Nitin Sawhney (raised in Rochester, Kent, England) is a London-based compos… Read Full Bio ↴Nitin Sawhney (raised in Rochester, Kent, England) is a London-based composer and DJ of various styles of music, including jazz, drum and bass, hip-hop, flamenco and modern orchestral compositions. His major works include Beyond Skin, Prophesy, Human, and Philtre. He is considered one of the pioneers of what is known as the Asian Underground music scene, defining a music genre that mixes south-Asian musical influences with western electronica and breakbeat style. He does however dislike the tag of "world" music, describing it as musical apartheid.

Nitin attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School and studied law at Liverpool University for a short time. He then went to London, where he met Sanjeev Bhaskar. The pair became friends and created a comedy double act, The Secret Asians, together. The show sought to turn absurdly dated Asian stereotypes on their heads. It led to a contract with BBC radio and eventually grew into the award-winning BBC TV sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.

During that time he met up with an old school friend, acid jazz keyboards-player James Taylor. He joined Taylor for a 40-date tour in as part of The James Taylor Quartet. It introduced him to the jazz club scene and provoked him into forming his own band, The Jazztones. He moved on to join forces with tabla master Talvin Singh to form the Tihai Trio and, after that collaboration ended in 1993, released his debut album, Spirit Dance on his own label. Shortly afterwards, he signed with Outcaste Records.

Sawhney's music is intensely political, commonly approaching themes of multiculturalism, empowerment, identity, immigration, poverty, and spirituality. He is active as an artist in residence for five different performing arts organisations in Europe and Asia, and along with George Martin is a patron for the British Governments Access-to-Music Program which brings music education to the inner-city students.

Sawhney's skills include classical and jazz piano and flamenco guitar. He has released six studio albums, as well as countless remixes and collaborations. After releasing Beyond Skin on London's Outcaste Records in 1999, he was signed by V2 to do six albums. His first album with the Virgin subsidiary, the millennial/apocalyptical Prophesy, in 2001 won a MOBO Award and a BBC Radio 3 Music Award.

Sawhney's music is influenced by his roots in India, utilising and featuring Urdu and Hindi lyrics, Qawwali singing, tablas and other instruments from the subcontinent, and Raga phrasings in music which is often primarily meant for the dance floor.

Sawhney's work in production and arrangement has led to his working in film and television scores. He has scored television ads for Sephora and Nike, as well as more than 25 films from his London-based Spirit Dance Studios. He was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Film and TV Composition in 2004 for his music on Channel Four's film, Second Generation. From there, he has begun to see acceptance from the "classical" community, and in 2004 he was commissioned by the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Britten Symphonia to compose new performance works. London's Royal National Theatre invited him to write, direct, and score a work to be opened in 2005.

For photographs and additional information visit Nitin's official site, www.NitinSawhney.com

Heer
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ho ho o

Heer heer na khodiyo
Main te saheba hoi
Ghodi leke aave le jaye - 2
Ho mainu le jaye mirza koi
Le jaye mirza koi - 2

Heer heer na khodiyo
Main te saheba hoi
Ghodi leke aave le jaye - 2

(Ohde je hi main te oh mere varga
Hans da ai hasr savere varga
Ankha bandh kar la te thande hanere varga) - (2)
Ohde je hi main te oh mirza mere varga - 2

Ho heer heer na khodiyo
Main te saheba hoi
Ghodi leke aave le jaye - 2
Ho mainu le jaye mirza koi
Le jaye mirza koi - 2

(Naal naal tur na te vith rakhna
Hadh rakh lena vich dil rakhna
Chhanve chhanve pave assi teri parchhave tur na) - (2)
Ohde je hi main te oh mere varga - 2

Ho heer heer na khodiyo
Main te saheba hoi
Ghodi leke aave le jaye haye
Le jaye mirza koi - 3

Heer heer na khodiyo
Main te saheba hoi

Ghodi leke aave le jaye - 2
Oh ho

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nitin Sawhney's song "Heer" narrate a story of love and longing, inspired by the classic Punjabi folk tale of Heer and Ranjha. The singer, Heer, expresses her desire to be with her beloved, but she fears that the societal restrictions and expectations placed upon her may prevent their union. She yearns for her love, Mirza, to come and take her away on a horse, symbolizing their shared desire for freedom and escape from their current circumstances.

The repetition of "Heer heer na khodiyo, Main te saheba hoi, Ghodi leke aave le jaye" emphasizes Heer's plea to not be left behind or forgotten, as she considers herself worthy of being with her beloved. She believes that her love for Mirza is equal to his love for her, portraying her courage and determination to overcome any obstacles that may stand in their way.

The following verse, "(Ohde je hi main te oh mere varga, Hans da ai hasr savere varga, Ankha bandh kar la te thande hanere varga)," suggests that Heer considers herself to be equal to Mirza, comparing their shared laughter in the morning to the cool dew that refreshes their spirits. She longs for an everlasting love that protects and shelters them from any harm.

In the next verse, "(Naal naal tur na te vith rakhna, Hadh rakh lena vich dil rakhna, Chhanve chhanve pave assi teri parchhave tur na)," Heer expresses her willingness to stand by Mirza's side, urging him to keep her close and protect their love. She affirms that they should not be deterred by the shadows or obstacles they may encounter, as their love will illuminate their path.

Overall, the lyrics of "Heer" encapsulate the essence of love, longing, and the pursuit of freedom through the enduring tale of Heer and Ranjha. It portrays the strength of Heer's character and her unwavering determination to be with Mirza, defying societal norms and expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

Heer heer na khodiyo
Oh Heer, don't turn away

Main te saheba hoi
I have become a queen

Ghodi leke aave le jaye
With a horse, he comes and takes me away

Ho mainu le jaye mirza koi
Oh, if only Mirza would take me away

Le jaye mirza koi
Take me away, Mirza

(Ohde je hi main te oh mere varga
(If only I were like him and he were like me

Hans da ai hasr savere varga
Smiling like the morning sun

Ankha bandh kar la te thande hanere varga)
Closing my eyes, feeling the cool breeze)

Ohde je hi main te oh mirza mere varga
If only Mirza were like me

(Naal naal tur na te vith rakhna
(Don't walk beside me, keep a distance

Hadh rakh lena vich dil rakhna
Keep a boundary, but keep your heart close