20 Best Lyricists in India Of All Time

Music is an art that combines the tunes played from a variety of musical instruments with vocals that is both meaningful and pleasing to the ears. Over the years, music has diversified from being just poetry, hymns, and prayers to making its way into traditional folk songs and of course, the new generation of genres that we listen to these days. In view of this, in music, a lyricist plays a key role and today, there are plenty of these professional songwriters in the field of art and entertainment. Whether it is a Bollywood movie or a solo singer or a music band that wants someone else to write their songs, the lyricists are hired to do the task.

Lyricists are persons who write the words (referred to as ‘lyrics’) for the songs and/or poetry accompanied by harmonic tones which are composed by musicians at their respective audio recording studios. India’s Bollywood cinema industry has several talented lyricists that have written lyrics for more than a hundred songs for films as well as for other genres of music, like pop, soul, sentimental, ghazals, etc.

If we talk about the best lyricists in India, there are and were a few iconic figures having their names displayed on the opening and/or closing credits in Bollywood films and in non-film songs, as well. Some were honoured with awards and there are some that are climbing the ladder to success.

Top 20 Lyricists in India’s Bollywood Cinema

Here, we have included the Bollywood cinema industry’s top twenty lyricists (in alphabetical order) that have made a name for themselves in India and overseas. Most of these India-based lyricists write lyrics for their songs and also sings their composition.

1. Amitabh Bhattacharya

Amitabh Bhattacharya is a lyricist and a playback singer in Bollywood cinema. He gained popularity for his hit song ‘Emotional Atyachar’ which he wrote and sang for the film ‘Dev D’. Since then, he’s been writing lyrics for numerous songs, most of which also won him a couple of awards.

Songs wrote: A few songs written by Amitabh Bhattacharya are ‘Emotional Atyachar’, ‘Agar Zindagi’, ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’, ‘Channa Mereya’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Amitabh Bhattacharya has won several Filmfare Awards, Mirchi Music Awards, IIFA Awards, GiMA Awards, Zee Cine Awards, Sansui Colors Stardust Awards, and News 18 Movie Awards, etc. for the Best Lyricist.

2. Anand Bakshi

Anand Bakshi was a renowned lyricist and poet in Bollywood cinema. He was one of the few oldest lyricists who started his career in the 1940s and continued his work till his passing in the year 2002. Although he had a passion for singing and writing, however, fate landed him to becoming a prominent lyricist that the Bollywood industry has ever had. However, he did get a chance to sing the duet song ‘Baaghon Mein Bahaar Aayi Hothon Pe Pukaar Aayi’ along with Lata Mangeshkar for the film ‘Mom Ki Gudiya (1972)’.

Songs wrote: Anand Bakshi has written lyrics for over a hundred songs in his musical career. A few songs which he wrote lyrics for are ‘Dum Maro Dum’, ‘Achha To Hum Chalte Hain’, ‘Do Lafzon Ki Hai’, ‘Kuchh To Log Kahenge’, ‘Pyar Deewana Hota Hai’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Anand Bakshi won four Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist.

3. Anjaan

Anjaan, born as Lalji Pandey, was a renowned lyricist in Indian cinema. His son Sameer is also a well-known lyricist in Bollywood cinema. Anjaan started his career writing lyrics in the 1950s and over the years, he gained a lot of popularity. He has written lyrics for more than 1,500 songs throughout his career.

Songs wrote: A few songs written by Anjaan are ‘Lehar Yeh Dole Koyal Bole’, ‘Mat Poonch Mera Hai Mera Kaun Watan’, ‘Luk Chhip Luk Chhip Jao Na’, ‘Jiska Koi Nahin’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Anjaan has won and was also nominated for many awards and recognition for his prolific work as a lyricist in Indian cinema.

4. Dev Kohli

Dev Kohli is a poet and lyricist in Indian cinema. He began his career writing songs for Bollywood films in the 1970s and continues with his occupation. Over the years, he has written more than a hundred songs, most of which are quite popular and got him close to winning awards and recognition.

Songs written: A few popular songs written by Dev Kohli are ‘Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate’, ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, ‘Saaki Saaki’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Dev Kohli was nominated for several of his songs from the periods 1990 to 2018.

5. Gulshan Kumar Mehta

Gulshan Kumar Mehta was a lyricist and actor in Indian cinema from the 1960s till 1999. He has written more than 240 songs throughout his career, most of which are still remembered to this day. In addition to being a lyricist, he also acted in several Hindi films.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs that were written by Gulshan Kumar Mehta are ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’, ‘Yaari Hai Imaan Mera’, ‘Le Pappiyaan Jhappiyaan Paale Hum’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Gulshan Kumar Mehta won two Filmfare Best Lyricist Awards.

6. Gulzar

Gulzar is a very popular name in Bollywood cinema. Born as Sampooran Singh Kalra and known as Gulzar, the iconic lyricist is also a notable poet, screenwriter, author, film producer and director. Not to mention he’s the highest-paid lyricist in India. He started his career working with the renowned music director of the time, R. D. Burman.

Songs wrote: A few songs credited to his name are ‘Mora Gora Rang Layi Le’, ‘Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi’, ‘Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan’, ‘Maine Tere Liye Hi Saat Rang Ke Sapne Chune’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Gulzar has won five National Film Awards, two awards for Best Lyrics, and is also honoured with Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards. He’s also won a Grammy Award.

7. Hasrat Jaipuri

Hasrat Jaipuri, born as Iqbal Hussain, was a lyricist in Indian cinema during the 1940s and until 1999. He began his career in the 1949 Hindi film ‘Barsaat’ by Raj Kapoor.

Songs wrote: A few songs that were written by Hasrat Jaipuri are ‘Jiya Beqaraar Hai’, ‘Chhod Gaye Baalam’, ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana’, ‘Aji Rooth Kar Ab Kahan Jaiyega’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Hasrat Jaipuri won two Filmfare Best Lyricist Awards, one Josh Malihabadi Award, and the Dr Ambedkar Award for his work.

8. Indeevar

Indeevar, born as Shyamlal Babu Rai, was a lyricist in Indian cinema from the 1950s and till the mid-1990s, until his passing. Throughout his career, he has written over a thousand songs and for several hundred Bollywood films.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Indeevar are ‘Bade Armano Se Rakkha Hai Balam Teri Kasam’, ‘Nile Nile Ambar Par’, ‘Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sada’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Indeevar won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award.

9. Irshad Kamil

Irshad Kamil is a popular lyricist and poet in the Bollywood film industry. He began his career as a lyricist in the 2004 Hindi film ‘Chameli’. He then pursued his career writing lyrics for several songs which also became very popular among his audience.

Songs written: A few songs written by Irshad Kamli are ‘Nadaan Parinde’, ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho, ‘Gallan Goodiyan’, ‘Daryaa’, ‘Manjhaa’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Irshad Kamli has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career as a lyricist. A few such awards include Filmfare Awards and Mirchi Music Awards for many of his songs.

10. Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar is a notable lyricist, poet, and screenwriter in Indian cinema. Although he started his career as a screenwriter/scriptwriter in the Bollywood industry, he then went on to write lyrics for songs. He also writes lyrical poetry in both Hindi and Urdu languages.

Songs written: As a lyricist, Javed Akhtar has more than a hundred songs written for Bollywood films. A few notable songs are ‘Aaj Ki Raat’, ‘Ek Do Teen’, ‘Laila Mein Laila’, ‘Mitwa’, ‘Sandese Aate Hain’, ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Javed Akhtar has been honoured with five National Film Awards for Best Lyrics, eight Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist, and two civilian awards i.e., Padma Shri (1999) and Padma Bhushan (2007).

11. Kausar Munir

Kausar Munir is a lyricist and screenwriter in Indian cinema. In 2001, she started writing for Indian television programmes and by 2008, she entered the Bollywood film industry, where she wrote songs for over a dozen films and continues to do so till today.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Kausar Munir are ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’, ‘Suno Na Sangemarmar’, ‘Daryaa’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Kausar Munir won the Best Lyricist Stardust Award, Best Lyricist Star Screen Award, Best Lyricist Zee Cine Award, two Standout Performance By Lyricist Stardust Awards, and was also nominated for several more awards.

12. Majrooh Sultanpuri

Majrooh Sultanpuri, born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan, was a lyricist and poet in Indian cinema. He began his career as a lyricist in Bollywood films during the late 1940s and continued his work till the year 2000 and until his passing.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Majrooh Sultanpuri are ‘Chahunga Mein Tujhe Saanj Savere’, ‘Ye Aajkal Ke Ladke’, ‘Mehboob Mere Mehboob Mere’, ‘Ek Tera Saath’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: He won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award. He was the first Indian lyricist to be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

13. Mehboob

Mehboob, born as Mehboob Alam Kotwal, is a lyricist in Indian cinema. He started his career in the 1980s and continues to write songs for Bollywood films to this day. His songs have become very popular and he has worked in more than a dozen Hindi films with several music composers.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Mehboob are ‘Khamoshiyaa Gungunane Lagi’, ‘Tu Hi Re’, ‘Chaand Chuppa’, ‘Tanha Tanha’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Mehboob won the Filmfare R. D. Burman Award in 1996.

14. Prasoon Joshi

Prasoon Joshi is a lyricist, poet, and screenwriter in Bollywood cinema. He’s also a writer, marketeer and the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017. Prasoon Joshi comes from a family of classical vocalists. His career as a lyricist began in 2001 with the film ‘Lajja’, and he went on to write songs for several more films in Indian cinema.

Songs wrote: A few of his notable songs are ‘Maula’, ‘Kaise Mujhe’, ‘Tu Bin Bataye’, ‘Khalbali Hai Khalbali’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Prasoon Joshi has many awards and recognition for his name. He’s won several Best Lyricist awards, Filmfare Best Lyricist Award, National Film Award for Best Lyrics, the IFAA award, and the Padma Shri award, to name a few.

15. Sahir Ludhianvi

Sahir Ludhianvi, born as Abdul Hayee, was a lyricist and poet in Indian cinema. He wrote song lyrics and poems in Hindi and Urdu languages.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs that were written by Sahir Ludhianvi are ‘Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi’, ‘Thandi Hawayein Lehrake Aaye’, ‘Jane Kya Tune Kahi’, ‘Aye Meri Zoharjabin’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition: Sahir Ludhianvi won two Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist and was also awarded Padma Shri. Also, in 2013, a postage stamp was issued by the Government of India, bearing his face in order to honour him.

16. Sameer

Sameer Anjaan, though his real name is Shitala Pandey, is one of the popular names a lyricist in Indian cinema. His father was also an award-winning lyricist. So, he might have inherited the talent of writing lyrics for Bollywood motion picture songs. Many Hindi films since the mid-80s have had all songs written by Sameer himself.

Songs wrote: Sameer has written lyrics for more than 4,000 songs and he’s still active in his occupation. A few mentions are ‘Nazar Ke Saamne’, ‘Teri Umeed Tera Intezar’, ‘Ghungat Ki Aad Se’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Sameer Anjaan is named in the Guinness Book of Records for writing the most number of songs for Bollywood cinema. He also has two Filmfare Awards and one Zee Cine Award to his name for his contribution.

17. Santosh Anand

Santosh Anand began his career as a lyricist in Indian cinema in the 1970s. He has written over a hundred songs for several Hindi films throughout his career.

Songs wrote: A few songs that were written by Santosh Anand are ‘Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai’, ‘Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin’, ‘Main Na Bhoolunga’, ‘Tera Saath Hai To’, ‘Mohabbat Hai Kya Cheez’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Santosh Anand won two Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist and one Yash Bharti Award for the Best Lyrics.

18. Shailendra

Shailendra, born as Shankardas Kesarilal, was a popular lyricist, poet and film producer of Indian cinema during the 1940s and until the 1960s. He wrote over a dozen lyrics and his songs gained a lot of popularity in his time and thereafter.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs that were written by Shailendra are ‘Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai’, ‘Main Gaoon Tum So Jao’, ‘Sab Kuch Seekha Humne’, ‘Suhana Safar Aur Yeh’, ‘Awara Hoon’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Shailendra won three Filmfare Best Lyricist Awards and a National Film Award for his own-produced film ‘Teesri Kasam (1967)’.

19. Shakeel Badayuni

Shakeel Badayuni was a lyricist in Indian cinema and also an Urdu poet. His career as a lyricist began in the 1940s when one of his poems impressed music composer Naushad Ali and film producer A. R. Kardar.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Shakeel Badayuni are ‘Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho’, ‘Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin’, ‘Kahin Deep Jale’, ‘Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Shakeel Badayuni won three Filmfare Best Lyricist Awards for his songs. The Government of India also issued a postage stamp bearing his face and honouring him.

20. Verma Malik

Verma Malik, born as Barkatrai Malik, was a poet and lyricist in Indian cinema from the years of late 1940s till 2001. Over the years, he has written more than 500 songs for Bollywood films, many of which are quite popular.

Songs wrote: A few popular songs written by Verma Malik are ‘Ek Tara Bole’, ‘Hai Hai Yeh Majburee’, ‘Kuch Log Yaha Par Aise Hai’, and many more.

Awards/Recognition received: Verma Malik won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist.

Wrapping Up

While a few lyricists mentioned above are not among us today, they are still remembered for the popular and evergreen songs they had written for the Bollywood film industry. On the other hand, we see new lyricists that are making their way in Indian cinema, and their contribution would also be recognised with time and notable work.