Kesariya

"Kesariya" is a romantic ballad from the Bollywood film "Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva". The title itself, "Kesariya," translates to saffron, a color that holds deep cultural and symbolic meaning in India, representing love, sacrifice, and courage. The song essentially describes a profound and all-encompassing love. The lyrics express the singer's utter captivation by his beloved, to the point where his entire existence revolves around her. Phrases like "Rang jaaun jo main haath lagaaun" (I get colored if I touch you) signify a love that transforms and consumes. The song portrays love as a force that brings light and color into life, comparing the beloved to vibrant elements of nature and festivals. A central theme is the idea of surrendering to love, as expressed through the devotion of spending days in worry and nights in prayer for the beloved's well-being. The use of the word "piya" (beloved) adds a traditional and intimate touch to this modern love anthem.

The song begins with the singer posing a rhetorical question, wondering how anyone could possibly not fall in love with his beloved. He suggests that in creating her, the divine has exhausted all its treasures of beauty. Her eyes, lined with kohl, are likened to ink that has penned countless love stories, highlighting her captivating and enigmatic charm. The central theme of the song is then introduced with the recurring phrase, 'Kesariya tera ishq hai piya,' which translates to 'Your love is saffron-colored, my beloved.' Saffron, a color deeply rooted in Indian culture, symbolizes love, passion, and sacrifice. The singer feels that just by a mere touch of this love, he is completely colored and consumed by it. This sentiment of being completely immersed in her love is a cornerstone of the song.

The narrative then shifts to the singer's daily life, which is entirely consumed by thoughts of his beloved. He spends his days worrying about her well-being and his nights praying for her safety and happiness. This illustrates the depth of his affection and the central role she plays in his existence. The lyrics beautifully describe her presence as a burst of color even in the dreariest of seasons, comparing her to vibrant maple trees in autumn. In moments of silence, her essence chimes like the melodious strings of a veena, a traditional Indian musical instrument. This imagery portrays her as a source of joy and music in his life, someone who can fill even the quietest moments with beauty.

The song further elevates her status in his life by contrasting the long, dark new moon nights of his heart with her, whom he sees as a festival of sparkling lights. This metaphor emphasizes that she is the one who brings light and celebration into his otherwise somber existence. He even proclaims that the moon itself is captivated by her beauty, and other admirers are envious of her charm. The reference to her having written many 'love storiyan' (love stories) with the ink of her kohl-lined eyes is repeated, reinforcing the idea of her irresistible allure and the many hearts she has undoubtedly captured before him. However, for the singer, his connection with her is singular and all-encompassing. The song concludes with a powerful and repetitive declaration of his love being 'kesariya,' a vibrant, all-consuming saffron hue. This repetition drills home the central message of a love that is not just a feeling but a complete transformation, a dyeing of one's entire being in the color of their beloved's affection.

"Kesariya" was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and vocals by Arijit Singh. The song is part of the soundtrack for the 2022 film "Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva," directed by Ayan Mukerji. The journey of creating the film's music, including "Kesariya," was a long and arduous process, with Pritam being one of the first collaborators on the project. Ayan Mukerji mentioned that they spent years of sleepless nights creating and rejecting songs to find the right soul for the film's vision. A teaser for "Kesariya" was unveiled on April 10, 2022, and was released as a gift to the lead actors, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, on the occasion of their wedding. The full song was officially released on July 17, 2022. The song was recorded between 2020 and 2022. The music video was filmed in Varanasi, including at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Upon its release, the song received a positive reception from audiences, although a part of the lyrics, "love storiyaan," sparked a significant online debate and became the subject of numerous memes. The song was also released in several other Indian languages: as "Kumkumala" in Telugu, "Theethiriyaai" in Tamil, "Kesariya Rangu" in Kannada, and "Kunkumamaake" in Malayalam. The song went on to become a massive commercial success, breaking records and becoming the first Indian song to surpass 500 million streams on Spotify as of April 2024.

The rhyme scheme in "Kesariya" is not strictly consistent but generally follows a pattern that enhances its musicality. For instance, in the opening lines, "koi" rhymes with "koi," and "tijoriyan" rhymes with "love storiyaan." The chorus has a simple rhyming couplet with "lagaaun" and "manaaun." This use of rhyme helps to create a cohesive and pleasant listening experience. The rhythm of the song is in a common 4/4 time signature, with a moderate tempo that gives it a relaxed yet uplifting feel. The rhythmic arrangement, with its blend of gentle verses and a more powerful, beat-driven chorus, contributes significantly to the song's emotional arc, building from intimacy to a grand declaration of love. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is smooth, with the phrasing of the vocals complementing the instrumental arrangement seamlessly.

Musically, "Kesariya" blends elements of Indian pop and soft rock, creating a contemporary yet soulful soundscape. The arrangement features a mix of traditional Indian instruments like the veena and modern elements such as the electric guitar. Arijit Singh's vocal delivery is emotive and dynamic, moving from a gentle, crooning style in the verses to a more powerful and soaring rendition in the chorus. The song's production, handled by Himonshu Parikh and DJ Phukan, is polished and contributes to its grand, anthemic feel. Lyrically, Amitabh Bhattacharya employs vivid imagery and metaphors. A notable, and initially controversial, stylistic choice was the use of the Hinglish phrase "love storiyaan" within the otherwise Hindi lyrics. While some found it jarring, it was defended by the creators as a "fun twist" intended to connect with a modern audience. The song's structure follows a standard verse-chorus form, with the repetition of the powerful hook "Kesariya tera ishq hai piya" making it highly memorable.

"Kesariya" had a massive cultural impact upon its release. It became the most anticipated love anthem of the year, largely due to its association with the film "Brahmāstra" and its lead actors, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, who are a real-life couple. The song topped the charts in India and also the UK Asian charts. It achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian song to surpass 500 million streams on Spotify. The song's release was also marked by a significant amount of online discourse and controversy, particularly around the use of the Hinglish phrase "love storiyaan," which sparked a memefest on social media. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the song's popularity soared. "Kesariya" was released in multiple languages, further extending its reach across different regions of India. The hook step from the music video also went viral on social media platforms. The song has been widely praised for its melody and Arijit Singh's vocals, solidifying its place as one of the most iconic Bollywood love songs of recent times.

The song "Kesariya" is rich with symbolism and metaphors, primarily centered around the color saffron ("kesariya"). In Indian culture, saffron symbolizes love, passion, purity, and sacrifice. By describing the beloved's love as "kesariya," the singer implies that it is a powerful, transformative, and almost sacred force. The line "Rang jaaun jo main haath lagaaun" (I get colored if I touch it) is a direct metaphor for how this love completely envelops and changes him. The beloved is compared to a "rangi chanaaron jaisi" (like a colorful maple tree) even in autumn, suggesting she brings vibrancy and life to even the dullest moments. She is also likened to the melodious strings of a "veena" (a traditional Indian instrument) that breaks through silence, symbolizing the joy and music she brings into his life. The lyricist also uses the imagery of "kaajal ki siyahi" (kohl's ink) to describe how his beloved has written countless "love storiyaan" (love stories), a metaphor for her captivating beauty and the many people who have fallen for her. The moon ("chanda") is also personified as being a "deewana" (crazy in love) with her, further elevating her beauty to a celestial level.

The most prominent recurring phrase and central motif in the song is "Kesariya tera ishq hai piya" (Your love is saffron-colored, my beloved). This line is repeated multiple times throughout the song, serving as the main hook and encapsulating the core theme of a love that is vibrant, passionate, and transformative. Its repetition emphasizes the singer's unwavering conviction in the nature of his love. Another recurring line is "Rang jaaun jo main haath lagaaun" (I get colored if I touch it), which reinforces the idea of being completely consumed by this love. The mention of the beloved writing "kitnon ki love storiyaan" (so many love stories) with the ink of her kohl also reappears, highlighting her captivating charm. These recurring elements provide a strong structural framework for the song and make its central message deeply memorable for the listener.