IN PERFECT METER

LYRICIST SAMEER ANJAAN SHARES MEMORIES BEHIND SOME OF HIS CHARTBUSTING MELODIES IN A CHAT WITH FARHANA FAROOK

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For someone holding the Guinness World Record for writing the most number of songs, having penned over 4,000 for more than 650 films over three decades... Sameer Lalji Pandey popularly and professionally known as Sameer Anjaan, is incredibly unassuming. It’s the same simplicity, the same minimalism with which his lyrics convey the intricacies of love and loss, hope and happiness. Son of renowned lyricist Anjaan, Sameer hit a high note with the sellout album of Aashiqui in the early ’90s. Front-lining the musical renaissance brought about by composer duo Nadeem-Shravan and founder of T-Series the late Gulshan Kumar, Sameer became the sought after bard of Bollywood. He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist in close succession. The award clinchers Nazar ke saamne (Aashiqui), Teri umeed tera intezar (Deewana) and Ghunghat ki aad se (Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke) flaunted the glossary he popularised. Sanam, jigar, jaanam, jaan-e-jigar, saajan... the Hindi/Urdu words became the lexicon of love even as he aced party numbers (Ole ole from Yeh Dillagi) and family anthems (the title track of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham). Apart from Nadeem-Shravan, his collaborations with Anu Malik (Baazigar), Himesh Reshammiya (Tere Naam), Anand-Milind (Beta), JatinLalit (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) are the toast of reality shows, remixes and reels. His recent Hum aapke bina from Salman Khan's Sikandar composed by Pritam only shows his relevance in every genre, in every generation. Here Sameer shares the special memories behind some of his hit songs. Read on in the lyricist’s own words:

NAZAR KE SAAMNE (AASHIQUI, 1990)