Nuggets of Sholay: Four - Joon Nahin Rengti Kaan Par

Nuggets of Sholay — Four: Joon Nahin

This fourth nugget brings us a muhavra that most people don’t even realize features in Sholay.

Muhavra: Kaan Par Joon Na Rengna (कान पर जूँ न रेंगना)

At the end of the 54th minute, Basanti is feeding Dhanno when Mausi calls out,

“Ari o chhokariya, din bhar hawa-hawai ghoomti ho. Magar main koi kaam boloon, to joon nahin rengti kaan par.”

Mausi scolds Basanti — “Joon nahin rengti kaan par.”

I’ve looked everywhere for the origin of this proverb — nothing. So here’s my theory!

The expression essentially means that telling someone something makes no difference — the English equivalent being “falling on deaf ears.” Literally translated, it means “Lice don’t crawl near the ears.” Odd, right?

Lice feed on human blood and usually stay near the scalp, especially behind the ears. (Yes, you read that right.)

Lice usually gather behind the ears.

So imagine — the lice are comfortably settled behind your ears, while your mother (or wife!) is yelling at you. Even that shouting doesn’t bother them; they just stay put. Hence, “mere lakh chillaane ke baad bhi tere kaanon mein joon tak nahin rengti.”

And that, dear reader, is today’s nugget. Samjhe ke nahin?

If you liked this, comment. If not, lament. Either way — aadab, namaste and goodbye.

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Read next: Nuggets of Sholay — Five: Zamindar Ki Beti

Back to previous: Nuggets of Sholay — Three: Loha Garam Hai