Muhavraas and cliched dialogs: An English analysis

Proverbs (or Muhavras, in Hindi) are something that is popularly used in movies by the dialog writers to lend force to the situation of that moment. The usage has been so heavy now, that along with popular Hindi dialogues, many of these proverbs are clichéd big time. Me and a pal of mine, Vinod, spent the whole day researching into these proverbs, and the results of translating these to English was really amusing. My next few posts would be results of this research!!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 1: We are the contents of the same plate : This is used to indicate if 2 persons/ beings are very similar, either by looks/mindsets etc etc… :)
The Hindi original??? Hum sab ek hi thaali ke chatte-bhatte hain!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 2: The plate from which you eat, you also hole the same: This is used to indicate that a person not only takes advantage of somebody’s goodness, but also destroy’s that person in some way….
The Hindi equivalent?? Tum jis thaali se khaate ho, usi me chchedh karte ho!!

Muhavra/Dialog 3: Boss/Master, I have eaten your salt: This dialog was immortalized in the movie Sholay. The retort to this dialog is also equally famous:”Now eat tablet!!!”.
The Hindi equivalent??? Sarkar, maine aapka namak khaaya hai!! Ab goli kha!!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 4: Dog, vermin!! I shall drink your blood: This is of course immortalized by our very own Dharam paaji… His son carries the rich tradition of this canine platelet consumption by *ing in stereotyped 1-hero-bashes-100-villains roles!!
Hindi equivalent??? Kutte, kamine, main tera khooooon pee jaoonga!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 5: I will choose-choose and kill one-by-one: This too has been immortalized by Dharam paaji and Sholay…
Hindi equivalent?? Eke k ko chun-chun ke maaroonga!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 6: Get out of my vision!! I will not give broken penny from my account: This is the most oft said dialog by an irked dad on his son. Dad could be irked for lots of reasons, mainly the son loving someone dad doesn’t approve of. But I am sure this dialog would be there at least once in 4 out of every 5 movies.
Hindi Equivalent?? Door ho jao meri nazron se, main tumhein ek phooti kaudi bhi nahi doonga!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 7: In our house, Laxmi has entered in the form of daughter-in-law: Need I say more….. clichéd to the core!!!
Hindi equivalent??? Laxmi hamaare ghar bahoo ke roop mein aaa gayin hai.

Muhavra/Dialog 7: Launderer’s canine, neither of house, nor of workplace: This is a proverb used to indicate someone of mixed/unknown origin(I think, aint so sure).
Hindi equivalent?? Dhobhi ka kutta, na ghar kaa, na ghaat ka!!!

Muhavra/Dialog 8 : For the one who lives above, there is delay, but not darkness : Used to indicate that one should never give up hope, another standard dialog for anyone in an elderly role.
Hindi equivalent?? Uparvale ke ghar der hai.. andher nahi!!

Muhavra/Dialog 9 : When the one above gives, he tears of the roof and gives: This is a dialog that usually comes at the end of a movie, usually uttered by the gentleman/lady who uttered the Dialog 8!!!
Hindi equivalent?? Uparvaala jab deta hai, chappar phaadke deta hai!!!

And finally, the mother of all clichés to round up today’s installment
Muhavra/Dialog 10 : Keeping in mind all witnesses and proofs, in accordance wirh Article 302 of the Indian Constitution, the court sentences the criminal to life imprisonment: Need I say anything? Any person who aspires to act as a judge in a Hindi movie, is expected say this dialogue even in his sleep!!:)
Hindi equivalent?? Saare gavahon aur sabooton ko madd-e-nazar rakhte hue,adaalat, taazi-raat-e-hind dafa 302 ke antargat,qaidi ko umr qaid ki sazaa sunaati hai

More to follow in my next post!! If readers want any proverbs/famous dialogs translated, please leave a note!! :)

--Avi