National Film Award for Best Lyrics

National Film Award for Best Lyrics
Awarded forBest lyrics of a song for the feature film for a year
Sponsored byNational Film Development Corporation of India
Formerly calledLyric Writer of the Best Film Song on National Integration (1968–1972)
Reward(s)
  • Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus)
  • ₹2,00,000
First awarded1968
Last awarded2021
Most recent winnerNaushad Sadar Khan for "Salaami" from Fouja
Highlights
Most awardsVairamuthu (7)
Total awarded44
First winnerKannadasan

The National Film Award for Best Lyrics is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) to a lyricist who has composed the best song for films produced within the Indian film industry.[1] The award was first introduced at the 16th National Film Awards in 1969. It was intermittently awarded until the 22nd National Film Awards (1975). From then on, no award was presented until the 32nd National Film Awards (1985). However, since 1985 every year the award has been presented with the exception of the 34th National Film Awards (1987).

Although the Indian film industry produces films in around 20 languages and dialects,[1] the recipients of the award include those who have worked in seven major languages: Hindi (17 awards), Tamil (11 awards), Telugu, Bengali, Kannada and Malayalam (4 awards each), Punjabi and Haryanvi (1 award each).

Tamil poet Kannadasan was the first recipient of the award. He won the prize for his work in the 1967 Tamil film Kuzhanthaikkaga. The lyricist who won the most Rajat Kamal awards is Vairamuthu (Tamil) with seven wins,[2][3] followed by Javed Akhtar (Hindi) with five wins. Four lyricists: Gulzar (Hindi), Swanand Kirkire (Hindi), Prasoon Joshi (Hindi) and Na. Muthukumar (Tamil) have won the award on two occasions.

List of recipients

Kannadasan was the first recipient in this category.
With seven wins, Vairamuthu is the most awarded lyricist in this category.
With 5 wins, Javed Akhtar is the second-most awarded lyricist in this category.
Indicates a joint award for that year
List of award recipients, showing the year (award ceremony), song(s), film(s), language(s) and citation
Year Recipient(s) Song(s) Film(s) Language(s) Citation Refs.
1968
(16th) 		Kannadasan  – Kuzhanthaikkaga Tamil  – [4]
1969
(17th) 		Kaifi Azmi "Aandhi Aaye Ki Toofan" Saat Hindustani Hindi  – [5]
1970
(18th) 		No Award [6]
1971
(19th) 		Prem Dhawan  – Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar Punjabi  – [7]
1972
(20th) 		Vayalar Ramavarma  – Achanum Bappayum Malayalam  – [8]
1973
(21st) 		No Award [9]
1974
(22nd) 		Sri Sri "Telugu Veera Levara" Alluri Seetharamaraju Telugu  – [10]
1975
(23rd) 		No Award [11]
1976
(24th) 		No Award [12]
1977
(25th) 		No Award [13]
1978
(26th) 		No Award [14]
1979
(27th) 		No Award [15]
1980
(28th) 		No Award [16]
1981
(29th) 		No Award [17]
1982
(30th) 		No Award [18]
1983
(31st) 		No Award [19]
1984
(32nd) 		Vasant Dev  – Saaransh Hindi  – [20]
1985
(33rd) 		Vairamuthu  – Muthal Mariyathai Tamil
For imaginative use of folk images and form which blend with the pastoral and idyllic backdrop of the film.
 [21]
1986
(34th) 		No Award [22]
1987
(35th) 		Gulzar "Mera Kuchh Saamaan" Ijaazat Hindi
For an extremely elegant lyric using subtle similes and metaphors to express attachment, desire and parting and finally to serve as a definition to love within the context of the film.
 [23]
1988
(36th) 		O. N. V. Kurup  – Vaishali Malayalam
For the rare poetic heights reached in all lyrics in the film.
 [24]
1989
(37th) 		Satarupa Sanyal  – Chhandaneer Bengali
For rare poetic heights reached in all the lyrics for the film.
 [25]
1990
(38th) 		Gulzar  – Lekin... Hindi
For evoking beautiful imagery, created through lyrical poetry.
 [26]
1991
(39th) 		K. S. Narasimhaswamy  – Mysore Mallige Kannada
For the depth and poetic quality of the lyrics.
 [27]
1992
(40th) 		Vairamuthu "Chinna Chinna Aasai" Roja Tamil
For his charming, simple poem which has been become a new nursery rhyme on the lips of every child in Tamil Nadu.
 [28]
1993
(41st) 		Veturi "Raali Poye Puvva" Mathru Devo Bhava Telugu
For his lyric, which demonstrates his poetic imagination, enriched by his deep experience of life and a consequential competence in using language with felicity.
 [29]
1994
(42nd) 		Vairamuthu  • "Poralae Ponnuthayi"
 • "Uyirum Neeye" 		 • Karuththamma
 • Pavithra 		Tamil
Through their lyrics, he is able to bring to the fore his rich repertory of poetic expression which sensitively enhances the mood of the films.
 [30]
1995
(43rd) 		Amit Khanna "Kuch Is Tarah" Bhairavi Hindi
The lyrics are meaningful, poetic and sensitively enhance the overall mood of the song sequence, thereby elevating the film.
 [31]
1996
(44th) 		Javed Akhtar  – Saaz Hindi
For its poetic and traditional expression.
 [32]
1997
(45th) 		Javed Akhtar  – Border Hindi
For its evocative wording that is imbued with compassion for our nation and for human beings at large.
 [33]
1998
(46th) 		Javed Akhtar "Maati Re Maati Re" Godmother Hindi
For the authentic blend of dialect and emotion. a song of patriotism and passion, the lyrics are lucid and thought provoking.
 [34]
1999
(47th) 		Vairamuthu "Mudhal Murai Killipparthaein" Sangamam Tamil
For the lyric "Mudhal Murai Killipparthaein" in the Tamil film Sangamam. In his own imitable style, the renowned poet has imparted a certain lyrical charm to the song.
 [35]
2000
(48th) 		Yusufali Kechery "Gayam Hari Nama Dhayam" Mazha Malayalam
For depicting the right mix of the ethos of our land in an invocation to lord Krishna.
 [36]
Javed Akhtar "Panchchhi Nadiyaan" Refugee Hindi
For his inimitable style, speaks of transcending borders and countries, with beautifully written words for love and compassion.
2001
(49th) 		Javed Akhtar  • "Ghanan Ghanan"
 • "Radha Kaise Na Jale" 		Lagaan Hindi
For using very simple language to bring out the richness of the Kutch locale.
 [37]
2002
(50th) 		Vairamuthu "Oru Deivam Thantha Poove" Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil
For rising above the conventions of film songs to reach the realms of poetry.
 [38]
2003
(51st) 		Suddala Ashok Teja "Nenu Saitham" Tagore Telugu
For relating Sri Sri's poem to contemporary times in order to awaken the masses against social evils.
 [39]
2004
(52nd) 		P. Vijay "Ovvoru Pookalume" Autograph Tamil
For or meaningful and powerful lyrics generating hope for a better future.
 [40]
2005
(53rd) 		Baraguru Ramachandrappa "Barutheve Naav Barutheve" Thaayi Kannada
For the lyric which heightened the effect of the entire film.
 [41]
2006
(54th) 		Swanand Kirkire "Bande Me Tha Dum" Lage Raho Munna Bhai Hindi
For rousing words that lyrically combine tradition with modernity to reach the masses.
 [42]
2007
(55th) 		Prasoon Joshi "Maa" Taare Zameen Par Hindi
For the soulful poetry that captures the trauma of a family beset with a rare problem of their little son who is happily saved by an understanding teacher.
 [43]
2008
(56th) 		Anindya Chatterjee "Pherari Mon" Antaheen Bengali
For its simple composition of verses to contribute meaningfully to the film.
 [44]
Chandril Bhattacharya
2009
(57th) 		Swanand Kirkire "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" 3 Idiots Hindi
For the simplicity and depth of feelings conveyed through evocative imagery.
 [45]
2010
(58th) 		Vairamuthu "Kallikkaattil Pirandha Thaayae" Thenmerku Paruvakaatru Tamil
For giving a meaningful expression to the narrative through contextual amplification of the emotion.
 [46]
2011
(59th) 		Amitabh Bhattacharya "Agar Zindagi" I Am Hindi
Through selective use of commonly used language, He evocatively conjures images that convey a young man's yearning for the bare minimum in the larger context of our social reality. At the same time, the song states a belief in the individual's ability to attain a sense of completeness in life.
 [47]
2012
(60th) 		Prasoon Joshi "Bolo Naa" Chittagong Hindi
Simple yet profound lines that provokes imagery of varied dimensions.
 [48]
2013
(61st) 		Na. Muthukumar "Ananda Yaazhai Meettugirai" Thanga Meenkal Tamil
For giving a poetic expression to the narrative through contextual amplification of emotions.
 [49]
2014
(62nd) 		Na. Muthukumar "Azhagu" Saivam Tamil
For embodying the world as seen through the eyes of a child using common place images to make an appeal to an adult world.
 [50]
2015
(63rd) 		Varun Grover "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" Dum Laga Ke Haisha Hindi
For the fresh simple array of metaphors, in the form of a song, expressing love.
 [51]
2016
(64th) 		Vairamuthu "Entha Pakkam" Dharma Durai Tamil
It elucidates the philosophy of hope and happiness.
 [52]
Anupam Roy "Tumi Jaake Bhalobasho" Praktan Bengali
Extolling the pathos of the situation gelling beautifully with the philosophy of 'letting go'.
2017
(65th) 		J. M. Prahlad "Muthu Ratnada Pyate" 22 March Kannada [53]
2018
(66th) 		Manjunatha S. Reddy
(ManSoRe) 		"Maayavi Manave" Nathicharami Kannada
Revolutionary thoughts strung together to convey the innermost feelings of a young woman ready to break societal shackles.
 [54]
2019
(67th) 		Prabha Varma "Aarodum Parayathe Vayya" Kolaambi Malayalam
For the perfect blend of poetry and emotions to create the required effect.
 [55]
2020
(68th) 		Manoj Muntashir  – Saina Hindi
For motivational lyrics of the song to depict the inner strength of the national champion.
 [56]
2021
(69th) 		Chandrabose "Dham Dham Dham" Konda Polam Telugu
For the awe-inspiring lyrics beautifully describe human relationship with mother nature.
 [57]
2022
(70th) 		Naushad Sadar Khan "Salaami" Fouja Haryanvi

References

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