Top 10 Bollywood Female Lyricists Who Set The Bar High For Others
Posted On: 04 Oct 2021 | Last Updated : 07 Apr 2022 | Views : 5.7k
Female lyricists in Bollywood were unheard of for a long time as it was only the likes of Shailendra, Kavi Pradeep, Hasrat Jaipuri, Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh, Anand Bakshi, Gulzar, and Javed Akhtar we got to hear about. If one tries to rewind to the 40s and 50s of Bollywood, we got to hear only an odd song here or there written by female composers which again were a rarity. The first female lyricist of Bollywood was Saroj Mohini Nayyar who was music director O.P. Nayyar’s who penned a non-film one, ‘Preetam Aan Milo’ sung by Chandu Atma and later used by Guru Dutt in 'Mr. & Mrs. 55' and Gulzar in 'Angoor'. Though penning songs according to a given meter isn’t an easy job but things have changed since then as the overall ratio of female lyricists to male lyricists has gone up. We currently have a decent bunch of women lyricists in Bollywood who have taken songwriting to a different level. Let’s look at the top 10 female lyricists of Bollywood who have carved a niche for themselves in Bollywood music.
(Note: We haven’t included female lyricists of Hindi cinema like Amrita Pritam, Indu Jain, Hema Sardesai, Ila Arun, Hard Kaur, Sneha Khanwalkar, Padma Sachdev, Shruti Pathak, and others who penned only a few songs but only those women lyricists who have written a good number of songs and are prolific songstress in every sense.)
1. Kausar Munir
Kausar Munir currently is one of the most successful female lyricists in Bollywood who also has been credited for writing scripts for films like Phantom (2015), Begum Jaan (2017), Jalebi (2018), Shimla Mirchi (2020), etc. Kausar started her career as a writer for the TV serial Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin which was followed by songs for popular films like Tashan (2008), Anjaana Anjaani (2010), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Dhoom 3 (2013), Heropanti (2014), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Dear Zindagi (2016), PadMan (2018), Gunjan Saxena (2020) and Shiddat (2021). She is the winner of the Best Lyricist Stardust Awards (2014), Star Screen Awards (2014), and Zee Cine Awards (2013).
2. Anvita Dutt Guptan
If you wanted to know the top 10 female lyricists in Bollywood then Anvita Dutt Guptan’s name is bound to feature in the list. Anvita Dutt is not just a lyricist but also a screenwriter, dialogue writer, and director who started off her career as a lyricist and screenwriter with Yash Raj Films Neel ‘N’ Nikki in 2005. Besides writing for popular films like Bachna Ae Haseeno, Kambakkht Ishq, Patiala House, Ajab Gazabb Love, Baar Baar Dekho, etc. she has penned the lyrics for some of Bollywood’s chartbuster songs like Chhaliya (Tashan), Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno), Bade Dilwala (Tees Maar Khan), Laung Da Lashkara (Patiala House), Ishq Wala Love (Student of The Year), London Thumakda (Queen), Uff (Bang Bang), etc.
3. Rani Malik
Rated among the most famous women lyricist of Bollywood in the 90s is Rani Malik. Though she may have not dominated the music scene like other famous male lyricists in Bollywood but has penned some incredible songs over the years. She started her career with a bang by writing the chartbuster song Dheere Dheere from Aashiqui in 1990. The song was later remixed as a solo video song featuring Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor in 2015 which continues to be among the top music videos on YouTube. Rani Malik who has worked with most of Bollywood’s top music directors has also churned out chartbuster songs like Chura Ke Dil Mera (Main Khiladi Tu Anari), Malamaal (Housefull 3), Jaadu Jaadu (Yaraana), Tumse Milne Ko (Phool Aur Kaante), Hum To Mashoor Hue (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin), Hum Lakh Chupaye Pyar Magar (Jaan Tere Naam), Chhupana Bhi Nahin (Baazigar), Ek Naya Aasman (Chhote Sarkar), etc.
4. Maya Govind
Maya Govind has been one of the best female lyricists of Bollywood who has penned some of the best songs since announcing her arrival with the superhit song Nainon Mein Darpan Hai from Aarop (1974). Some of Maya Govind hit songs have been Mera Piya Ghar (Yaraana), Teri Meri Prem Kahani (Pighalta Aasman), Aankhon Mein Base Ho Tum (Takkar), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (Title Track), Gutur Gutur (Dalaal), etc. She has also penned songs for films such as Qaid (1975), Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979), Jhoothi (1986), Naajayaz (1995), Chaahat (1996), Aetbaar (2004), etc.
5. Priya Saraiya
Priya Saraiya or Priya Panchal is a playback singer and lyricist who is married to music director Jigar Saraiya of the Sachin – Jigar duo. Priya started her singing career at a very early age when she performed in live stage shows under the baton of music directors Kalyanji–Anandji’s group - Little Wonders. She marked her Bollywood singing debut with the song Karma Is A Bitch for Shor in the City in 2011. Though she has many hit songs under her belt like Bezubaan (ABCD), Gulabi (Shuddh Desi Romance), Johnny Johnny (Entertainment), Sun Saathiya (ABCD 2), etc., her filmography as lyricist comprises of Piya O Re Piya (Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya), Jadoo Ki Jhappi (Ramaiya Vastavaiya), Jee Karda (Badlapur), Sun Saathiya (ABCD 2), Hoor (Hindi Medium), etc.
6. Rashmi Singh
Talk about leading female lyricists in Bollywood and Rashmi Singh appears in the top 10 with ease. A part of the Rashmi – Virag lyricist duo, Rashmi Singh initially worked as a solo lyricist for films like CityLights for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for the song Muskurane, Khoamoshiyan and Mr. X. After which she collaborated with lyricist Virag Mishra and penned popular songs such as Hamari Adhuri Kahani (Title Track), Tum Bin (Sanam Re), Ishaara (Force 2), Tere Bin (Simmba), Dhoonde Akhiyaan (Jabariya Jodi), Thodi Si Jagah (Marjaavaan), Mana Dil (Good Newwz), Kabhi Tumhhe (Shershaah), etc.
7. Garima Wahal
Garima Wahal is a part of the famous Siddharth – Garima writer, lyricist, and director duo in Bollywood. Married to Siddharth Singh, Garima Wahal has proved her mettle of possessing multi-talents like story, screenplay, dialogue, and lyrics writing in a short span of time. Some of her notable works include the songs of Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Raabta, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, and Kabir Singh, etc.
8. Abhiruchi Chand
Abhiruchi Chand is an upcoming female lyricist in Bollywood who has also written dialogues for films like Calendar Girls (2015) and Sanju (2018) while her forte remains writing lyrics for films that comprise of hit songs like Le Chal Mujhe (NH10), Manzar Hai Ye Naya (Uri: The Surgical Strike), Theher Ja (October), Dil Jaane Na (Dil Juunglee), and Buddhu Sa Mann from (Kapoor & Sons). Some of her other notable works have been for Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein (2015), Wedding Anniversary (2018), Love Per Square Foot (2018), and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020).
9. Seema Saini
Seema Saini is another talented female songstress in Bollywood to watch out for who slowly and steadily is making her mark in Hindi films. Taking up the mantle of solely handling songs of films like Lanka (2011), Sahi Dhahdhe Galat Bande (2011), Heartless (2014), 72 Hours: Martyr Who Never Died (2019), Khamiyaza: Journey of a Common Man (2019), she is proving her worth and climbing up the ladder of success fast.
10. Prabha Thakur
The multi-talented Prabha Thakur who many of us may know as a politician is also a writer, poetess, and lyricist who did limited work in Bollywood at the behest of her friends. She wrote the songs for the Vinod Mehra, Rehana Sultan starrer Albeli (1974) and followed it up by writing songs for Duniyadari (1977), Atmaram (1979), Ghungroo (1983), and Kachchi Sadak (2006), etc.
