Hai Bus Ke | Simal Nafees | Mirza Ghalib | Arshad Mahmud

Poetry : Mirza Ghalib
Music Composer : Arshad Mahmud
Singer : Simal Nafees
Sitar : Nafees Ahmed
Cinematographer : Shoeb Suleman Razzak
Video Director : Zarak Qaim Khani
Art Direction : Uzma Sabeen
Mastered, mixed, and videography at SMB Studios


Hai Bus ke

This ghazal by Ghalib has long held a special place in the world of music, admired equally by composers and singers. Over the years, it has inspired several distinct musical interpretations, each reflecting the depth and versatility of its poetry. The ghazal comprises a total of eleven couplets, including the matla and maqta. Since the matla and maqta were already predetermined for inclusion, the challenge for me lay in carefully selecting just two additional couplets from the remaining verses. This was no easy task, given the richness of thought and beauty woven into each couplet.

The word “buske” originates from the Persian language and is generally translated into English as “though.” However, its nuance is richer and more emphatic than the plain equivalent. In my view, buske carries a stronger, more assertive connotation, intensifying the sense of contrast it introduces. Its placement at the very beginning of a line, followed immediately by the words, lends it the force of a predicament—an expression of inevitability or tension that cannot be ignored. Thus, while it may appear as a simple conjunctive term, its poetic function is far more layered and impactful.

What makes this couplet remarkable is its universality. At first glance, it may appear to be born out of a romantic attachment, yet its meaning stretches far beyond the confines of love alone. The sentiment it conveys is equally relevant in the realm of business negotiations, in the delicacy of political and social contracts, or in the subtle dynamics of any human relationship one can imagine—even in the profound dialogue between a man and his God. This capacity to transcend context and remain timelessly relevant is the true genius of Ghalib as a poet.

ہے بسکہ ہر اک انکے اشارے میں نشاں اور
کرتے ہیں محبّت تو گزرتا ہے گماں اور

The remaining couplets of this ghazal are equally delightful, each carrying layers of meaning that both intrigue and enchant the reader. A dear friend once shared an anecdote from his college days: in an Urdu class, the professor remarked that if you can fully grasp the essence of a verse upon the very first reading, then rest assured—it was not written by Ghalib. Such is the density, subtlety, and brilliance of his poetry that it demands repeated engagement, each reading or listening peeling back another layer of understanding.

With this in mind, I strongly recommend listening to Simal Nafees’s soulful rendition of this exquisite ghazal multiple times. Only then does one begin to savour the depth and nuance of what Ghalib intended to convey.

Please recommend this channel to other friends also if you feel up to it.

Arshad Mahmud

Produced by Sound Musical Business (SMB Studios) In association with MoUSICi

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