बंद करो

Using this phrase is like flicking a switch. You place the object you want to stop right before the phrase. Want to turn off the music? Say Gaana band karo. Want to stop the fan? Say Pankha band karo. It is a command, so it feels very active. If you are talking to someone older, you must change it to Band kijiye to stay polite. Otherwise, you might get some very stern looks from your elders!

Use it whenever action needs to cease. It is perfect for everyday chores like shutting the fridge. It is also the ultimate weapon against annoying siblings. If your brother is humming a song badly, a quick Band karo! works wonders. Use it at work when a meeting is dragging on and you want to close a laptop. Use it at home when the lights are wasting electricity. It is the verbal equivalent of hitting the 'Stop' button on a remote.

Do not use Band karo with your boss or a stranger unless you want to sound rude. It is a command, not a request. If you say it to a waiter, it sounds like you are scolding them. For people you don't know well, always add Kripya (Please) or use the formal Kijiye ending. Also, don't use it for 'stopping' a car in motion; for that, use Roko. Band karo is for ending a state, not halting a physical movement.

In Indian households, 'saving' is a huge cultural value. You will hear Light band karo (Turn off the light) constantly from parents. It is almost a national catchphrase for being responsible. There is also a famous Bollywood trope where a hero shouts Band karo ye sab! (Stop all of this!) during a dramatic scene. It carries a sense of authority and finality that is deeply rooted in the social hierarchy of the home.

If you want to be extra soft, use Band kar do. Adding the do makes it sound a bit more like a favor. If you are really angry, you might say Ab bas band karo! (Now just stop it!). In Mumbai, you might hear the slangier Bas kar, which is a close cousin. For very formal settings, like a court or a high-end office, Samaapt kijiye (Please conclude) is the sophisticated older brother of our phrase.