saaNs

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saaNs

Breath

saaNs meN terii …

saaNs milii to

mujhe saaNs aaii … [ x3 ]

[ all stanza x2 ]

When (my) breath

mixed into (your) breath,

then I knew how to breathe … [x3]

[all stanza x2]

ruuH ne chhuu lii jism kii xushbuu

tuu jo paas aaii … [ x3 ]

(My) soul touched the fragrance of your body

when you came close [x3]

kab tak hosh sambhaalte koii

hosh uRe to

uR jaane do

dil kab siidhii raah chalaa hai

raah muRe to muR jaane do

How long would anyone keep sense in check?

If sense flies,

let it fly.

When the heart has chosen the right path,

If the path turns, let it turn

tere xayaal meN Duub ke aksar

achchhii lagii tanhaaii

Being constantly lost in thought(s) of you,

loneliness seems alright

saaNs meN terii …

saaNs milii to

mujhe saaNs aaii … [ x3 ]

When (my) breath

mixed into (your) breath,

then I knew how to breathe … [x3]

raat terii baaNhoN meN kaTe to

subaH baRii halkii lagtii hai

aaNkh meN rɛhne lage ho kyaa tum ?

kyuuN chhalkii chhalkii lagtii haiN ?

mujhko phir se chhuu ke bolo

merii qasam kyaa khaaii

If the night is spent in your arms,

then the morning seems very gentle.

Have you started living in my eyes?

Why do they seem to be (constantly) overflowing?

Touch me and say once more,

what you swore by me

saaNs meN terii …

saaNs milii to

mujhe saaNs aaii … [ x3 ]

When (my) breath

mixed into (your) breath,

then I knew how to breathe … [x3]

ruuH ne chhuu lii jism kii xushbuu

tuu jo paas aaii / mujhe saaNs aaii … [ x4 ]

(My) soul touched the fragrance of your body

when you came close / I knew how to breathe … [x4]

About this song

Singers: Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal
Music: A.R. Rahman
On screen: Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif

saaNs (Hindi: सांस, Urdu: سانس) "Breath", is a song from the 2010 Indian romantic drama "Jab Tak Hai Jan".

The movie is about a couple, Samar and Meera (played respectively by the Indian actors Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif), who for some turns of destiny become estranged.

The song and the video clip describe movie scenes of the early phases of their relationship, when Samar is a struggling immigrant working part-time as a waiter, street musician, and other menial jobs in London, England, and Meera is a businesswoman daughter of an affluent Punjabi family also living in the city.

They are crazily in love and fool around with the background of several London landmarks.

The music was composed by the famous Indian composer A.R. Rahman, and the lyrics were written by the poet and lyricist Gulzar.

The chorus uses the worth saaNs "breath" in such a way, that many interpretations are possible. For context:

saaNs lenaa means to "draw breath", i.e., "to breathe" saaNs jaanaa means the opposite, the air/breath "going, leaving", i.e., "to be out of breath" saaNs aanaa, the verb used in the song in mujhe saaNs aaii, means "breath, air coming", as in with someone who was initially out of breath or with some medical condition, and then he receives air/oxygen. the phrase saaNs meN saaNs aanaa is an idiomatic expression meaning "to get a respite, to get relief" finally, in general, the Hindustani expression "something coming to someone" means "knowing", in the sense one would know a language or a skill.

Therefore the chorus:

saaNs meM terii saaNs milii to mujhe saaNs aaii

Can mean:

"When (my) breath mixed into (your) breath, then I knew (again) how to breathe"

But also:

When (my) breath mixed into (your) breath, then I breathed (I could breathe)

Or even:

Finding/meeting your breath, I got a respite.

The singers are the Indian playback singers Shreya Ghoshal for the female parts, and Mohit Chauhan for the male parts.