan Paata Hai
and one gains life only after dying
Ek Marra Tau Naam-o-Nishaan Hi Nahin
one dies without any remembrance (symbolic name)
Ek Yaadgar Ban Jaata Hai
and the other cannot be forgotten
Ek Yaadgar Ban Jaata Hai
Bhagwan Kare Mere Desh Ke Sab Neta Hi Ban Jayein Aaise
may god will it so, that all the leaders of my country would become like this:
Thode Se Lal Bahadur Ho
some like Lal Bahadur
Thode Se Ho Nehru Jaise
some like Nehru
Thode Se Ho Nehru Jaise
Ram Na Kare Mere Desh Ko
Ram Na Kare Mere Desh Ko Kabhi Bhi Aaisa Neta Mile
may god not will it so, that the leaders of my country would be like this:
Jo Aap Bhi Doobe, Desh Bhi Doobe, Janta Ko Bhi Le Doobe Arre, Janta Ko Bhi Le Doobe
one who drowns, taking the country and people with him
Vote Liya Aur Khisak Gaya Jab Kursi Se Chipak Gaya
or one who wins votes but then disappears after gaining his chair
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Us Ke Baad?
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun



Jis Ghar Mein Daku Chor Chhupe
a house that has hidden dacoits and thieves
Us Ghar Ki Mehanat Kya Hogi
what hard work would such a house have?
Jis Daur Ke Yeh Annadata Ho
an era that has such a provider of food
Us Daur Ki Kismat Kya Hogi
what would be that generations's destiny?
Jis Maa Ke Bachay Bhooke Rahe
a mother who's children remain hungry
Us Maa Ki Haalat Kya Hogi
what would be the state of such a mother
Jo Desh Milavat Khata Hai
a country that eats contaminated food
Us Desh Ki Taaqat Kya Hogi
what strength will such a nation have?
Us Desh Ki Taaqat Kya Hogi
Yehi Woh Ration Waala Hai
Yehi Woh Ration Waala Hai
this is the same "rationwaala" (person who doles out the ration)
Jis Ne Kuch Kiya Ghotala Hai
that has made such a mess of things
Attay Mein Reth Milai Hai
mixing sand into flour
Shakr Mein Atta Daala Hai
(and) flour into sugar
Shakr Mein Aata Daala Hai
Duniya Yeh Ration Khati Rahi
the world eats this ration
Nit Nayi Bimari Aati Rahi
and (because of that) new illnesses are borne
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun


Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Jo Doctor Ban Kar Aata Hai
he who becomes a doctor
Pehle Yeh Kasmein Khata Hai
first takes this oath
Sewa Main Karoonga Janta Ki
"I will serve the people"
Yehi Vishwas Dilaata Hai
he assures us
Ohhhhh
Aur Jab Degree Mil Jaati Hai
and after getting his degree
Eis Baat Ko Bhool Hi Jaata Hai
he forgets about this promise
Bhagwan Ke Peeche Doctor Hi, Insaan Ki Jaan Bachata Hai
next to God, it's a doctor that can save a human life
Insaan Ki Jaan Bachata Hai
Bimaar Pe Jo Na Taras Khaye
he who does not feel pity for the sick
Bimaar Pe Jo Na Taras Khaye
Aur Lahparvahi Kar Jaaye
and is careless
Woh Hi Doctor Is Desh Ki Sab Se Badi Bimaari Ban Jaye
that same doctor becomes this nation's biggest illness
Badi Bimaari Ban Jaye
Jo Jaan Ki Keemat Na Samjhe
he who does not understand the value of a life
Insaan Ki Keemat Na Samjhe
does not understand the value of a human being
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun


Yeh Laal Hai Bharat Maata Ke
these are the dear (children) of their motherland
Maa Se Hi Daga Kamaate Hai
they deceive their mother
Yeh Cheen Ke Roti Bhaiyon Ki
steal food from their brothers
Apni Jebein Bhar Jaate Hai
and fill their own pockets
Ohhhhh
Us Thali Mein Hi Chhed Kare Jis Thali Mein Yeh Khate Hai
they make a hole in the same plate that they eat from
Jis Thali Mein Yeh Khate Hai
Apni Janani Ke Doodh Me Dekho, Aap Hi Zehar Milate Hai
they themselves poison their own mother's milk
Aap Ki Zehar Milate Hai
Janta Ki Kamai Khate Rahe
if they keep feeding off the people's wealth
Yeh Yun Hi Loot Machate Rahe
keep on looting
Tau Phir Us Ke Baad
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun
Kya Kahe Yeh Tum Se, Sun Sun
Ek Tara Bole, Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun
Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun