Radha Kaise Na Jale – Pangs Of Jealousy – Lagaan

The relationship between Radha and Krishna is inexplicable. On one hand it has so many layers to it that one cannot even begin to understand what kind of a bond they shared with each other. While on the other hand, if we choose not to look deeper, their relationship is pure love and nothing else. It is up to us to choose and see them accordingly.

One of the common things between them was the friendly banter they shared with each other from time to time. Krishna or Kanha or Kanhaiyya, call him whatever you want; he loves teasing the gopi or the gopika. One day Radha comes to Krishna complaining that whenever she sees him with other gopis, she feels jealous. And then follows the dialogue between Kanha and Radha.

The song from the movie Lagaan (2001) depicts this light teasing beautifully. The situation to the film too is quite similar. Gauri (Gracy Singh) is in love with Bhuvan (Aamir Khan). Bhuvan too loves her but she is afraid of the growing closeness between him and another girl. Not just any girl but an English girl (Rachel Shelley) who breaks all the rules in order to help Bhuvan.

Madhuban me jo kanhaiyaa kisi gopi se mile
Kabhi muskaaye, kabhi chhede kabhi baat kare
Radha kaise na jale, Radha kaise na jale
Aag tan mann mein lage
Radha kaise na jale, Radha kaise na jale

Radha complains to Kanha that she does not like when he meets other gopis in the flower garden. When he smiles at them and sometimes teases them and sometimes talks to them she feels as if the anger inside her is burning her body and soul. She says how she would not feel jealous of all this!

Madhuban me bhale Kanha kisi gopi se mile
Man me to Radhaa ke hi prem ke hai phul khile
Kis liye Radha jale, kis liye Radha jale
Binaa soche samajhe
Kis liye Radha jale, kis liye Radha jale

Kanha tells her that no matter if he meets other gopis in the garden; the flower of love has bloomed in his heart on which only Radha has the right to. Then why is Radha jealous? She doesn’t need to think about such things and there’s no need to be jealous.

Gopiyaan taare hai chaand hai Radha
Phir kyo hai us ko biswaas aadhaa
Kanha ji kaa jo sadaa idhar udhar dhyaan rahe
Radha bechari ko phir apne pe kya maan rahe

He continues to tell her that if other girls are like stars, Radha is the moon. Then why doesn’t she trust him fully? To this she says, that Kanha has a wandering eye and this devalues poor Radha in her own eyes.

Gopiyaan aani-jaani hai
Radha to man ki raani hai
Saanjh sakhaare, jamnaa kinaare
Radha Radha hi Kanha pukaare

Kanha, still teasing her, says that other girls will come and go but Radha will always be the queen of his heart. Day and night he only calls out her name on the banks of the river Jamuna.

Oye hoye oye hoye..
Baaho ke haar jo daale koi Kanha ke gale
Radha kaise na jale, Radha kaise na jale
Aag tan man me lage
Radha kaise na jale, Radha kaise na jale

Radha, now aware of the banter, teases him back. And then she says, if some girl has her hands wrapped around his neck like a garland, how would she not feel jealous! It will surely set her body and mind on fire with jealousy.

Man mein hai Radhe ko Kanha jo basaaye
Toh Kanha kaahe ko use na bataaye
Prem ki apani alag boli alag bhaashhaa hai
Baat naino se ho, Kanha ki yahi aashaa hai

Then, a little sentimental this time, she says that if Kanha has made a place for her in his heart then why doesn’t he accept it and tell her. Kanha says that love needs no words as it has its own language. Kanha hopes that their love should be like that. Their eyes should talk and understand each others’ feelings through it.

Kanha ke ye jo nainaa hai
Chheene gopiyon ke chainaa hai
Mili najariyaa hui baanvariyaa
Gori gori si koi gujariyaa
Kanha kaa pyaar kisi gopi ke man me jo pale
Kis liye Radha jale, Radha jale, Radha jale
Radha kaise na jale

This makes Radha furious. She says that it is his eyes that actually create all the problems. His beautiful, lotus-like eyes steal the other girls’ heart. No sooner do their eyes meet, the girl becomes crazy for him. These fair, pretty maidens! Poor (read naughty) Kanha says innocently, if some other maiden falls in love with him then why does Radha feel jealous. It is no fault of his!

The music of this song is composed by A.R.Rahman and the lyrics are written by Javed Akhtar. Asha Bhosle and Udit Narayan have sung this song. The use of dhol, the subtle use of dandiyas, flute and other rustic instruments makes this song very real. Rahman has used the sound of the cuckoo bird at the beginning of the song and we feel as if we are in the middle of a beautiful garden.

Javed Akhtar has maintained the language which is used in the movie; which was predominantly Awadhi. His description of the entire Radha-Kanha story is amazing. Not a single word feels out of place and the lyrics have a smooth flow throughout. He won the National Award for this movie for best lyrics.

The amazing choreography is done by Saroj Khan. The dances are a mixture of Dandiya and classical steps. The choreography does justice to this grand song. Not even a single frame looks awkward or out of sync with the song. This, along with Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh’s performance, completes the song.