Sameer (lyricist)

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
bgcolour =
name = Sameer
birthdate = February 24, 1958
occupation = Lyricist
location = vill. Odaar, near Benaras, Uttar Pradesh, India
yearsactive = 1984 – present
birthname = Shitala Pandey, nickname Rajan
othername =
website = http://www.sameerlyricist.com
filmfareawards = Best Lyricist:
1991: "Aashiqui"
1993: "Deewana"
1994: "Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke"

Sameer ( _hi. समीर, born February 24, 1958Official website: http://www.sameerlyricist.com/html/images/awards2.pdf] ) is an Indian lyricist, mainly writing lyrics for songs in Hindi language films. He is the son of noted Hindi lyricist, Anjaan (Lalji Pandey). Since the beginning of his career, Sameer has penned around 4,000 songs in over 500 Hindi films and more than 130 songs in 23 regional films, including Bhojpuri and Marathi language films. He has won three Filmfare Awards.cite web|author=Siddiqui, Rana|title=Writing it right|date=April 5, 2007|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/04/05/stories/2007040501230100.htm|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2008-03-11]

Biography

Sameer, officially named Shitala Pandey, but commonly known by his nickname Rajan, was born near Benaras, Uttar Pradesh. He earned a Master of Commerce degree at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, and started a new position as a bank officer at the Central Bank of India. However, a few days after joining, he left the job because, according to him, he "knew the bank was not my world".cite web|author=Nadar, A Ganesh|title=Every song has a story|date=March 21, 2005|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/mar/21minter.htm|publisher=Rediff|accessdate=2008-03-11] In order to pursue a career as a lyricist, he moved to Mumbai in 1980.

Career

Sameer started his career as a lyricist in 1983 with the film "Bekhabar" (1983). The first film song he recorded was "Maar Ke Kataaree Mar Jaibe" for the Bhojpuri film"Bairi Saawan" (1984) sung by Suresh Wadkar and Preeti Sagar. In 1990, he came into prominence with hit songs in films such as "Dil" and "Aashiqui". He won his first Filmfare Award for the song "Nazar Ke Saamne" in the latter. In the following decades he emerged as a leading lyricist in Bollywood, writing the lyrics for over 500 Hindi films (4,000 songs).

According to Sameer, his inspirations have been lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Anand Bakshi, and his father, Anjaan, a leading lyricist. He has said on several occasions that, "Whatever I am today is only because of my father."cite web|author=Kelkar, Reshma|title=Saregama's birthday gift to lyricist Sameer|date=February 24, 2007|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/02/24/8976/index.html|publisher=indiaFM|accessdate=2008-03-11]

Sameer won two additional Filmfare Awards in 1993 and 1994; one for the song "Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar" from the movie "Deewana", and second for the song "Ghunghat Ki Aad" from "Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke". Some of his most successful songs include songs in films like "Beta", "Saajan", "Mohra", "Raja Hindustani", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Fiza", "Dhadkan", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", "Devdas", "Raaz", "Dil Hai Tumhaara", "Tere Naam", "No Entry", "Aksar", "Dhoom 2","Saawariya" and more.

Personal

A quiet, unassuming man in his private life, Sameer is married to Anita Pandey and the couple have three children: Sanchita, Suchita (daughters) and Siddhesh (son). His mother, Indira Pandey, lives with them.

A biography, "Sameer - A Way with Words" by Derek Bose was released by Amitabh Bachchan in 2007. [cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Amitabh to release Sameer's biography|date=October 19, 2006|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2006/10/19/8064/index.html|publisher=indiaFM|accessdate=2008-03-11]

Awards

*Filmfare Best Lyricist Award:
**1991: "Nazar Ke Saamne" from "Aashiqui"
**1993: "Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar" from "Deewana"
**1994: "Ghunghat Ki Aad" from "Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke"
*Zee Cine Award for Best Lyricist:
**1998: "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai"

References