These are functional equivalences. However, when Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) says, “Main udna chahta hoon, Naina. Par tu mujhe zameen se chipka deti hai,” the subtitle reads: “I want to fly, Naina. But you keep me grounded.” Here, the translation is near-perfect, preserving the metaphor. The greatest challenges arise with Hindi idioms. Consider the dialogue when Naina (Deepika Padukone) confronts Bunny:
“Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe mari / To seedhi saadi chhori sharabi ho gayi.” Literal: “Beloved, the water-gun you shot at me / Has turned a simple girl into a drunkard.” Subtitle: “The water gun you shot at me, my love / Has made a simple girl go wild.” yeh jawaani hai deewani english subtitles
The visual pun (jumping eyes) is lost, replaced with a direct statement. Similarly, the phrase “Jale pe namak chhidakna” (to rub salt on a wound) becomes “You’re making it worse.” While accurate, the flavor of the original evaporates. Songs in YJHD are diegetic and non-diegetic, and their subtitles are disastrous for poetry. Take Kabira , a soulful track about seeking belonging: These are functional equivalences
Lost in Translation, Found in Emotion: A Linguistic and Cultural Analysis of the English Subtitles in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani But you keep me grounded
[Generated Name: Dr. A. Sharma] Course: Transcultural Cinema & Subtitling Studies
“Kabira khada bazaar mein, maange sabki khair / Na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair.” Literal: “Kabira stands in the marketplace, wishes everyone well / Not friends with anyone, not enemies with anyone.” Official subtitle: “Kabira stands in the crowd, wishing well for all / No friendship with anyone, no enmity with anyone.”