نینا نِیر بہائے

nainaa niir bahaae

Touch on each word to display its meaning

نینا نِیر بہائے

My eyes make water flow

نینا نِیر بہائے [ x2 ]

مُجھ بِِرہَن کا دِل ساجَن سنگ [ x2 ]

جھوم جھوم کے گائے

[ all stanza x2 ]

نینا نِیر بہائے

My eyes make water flow [x2]

The heart of me, a separated woman, (is) with my beloved [x2]

and, swaying, sings

[all stanza x2]

My eyes make water flow

وِش کا پیالہ کام نَہ آیا

میرا نے پی کے دِکھلایا

[ both lines x2 ]

پریم تو ہے گنگا جَل اِس میں [ x3 ]

وِش اَمرِت بَن جائے

نینا نِیر بہائے

The goblet of poison did not do its work

Mira demonstrated that by drinking it

[both lines x2]

For love is the Ganges, in it [x3]

poison becomes ambrosia.

My eyes make water flow.

پریم ہے گِرِدَھر کی بانْسُرِیا [ x2 ]

پریم ہے رادھا کی سانوریا

یہ ہے سات سُروں کا دریا [ x2 ]

جَھر جَھر بہتا جائے

نینا نِیر بہائے

Love is Giridhar's little flute [x3]

Love is Radha's dear Sanwara

It is the river of seven tunes,

it trickles and flows on and on.

My eyes make water flow.

About this song

Singer: Sadhana Sargam
Lyrics: Sukhwinder Singh
Music: A.R. Rahman

nainaa niir bahaae (Hindi: नैना नीर बहाए, Urdu: نینا-نِیر-بہائے) "The eyes shed water", is a deeply emotional and spiritual composition from the 2005 film Water, directed by Deepa Mehta. Composed by A.R. Rahman and sung soulfully by Sadhana Sargam, the song captures the pain of separation, devotion, and longing. The lyrics by Sukhwinder Singh draw inspiration from the mysticism of Meera Bai, referencing her divine love for Lord Krishna and the transformation of suffering into spiritual ecstasy. The melody, enriched by Hindustani classical influences, flows gently like the river Ganges, symbolizing purity and transcendence. The song’s placement in the film enhances its poignancy, reflecting the plight of widows in 1930s India. With its haunting melody and poetic depth, Naina Neer Bahaye remains one of Rahman’s most evocative compositions.