“Halka Halka Sa Hai Ye Sama,” sings Gaurav, a nowadays-popular song from Chocolate.
“Halka Halka Sa Ye Nasha!” I yell at Gaurav.
“Whatever!” says Gaurav, “I don’t care about lyrics, I care about the music.”
“I know, but I care about the lyrics so, when you are around me, please try to sing the right lyrics,” I say to him.
I am so particular about lyrics of any song that I even go to the extent of playing the song right then when Gaurav Bhaiya makes a mistake in the lyrics and make him memorize them. 
I know that’s a bit extreme but I can’t stand wrong or bad lyrics. And I really admire and appreciate good lyrics.
In my opinion, writing good lyrics is not a piece of cake. I consider “good” lyrics as those that:
^ Are relevant to the situation in the film.
^ Don’t necessarily rhyme but are pleasing to the ears.
^ Are logical and connect to the lines before and after.
The Indian Film Industry has/has had some of the finest lyricists ever. Right from romance to comedy to sadness and to anger, these lyricist have written songs just about everything. Here are some of the greatest lyricist of the industry (in no particular order):
1. Sahir Ludhianvi - Wrote lyrics for over half a century for more than 70 films. He penned down amazing lyrics for Devdas (1955), Taj Mahal (1963), Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976) and many more.
2. Kaifi Azmi - Father of Shabana Azmi, another great lyricist who wrote for five decades and impressed the audience with his lyrics in Bawarchi (1972), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993) to name a few.
3. Majrooh Sultanpuri - His talent of writing lyrics for Hindi films overshadowed the fact that he was an equally good poet. He has contributed to the industry for over 70 years! Wow, that’s exceptional. Some his well-known works as a lyricist consist of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Khamoshi (1996). I am not listing some of his earlier work because I am not aquainted with it.
4. Sampooran Singh Gulzar - Has been a lyricist par excellence for over 65 years and has written lyrics for more than 80 films. Some of my favo(u)rite projects of Gulzar as a lyricist are Golmaal (1979), Khalnayak (1993), Maachis (1996), Dil Se… (1998), Fiza (2000), Asoka (2001), Saathiya (2002), Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and Paheli (2005). I would rate him a 9/10. I love his lyrics!
5. Sameer - I consider him the Shahrukh Khan of lyrics writing. He came, he saw and he conquered, that too in a very short period of time Sameer has worked on 252 films. :O And most of them are awesome as far as the lyrics go. Here comes a list of my favorites (this one’s gonna be long): Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Aaina (ahem :D) (1993), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Josh (2000), Mission Kashmir (2000), Ajnabee (2001), Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Devdas (2002), Dum (2003), Khakee (2004), Dhoom (2004), Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya? (2005) and No Entry (2005). I hope he keeps making us hum his words for many decades to come.
6. Javed Akhtar - What can I say about Mr. Javed Akhtar. I can easily say that his talemt surpasses any kind of other talent in any other field. He is phenomenon. The best thing about his lyrics is the quality. His lyrics would get a 10/10 from me anytime. He has penned down lyrics for about 80 films. I salute you for your extraordinary work, Javed saab. Let me now list my favo(u)rites: Silsila (1981), Mr India (1987), 1942: A Love Story (1993), Border (1997), Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997), Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), Pukar (2000), Zubeidaa (2001), Lagaan (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Tehzeeb (2003), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Lakshya (2004), Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), Swades (2004) and Kisna (2005). Way to go!
I also want to give an example of good and bad lyrics (according to me):
GOOD lyrics:
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye wo bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi
Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami
Yun toh saare sukh hai barse
Par door tu hai apne gharse
Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane
Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane
Awaaz de tujhe bulaane, wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi
Koyi ek sadi, saari zindagi
Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
Aaye hain is tarha do raahein
Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye
Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye
Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
BAD lyrics:
aati hai woh aise chal ke
jaise jannat mein raheti hai
dekhti hai sabko aaise
jaise sabko woh saheti hai
par gusse main jab aaye
aur aankhein woh dikhlaye
ladte ladte galti se muskaaye
my dil goes mmmm - 4
karti hoon jab usse baatein
lagta hai sone waala hai
soke jab jab bhi woh jaage
lagta hai rone waala hai
par chupke se woh aaye
meri neend se mujhe jayage
le baahon mein aur khudh hi gir jaaye
my dil goes mmmm - 4
haan, woh na na karti hai
haan, bada akarti hai
haan, thodi si ziddi hai
haan, akal se piddi hai
jaate hain sab woh aaye
na aaye woh jaati hai
tedhi in baaton se mujhko satati hai
har waqt se pehle aana
sunna na koi bahana
par dekhna mera rasta rozana
my dil goes mmmm - 4
haan, picture mein rota hai
haan, khulle mooh sota hai
haan, zara nalayak hai
haan, pitne ke layak hai
jaane kya kehta hai
jaane kya karta hai
sofe pe chadhta hai
pardo se ladta hai
jab karne lage safaai
samjho ke shaamat aayi
phir thak ke jab leta hai angdai
my dil goz mmmm - 4
haan, thodi alag si hai
haan, thodi galat si hai
haan, thoda alag sa hai
haan, thoda galat sa hai
aisi bhi hogi woh aisa na socha tha
aisa hi hoga woh aisa hi socha tha
kyun lagta hai yeh apna
yeh sach hai yaan sapna
dar lagta hai kahin ho na jaaye jhooth
Pardon me for any mistakes in this post. I didn’t proof read it since it’s long and I am very sleepy.
- Aaina.
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lyrics …hmmm … i nvr bother to go into the intricacies of it … wt hs been done here by u is probably thee most detailed analysis … bt i do manage to keep my lyrics right .. actually i am more into rock nd heavymetal … nd since they r mostly not comprehendable at the first go i hang on top a lyrics site .. gud lyrics is this to me:-
Lay a whisper on my pillow
Leave the winter on the ground
I wake up lonely, in this air of silence
In the bedroom and all around
Touch me now, I close my eyes
And dream away
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow
It must have been love, but it’s over now
From the moment we touched, ’til the time had run out
Make-believing we’re together
That I’m sheltered by your heart
In and outside I turn to water
Like a teardrop in your palm
And it’s a hard winter’s day
I dream away
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It was all that I wanted, now I’m living without
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It’s where the water flows
It’s where the wind blows
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow
It must have been love, but it’s over now
From the moment we touched, ’til the time had run out
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It was all that I wanted, now I’m living without
It must have been love, but it’s over now
It’s where the water flows
It’s where the wind blows
Oohh
ta
lol
i second this
“I don’t care about lyrics, I care about the music.”
coz even i land up eating many words in between …
I can’t believe you typed all of the lyrics down. Yay!!! You have less than a week until school begins!!!! It’s too much reading here as always, but I’m learning a lot about the bible and god and all :).
I care about both - Lyrics and Music… I look for perfection…
I go for music always.. sometimes even if i don’t really understand the lang or the meaning of the song… i like it just ‘coz of the music!!
I hope college is going well for you. Sorry about all the transportation stuff. College work has been good and living here is cool. Have a great time!
You’ve been really busy haven’t you? I have someone looking over my shoulder right now…so yeah. Bye.
erm.. i dont know how i ended up at this entry ~i don’t even know what site this is~ *checks* aainaism???
anyways… will check it out but i would like to say that it drives me crazy when someone sings the wrong lyrics too… its so annoying coz somehow i always remember and appreciate the lyrics and i have also played songs right there and then to prove that they are singing the wrong lyrics ;P
but i also do feel the music =D its perfection that sounds good as Cyb Lawyer said…
hope i am not butting in… juz had to say this as almost no one cares about the lyrics now days.
I so agree with you! I usually remember the lyrics to all my favourite songs [and also the ones that are played nonstop on full blast at wedding functions and the likes]. Btw, I also hate it when people use the apostrophe at all the wrong places >_
This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”