Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain

Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain
Bade dinon ke baad, hum be-watnon ko yaad
Bade dinon ke baad, hum be-watnon ko yaad
Watan ki mitti aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain

Upar mera naam likha hain
Andar ye paigaam likha hain
O pardes ko jaanewaale
Laut ke phir na anewaale
Saat samundar paar gaya tu
Hum ko zinda maar gaya tu
Khoon ke rishtey todh gaya tu
Aankh men aansu chhod gaya tu
Kum khaate hain, kum sotey hain
Bahut zyaada hum rotey hain
Chitthi aayi hain

Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain

Suni ho gayi shehar ki galiyaan
Kaante ban gayi baag ki kaliyaan
Kehte hain saawan ke jhule
Bhool gaya tu hum nahin bhule
Tere bin jab aayi diwaali
Deep nahin dil jaley hain khaali
Tere bin jab aayi holi
Pichkaari se chhuti goli
Pipal soona, panghat soona
Ghar shamshaan ka bana namoona
Fasal kati, aayi baisaakhi
Tera aana reh gaya baaki
Chitthi aayi hain

Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain

Pehle jab tu khat likhta tha
Kaagaz mein chehra dikhta tha
Band hua yeh mel bhi ab toh
Khatam hua yeh khel bhi ab toh
Doli mein jab baithhi behna
Rasta dekh rahey the naina
Main toh baap hoon mera kya hain
Teri maa ka haal bura hain
Teri biwi karti hain sewa
Surat se lagti hain bewa
Tu ne paisa bahut kamaaya
Iss paise ne des chhudaaya
Des paraaya chhod ke aaja
Panchhi pinjra tod ke aaja
Des paraaya chhod ke aaja
Panchhi pinjra tod ke aaja
Aaja umr bahut hain chhoti
Apne ghar mein bhi hain roti

Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain
Bade dinon ke baad, hum be-watnon ko yaad
Watan ki mitti aayi hain

Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain
Bade dinon ke baad, hum be-watnon ko yaad
Watan ki mitti aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain aayi hain, chitthi aayi hain
Chitthi aayi hain watan se chitthi aayi hain

Movie: Naam (1986)
Director: Mahesh Bhatt
Singers: Pankaj Udhas
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Music Composer: Laxmikant–Pyarelal

There was a time when this song moved me to tears. Age has made me more jaded, I guess, and the tears are now elusive. I find the sentiment a little overdone, but what do I know? Maybe those who are away from home, and carry an idealized memory of it in their hearts and still long for it, find this moving. All I know is that Pankaj Udhas still sounds as lovely as ever. ~ R