Asha Bhosle / Madan Mohan: Saba Se Yeh Keh Do - Bank Manager (1959)

This is one of the sweetest songs in Asha Bhosle's voice.

Madan Mohan usually went to Lata Mangeshkar for his signature songs including the ghazals for which he is regarded as second to none as a composer, while he often gave her younger sister Asha Bhosle his dance or western style compositions.

Here, Asha Bhosle gets the opportunity to use her enchanting, seductive, and extraordinarily expressive voice to convey the lover's anticipation, adulation, yearning, and infatuation suggested in the exquisitely written words of this delightful ghazal.

Since the original video unfortunately has several unpleasant breaks in the song, I have edited the original version to fill in the gaps and also converted the video to full widescreen format without distorting the images. I hope the gain in the continuity of the song makes up for any loss in the visual quality in some parts of the video.

Saba Se Yeh Keh Do
Voice: Asha Bhosle
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Jalal Malihabadi
Film: Bank Manager (1959)
Cast: Shekhar, Minoo Mumtaz

Lyrics and interpretation below (please let me know if you find any mistakes in them or have alternate suggestions):

Hindi (Urdu) lyrics:

सबा से ये केह दो के कलियाँ बिछाए
वो देखो, वो जान-ए-बहार आ रहा है
चुरा ले गया जो, इन आँखों की नींदें
वोही लेके दिल का क़रार आ रहा है
सबा से ये केह दो....

ये कौन आ गया दिल को कर ता इशारे
के मेहेकि फ़ज़ा, मुस्कुराए नज़ारे
कदम बढ़ के तू चूम ले ऐ मुहब्बत
के दिल को बहुत उन से प्यार आ रहा है
सबा से ये केह दो...

ये माना के मेहेफिल मे अंजान है तू
मगर जब भी तुझ से निगाहें मिली हैं
मुझे यूँ लगा है, पयामे-मुहब्बत
नज़र से तेरी बार बार आ रहा है
सबा से ये केह दो...

(Third verse - not included in this version)
ये रंगीन फसाना कोई मुझ से पूछे
के तू कैसा प्यारा है, कितना हसीन है
सुना था हसीन जिन पे कर ते हैं जादू
तुझे देख कर ऐतबार आ रहा है
सबा से ये केह दो...

Saba se yeh keh do ke kaliyaan bichhae
Woh dekho, woh jaan-e-bahaar aa raha hai
Chura le gaya jo, in aankhon ki neendein
Wohi leke dil ka qaraar aa raha hai
Saba se yeh keh do...

Yeh kaun aa gaya dil ko kar ta ishare
Ke mehaki faza, muskuraae nazaare
Kadam badh ke tu choom le ae muhabbat
Ke dil ko bahut un se pyaar aa raha hai
Saba se yeh keh do...

Yeh maana ke mehefil me anjaan hai tu
Magar jab bhi tujh se nigaahen mili hain
Mujhe yun laga hai, payaam-e-muhabbat
Nazar se teri bar bar aa raha hai
Saba se yeh keh do...

(Third verse - not included in this version)
Yeh rangeen fasaana koi mujh se poochhe
Ke tu kaisa pyaara hai, kitana haseen hai
Suna tha haseen jin pe kar te hain jadu
Tujhe dekh kar ait-bar aa raha hai
Saba se yeh keh do...

My interpretation (not a literal translation):

Tell the breeze to spread the buds around
For the spring of my life is approaching
The one who has stolen my sleep
Is arriving to soothe my restless heart

Who is sending these hints to my heart,
Making nature blush and the air fragrant?
O love, come and embrace me
My heart is teeming with passion for him

I heard you act aloof at concerts
Yet whenever our eyes meet
The look in your eyes conveys
Intimation of love over and over

(Third verse - not included in this version)
If someone asks me this colorful story
Of how charming and handsome you are
I heard you enchant others
After seeing you, I believe them

Видео Asha Bhosle / Madan Mohan: Saba Se Yeh Keh Do - Bank Manager (1959) канала bemused321