Sameer (lyricist)

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Sameer

Born Shitala Pandey, nickname Rajan
February 24, 1958
vill. Odaar, near Benaras, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation Lyricist
Years active 1984 – present
Official website

Sameer (Hindi : समीर, b. February 24, 1958[1]) 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.[2]

Contents

[edit] 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.[2] However, a few days after joining, he left the job because, according to him, he "knew the bank was not my world".[3] In order to pursue a career as a lyricist, he moved to Mumbai in 1980.[3]

[edit] Career

Sameer started his career as a lyricist in 1983 with the film Bekhabar (1983).[1] 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).[2][3][4]

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."[3][4]

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.

[edit] 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).[1] His mother, Indira Pandey, lives with them.[3]

A biography, "Sameer - A Way with Words" by Derek Bose was released by Amitabh Bachchan in 2007.[2][5]

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Official website: http://www.sameerlyricist.com/html/images/awards2.pdf
  2. ^ a b c d Siddiqui, Rana (April 5, 2007). Writing it right. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  3. ^ a b c d e Nadar, A Ganesh (March 21, 2005). Every song has a story. Rediff. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  4. ^ a b Kelkar, Reshma (February 24, 2007). Saregama's birthday gift to lyricist Sameer. indiaFM. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  5. ^ Adarsh, Taran (October 19, 2006). Amitabh to release Sameer's biography. indiaFM. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
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