Rafta rafta woh humare dil ke armaan ho gaye

Rafta rafta woh humare dil ke armaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh humare dil ke armaan ho gaye
Pehle jaan, phir jaan-e-jaan, phir jaan-e-jaana ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh humare...

Aaa...
Rafta rafta woh meri taskeen ka saamaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh meri taskeen ka saamaan ho gaye
Pehle dil, phir dilruba, phir dil ke mehmaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh meri...

Aaa...
Rafta rafta unki aankhon ka nasha badhne laga
Rafta rafta unki aankhon ka nasha badhne lagaa, badhne laga
Pehle mai, phir maikada, phir mai ka toofan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh meri...

Aaa...
Laralala...
Ooo...

Rafta rafta husn nikhraa, aur nikharta hi gaya
Rafta rafta husn nikhraa, aur nikharta hi gaya, aur nikharta hi gaya
Pehle gul, phir gulbadan, phir gulbadaamaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh humare dil ke armaan ho gaye
Pehle jaan, phir jaan-e-jaan, phir jaan-e-jaana ho gaye

Rafta rafta woh meri taskeen ka saamaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh meri taskeen ka saamaan ho gaye
Pehle dil, phir dilruba, phir dil ke mehmaan ho gaye
Rafta rafta woh meri...
Aaa...
Ooo...
Aaa...
Laralala...

Movie: Hum Kahan Ja Rahe Hain (1966)
Director: Nitin Bose
Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor
Lyricist: Qamar Jalalabadi
Music Composer: Basant Prakash

My family are fans of the Mehdi Hasan song Rafta rafta woh mere hasti ka samaan ho gaye. I knew that it was written by Pakistani lyricist Tasleem Fazli for the film Zeenat (1975). I remember being annoyed when the song was adapted by Bollywood lyricist Sameer for the film Baazi (1995) with not-so-great lyrics.

You can imagine my utter shock when I found this song by Qamar Jalalabadi. It was written by him in 1966 for the film Hum Kahan Ja Rahe Hain. Was Tasleem Fazli inspired by this song? Or is Fazli’s version a good copy that became more popular than the original? Of course, the tune is quite different, and I don’t wish to speculate. 

There is a wide selection of Jalalabadi’s songs, such as Aaiye meharban, Main to ek khwab hoon, Mera naam Chin Chin Chu, Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya, and Deewanon se yeh mat poochho. However, I wish to remember him on his birthday (March 9) with this song. ~ S