What is the meaning of Pasoori, the Ali Sethi song remade for Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani?

Pakistani artist Ali Sethi whose song Pasoori became a rage as soon as it was released in February 2022, is now part of Kartik Aryan and Kiara Advani's upcoming movie, Satya Prem Ki Katha.

The new version, titled Pasoori Nu, which was released today, has been worked upon by Ali Sethi and Rochak Kohli and has been sung by Arijit Singh and Tulsi Kumar.

However, the lyrics in the new version have slightly been changed to suit the theme of the movie. The additional lyrics have been penned by Gurpreet Sahni.

The original Punjabi song Pasoori was released on Coke Studio Season 14 last year, and has more than 59 crore views till date. It has been written by Ali Sethi and Fazal Abbas, while Shae Gill features in the video with Ali Sethi.

The song became an instant hit with music lovers, though many found it hard to grasp the meaning of it. It’s one of those songs that you tap your foot to irrespective of whether you understand it or not.

So, what does Pasoori mean?

The word Pasoori is Punjabi, which means ‘conflict’ or ‘kashmakash’ in Urdu. Pasoori is a phonetic derivative of the Punjabi word 'Bhasoodi'. Ali Sethi has used the phonetic version of it in the song, the way Punjabis pronounce it.

The words, ‘Ang laava majboori nu, aan jaan di pasoori nu, zeher bane han tere, pee java main poori nu’ narrate the pangs of a besotted lover’s heart who yearns for his mistress, but she doesn’t arrive because of her compulsions.  

The Hindi song starts with the pre-chorus of the original Pasoori that goes, "Raawan ch baawan ch o nu lukaawan Koi mainu na roke (I will hide him and bide him in loving embraces, no one should stop me)."

Further, the song goes, 'mere dhol judaiyan di, tenu khabar ki ve hove, aa jaave dil tera poora vi na hove (My love, how can you not know when we part, I hope you fall in love it breaks your heart).'

These lines narrate the melancholy of a sad lover, who wishes that if they part, she would be betrayed by her new partner, which would satisfy him.

So, these lines have not been retained in the new version and the Hindi version goes, 'mere dhol judaiyan di, tujhe khabar hi na hove, aadha hai dil mera, poora tujhse hove (My love, how can you not know that my heart is half without you and it completes only by uniting with you)'.

Ali Sethi has worked on this version too with T-Series, and the song has been created in such a way that it suits the film.  

Here’s the full lyrics and translation of the original song:

Ag laavan majboori nu
Set fire  to your worries

Aan jaan di pasoori nu
To waiting and to hurries

Zehere bane haan teri
If your love is poison

Pee jaavan mau poori nu
I will drink it in a flurry

Aana si o nai aaya
He said, he’d some, he never did

Dil baang baang mera takraya
My heart lurched and slid

Kaga bol ke dus jaave
Let the crow tell me why

Paavan gheyo di churi nu
I will feast him with ghee

Pre-chorus

Raawan ch Baawan ch o nu lukaavan
I will hide her and bide her in loving embraces

Koi mainu na roke
No one should stop me

Chorus:

Mere dhol judaiyan di tenu khabar ki ve hove
My love how can you not know when we part

Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
I hope you fall in love, it breaks your heart

Verse 2: (Female version) 
Bhul gayi majboori nu
I forgot about my chains

Duniya di dastoori nu
And people refrain

Saath tera hai bathera
You are enough for me

Poora kar zaroori nu
Fulfill my destiny

Aana si ho nai aaya
He said he will come but he never did

Raasta na dikhlaya
I could not see the way was hidden

Dil hamara de sahara
My heart gives solace

Khwahishaat adhoori nu
To wishes unfulfilled

Pre-Chorus:
 Waari mai jaavan main tenu bulavan
I dote on you, I call out you name

Gal saari tan hove
Let’s have it out for shame

Chorus:

Mere dhol judaiyan di, tenu khabar ki hove
My love, how can you know, when we part

Aa jaave dil tera poora vi na hove
I hope you fall in love, it breaks your heart
 

Haan baniyan banaiyaan di, gal baat kivein hove
How will the willing communicate?

Aa java dil tera poora vi na hove

Bridge: 

Mere dhol judaiyan di, sardari na hove
My  love, don’t let this distance reign

Dildaara di, sab yaara di, azaari na hove
Don’t let these lovers be in pain

Aa chalen le ke tujhe
Come let me take you

Hai jahan silsilay
Where all lovers meet

Tu hai wahi, hai teri kami
You are the one, Its you I need

Bana de, saza de, pana de hame
Give me life, give me love, take me in your arms

The reaction to the new Pasoori

The new version of Pasoori is being loved by Arijit Singh’s fans. However, for some, the old song still is fresh in their memories and they rate the original one as better. Nevertheless, the song gets mileage both ways.

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