Akhtar Channal Zahri Nar Bait in Coke Studio (Video/Mp3/Lyrics)

July 4, 2011

In 1964 Akhtar Channal Zahri started taking formal singing lessons from an ustaad. In 1973 he brought regional folk to national attention after he was discovered by the Balochi Radio Station, and in 1974 Chanal’s music became popular nationwide when his song Deer Deerwas first aired live on TV. Since then Akhtar Chanal has traveled all over the world, including the United States, the Netherlands and Europe for tours. In 1998 he was also awarded the Pride of Performance.

This season Channal joins us at Coke Studio, with a sound that inspires, thrills and awes and at the same time touches the heart with its Balochi passion, and whimsical Pakistani beauty.

Watch Akhtar Channal’s Nar Bait performed at Coke Studio:

Download Audio

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4AJ_7WiDTc&feature=player_embedded

Lyrics:

Title: Naṛ Bait – نڑ بیت – Heroic Ballad

Language: Brahui, Balochi

Poetry: Reki (reworked by Mir Abd ur-Rahman Kurd), Ustaad Ishaq Soz & Sherzaad

جی با ترا
ji ba tra
live long!

مونی روانے سنگتس
moni rawaane sangatas
a friend advances forth

احمد نام دھرایا
ahmad naam dharaaya
He gave the name of Ahmad (a name of Mohammad)

کہسار نا زوراورے
kohsaara na zoraaware
the robust son of the mountains

مستِ گنوکِ عشق ٹی
mast-i ganok-i ishqa ṭi
crazed and frenzied in passion

ترندے او بیحد خودسرِ
trunde o behad khudsare
fiery and greatly obstinate

مرگان زندان بے سما
margaan zindaan be-sama
uncaring of life or death

ارزان او بالاترے
irzaan o baalaatare
he is utterly free of fear

شکرا اسے شہباز سے
shikra ase shahbaaz se
like the hawk, like the royal falcon

گھٹ گراتا شہپرے
ghaṭṭo garaata shahpare
the proud moustache of insuperable mountains

مونی تلاران شمتیاں
moni talaaraan shamtiyaan
in a cleft between the hills

تینکن گدانس بش کرے
tenkin gidanas bash kare
he erected for himself a tent

شاغا نگا او سنگتا
shaagha niga o sangata
he cast a glance towards his friend

مونے تینا برزا کرے
mone tena burza kare
he raised his face upwards

دے پائے شعرس متکنو
de paae shairas mutkuno
(asking) who will tell an ancient tale?

پابو سرونزی ءِ برے
paabo sironzi e bare
tell the siroz-player to come

شعرس خلے او مستنا
shairas khalle o mustana
recite a tale of bygone days

اینو ںنے دے دیگرے
aino nane de deegare
it’s nearly evening so our day’s at an end

پھگہ نوا وارس برے
phaggae nawa waaras bare
on the morrow, perhaps we’ll get a chance

اے جی با ترا
e ji ba tra
O, may you live you long!

جی با ترا میریں بلوچ جی با ترا
ji ba tra meeren baloch ji ba tra
live long, lords of the Baloch land, live long!

ورنا گچینے سبھرے
warna gichene sabbhare
the youth is fine and muscular

مردی ٹی او گوئے درے
mardi ṭi o goe dare
in valiant manliness, he’s won the race

دشمن تون تنیا جنگ کرے
dushman ton tanya jang kare
against the enemy, he battled unaided

مش تے دتر تون رنگ کرے
mash te ditar taun rang kare
the mountains did he dye with blood

دیئس خنا اوکاٹما
deyas khana o kaaṭuma
then he witnessed overhead

اورہ گروکو جھمرے
oorae giroko jhammare
the crack of lightning, the roar of clouds

ریکی نا شعر استا برے
reki na shair usta bare
Reki’s lines are brought to mind

اینو ںنے دے دیگرے
aino nane de deegare
it’s nearly evening so our day’s at an end

پھگہ نوا وارس برے
phaggae nawa waaras bare
on the morrow, perhaps we’ll get a chance

جی
ji
live

جی با ترا
ji ba tra
live long!

زیبا او سبھّر نوجوان
zeba o sabbhar naujawaan
the handsome and robust youth

مونی غذا کن مس روان
moni ghiza kin mas rawaan
proceeds forth to war

کوپہ ٹی سی جلما قرآن
kopae ṭi si julma quraan
on his shoulder, he carries the thirty parts of the Quran

ناموسُ غیرت نا نشان
naamoos-o ghairat na nishaan
the emblem of honour and decorum

جانا کرے تیر و کمان
jaana kare teer o kamaan
he armed himself with the arrow and the bow

پوجاتے گیرا ناگمان
poujaate gera naagumaan
he suddenly laid siege to the army of the foe

سنگر کرے برزا شمان
sangar kare burza shamaan
he raised stone entrenchments in the mountain cleft

سم تاتہ درز درز و شلان
sum taatae draz draz o shalaan
such a rapid fire of arrows he poured down

پور کوچہ مس دنزو مچان
purr koochae mas danzo mujaan
the whole plain became foggy with clouds of dust

ورنا نا زورو داشتان
warna na zoro daashitaan
the young man has power and commands fear

دشمن خلیس تما نتا
dushman khalees tamma nata
the enemy fell at his feet in terror

شاباس کرے تن آسمان
shaabaas kare tan aasamaan
the heavens also applauded him

جی
ji
live

جی با ترا
ji ba tra
live long!

ارے دنیا ٹی اعلیٰ شان
are dunya ṭi aalaashaan
in the world, its splendour is paramount