Mann ke manjeere (Rhythm of the Mind)

a song about a strong woman leaving an abusive relationship

Hi all,

Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Mann ke manjeere (Rhythm of the Mind)”, by Shubha Mudgal (2000). If you’d like to hear the song before you read the background, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.

Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics (written in italics). Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.

The issue

(586 words)

Today’s song is slightly different from those I usually write about. There is no specific person or historical event. However, there is a social issue. Domestic violence.

I first watched this music video many years ago. The music captivated my attention and, although I know no Hindi, viewing the video made it clear what the song was about.

With a bit of research, I found the Facebook page of the producer, Mallika Dutt. The following is what she writes about the song, adapted for language learners. 

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Published on September 27, 2021; Unsplash

Dutt explains that when she was working at the Ford Foundation in New Delhi, she realized that human rights violations were widespread. She wanted to make a positive change by doing something about the root causes of violence before it happened.     

A book called “The Artist’s Way” inspired her, and she started thinking about using popular culture to tell different stories. She put together a talented team to create something impactful. The result was a successful music album and video that sparked important conversations about women’s rights in India and globally, especially focusing on the issue of domestic violence.

The video tells the story of a brave woman leaving an abusive marriage and becoming a truck driver. It reached millions of people in South Asia and around the world. Inspired by this project, Mann left her job at Ford and started Breakthrough TV to continue changing culture through culture, emphasizing that human rights start with each individual. She encourages everyone to listen to the amazing music, watch the video, and be part of the journey towards a positive change. 

The lyrics

The song begins with a sense of independence and of freedom. The singer has confidence in herself. She has made the right decision.

My mind has begun to play its own rhythm today

My feet, once stilled, are dancing today

A drumbeat pulsates through my being (She’s beginning to feel her own rhythm. Your pulse is the movement of blood through your heart. )

Awakening the music in my soul

Every breath I take is filled with joy

My heart is now singing

I have begun to believe in myself

Her new freedom allows her to see and feel the world around her, perhaps in a way that she had forgotten to see or feel:

I can swing up to the clouds

I can see beyond the horizon

The wind beats against my skin

The fields and sands reach out to me

The rosy light of dawn washes away the darkness of the night

In the next verse, she expresses the peace that she now feels in being alone. If you leave an abusive relationship, it can feel liberating just to be alone. The singer says that because she now has that peace, she is in touch with herself, her purpose, and this makes her realize that she isn’t alone. She has herself (her self) to depend on.

I open my doors to a fresh new world

I bask in my aloneness

Clouds of change envelop (surround) my mind

As solitude comes to me in all her majesty

I see with my eyes the many-hued world (her world now has many colors)

Its seasons beckon (call to her)

I open my eyes, unlock my soul

I find my voice, my soul mate lives within

I am no longer alone

I am my own friend

My own companion am I

I invite you to view the video. As you watch, keep in mind that it was inspired by the true life-story of Shameem Pathan.

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Questions:

1. Which word or phrase in the song was interesting to you?

2. If you could make a music video about an important social issue, what would the topic be?

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Grammar/pronunciation point

an envelope (n.) | ˈenvəˌlōp, ˈänvəˌlōp | is a folded piece of paper that you put a letter in before mailing it

to envelop (v.) | ənˈveləp | means to surround or to cover

Vocabulary

captivate 魅了する

Hindi ヒンディー語

adapt 適応する

human rights violations 人権侵害

widespread 広く普及している

impactful インパクトのある

spark 原動力となる

abusive 虐待的

emphasize 強調する

pulsate 脈動する

I bask in my aloneness  私は孤独に浸る

envelope 中に包み込む

solitude  孤独

many-hued 多彩な

beckon 手招きする

soul mate ソウルメイトとは、2人の間の深い精神的なつながりであり、深い理解と調和を促進します。

companion 仲間

Mallika Dutt’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=313747793750890

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