Sameer (lyricist)

Shitala Pandey, better known as Sameer or Sameer Anjaan, is an Indian lyricist, known for writing songs predominantly for Bollywood films. He is a Guinness World Record holder for writing the most songs. He has won four Filmfare Awards. Sameer, officially named Shitala Pandey, but commonly known by his nickname Rajan, was born near Banaras, 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 he "knew the bank was not my world". To pursue a career as a lyricist, he moved to Mumbai in 1987. 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 songs in films such as Dil and Aashiqui. He won his first Filmfare Award in the year 1991 for the song "Nazar Ke Saamne" in the latter. In the following decades he wrote the lyrics for over 4,000 songs in more than 500 films. According to Sameer, his inspirations have been lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Anand Bakshi, and his father, Anjaan. He has often said, "Whatever I am today is only because of my father." Sameer won two additional Filmfare Awards in 1993 and 1994; one for the song "Teri Umeed Tera Intezaar" from the movie Deewana, and the second for the song "Ghunghat Ki Aad" from Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. In 1998, he won Zee Cine Award for "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Some of his most successful songs include songs in films like Beta, Saajan, Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Raja Hindustani, Anjaam, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Fiza, Dhadkan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Devdas, Raaz, Dil Hai Tumhaara, Ishq Vishk, Dil Maange More, Tere Naam, Asambhav, Fida, No Entry, Aksar, Dhoom 2, Saawariya, Race, Damadamm!, Housefull 2, Rowdy Rathore, Son of Sardaar, Dabangg 2, Balmaa, and more. Sameer's father, Lalji "Anjaan" Pandey, also a well known Hindi lyricist. Sameer is married to Anita Pandey and the couple have three children: daughters Sanchita and Suchita, and son Siddhesh. His mother, Indira Pandey, lived with them. A biography, Sameer – A Way with Words by Derek Bose, was released by Amitabh Bachchan in 2007. Due to Sameer's large number of works, this is an incomplete list. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sameer (lyricist). "Bollywood lyricist Sameer Anjaan receives Guinness World Records certificate for writing a staggering 3,524 songs". Guinness world records. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Siddiqui, Rana (5 April 2007). "Writing it right". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008. Nadar, A Ganesh (21 March 2005). "Every song has a story". Rediff. Retrieved 11 March 2008. "Filmfare Awards Winners From 1953 to 2018" (PDF). lyricsraag.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023. "Filmfare Awards Winners From 1953 to 2024". filmfare.com. Retrieved 7 April 2025. Kelkar, Reshma (24 February 2007). "Saregama's birthday gift to lyricist Sameer". indiaFM. Retrieved 11 March 2008. Adarsh, Taran (19 October 2006). "Amitabh to release Sameer's biography". indiaFM. Retrieved 11 March 2008. "Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu come together for Himesh Reshammiya's 'Super Sitaara'". OrissaPOST. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021. "Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2012". www.radiomirchi.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.