Atif Aslam’s – Aadat Song Breakdown and Meaning
Some songs aren’t just melodies; they are emotions. They are stories wrapped in music that touch your soul and refuse to fade away with time. One such song is “Aadat” by Atif Aslam, from the movie Kalyug (2005). Whether you heard it in your teenage years, during a heartbreak, or simply while vibing alone, this song has left an impact that lingers on—just like the lyrics say, “Juda hoke bhi tu mujh mein kahin baaki hai.”
Meaning of the Title – “Aadat”
The word “Aadat” means “habit” or “something one gets used to.” In the context of this song, it reflects the emotional journey of someone who has lost a loved one but still longs for their return. The singer expresses how, despite the passage of time, he still misses her.
He had hoped she would come back, but she never did. Eventually, he reached a point where he had no choice but to accept this pain as a part of his life. Now, living with this emptiness has become a habit—something he has unwillingly adapted to.
This is summed up in the song’s most powerful line: “Ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aise jeene mein” (Now, I have gotten used to living this way). The title perfectly captures the essence of the song—how sorrow, longing, and loneliness, over time, stop feeling like temporary emotions and instead become a way of life.
Lyrics Breakdown
Waise zinda hu ae zindagi bin tere mein, Dard hi dard baaki raha hai seene mein
These lines paint a picture of a man who is alive, but barely. He continues to exist, but life without his beloved feels empty. He calls out to life itself, almost as if questioning its meaning now that she is gone. There’s no joy, no purpose—just the weight of her absence pressing down on him.
The second line deepens this sorrow. His heart, once filled with love and warmth, now holds nothing but pain. It’s as if all the happiness has been drained away, leaving behind only an unbearable ache. He’s not dead, but inside, he feels lifeless. The only thing that remains constant is suffering, which has now become an inseparable part of him.
Saath mere hai tu har pal shab ke andhere mein, Paas mere hai tu har dam ujale savere mein
These lines beautifully express how deeply the narrator feels connected to his lost love, even in her absence. Night symbolizes loneliness, pain, and memories that haunt him. Even though she is no longer physically present, he feels her presence in the quiet darkness, as if she never truly left. She exists in his thoughts, in the shadows of his solitude, and in the silence that surrounds him.
Mornings usually represent a new beginning, hope, and light. But for him, even the brightest morning doesn’t change the fact that she still lingers in his heart. Every sunrise reminds him of her, every breath carries her memory, and no matter how much time passes, he cannot escape the feeling that she is still close to him.
Yeh jo yaadein hain, Sabhi kaatein hai, Katado inhe, Matado inhein
In the outro of the song, the narrator’s emotions reach their peak. Throughout the song, he has accepted the pain, lived with the memories, and endured the weight of loneliness. But in these final lines, we see a shift—he no longer wants to carry this suffering.
Memories, which once brought warmth and love, now feel like sharp thorns piercing his soul. Instead of comforting him, they cause unbearable pain, constantly reminding him of what he has lost. Every thought of her is like a wound that refuses to heal.
For the first time, he openly pleads to be freed from this torment. He wants these memories to be erased, to be cut off from his mind and heart. The pain has become unbearable, and he desperately seeks an escape. It’s as if he’s crying out for someone—maybe even to himself—to end this emotional suffering, to help him move on.
These lines mark the climax of his struggle. After spending so much time trapped in the past, he now longs for a way out. But whether he will truly be able to let go remains uncertain, leaving the song on a hauntingly unresolved note.
