An outstanding lyricist whose career extended over four decades, Anand Bakshi had nearly 3,000 songs to his credit. His work displayed a remarkable ability to blend with different eras and their distinctive demands.

Born to a bank manager in Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan), Bakshi joined the army as a telephone operator in 1938. When his family migrated to India, he attempted to enter the world of films, starting in 1943 as a scenarist in Badla. However, because of lack of sufficient work, he rejoined the army to serve until 1958, at which time he made his debut as a lyricist in Bhagwan`s Bhala Aadmi.

One of his earliest successes as a lyricist came in the popular film Jab Jab Phool Khile, with the hit song "Pardesiyon Se Na Ankhiyan Milana" and Milan, for which he wrote the evergreen "Sawan ka Mahina Pawan Kare Sor" in the traditional folk-style of Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi. However, Anand Bakshi made it to the top league with the hugely popular songs of the superstar Rajesh Khanna`s hit film Aradhana. Thereafter, he wrote the lyrics for almost every Rajesh Khanna hit, including Kati Patang, Do Raaste, and Amar Prem.

Anand Bakshi continued to turn out hits, some of which became identified with the mood of an entire generation, such as "Dum Maro Dum Mit Jaye Gham" from Hare Rama Hare Krishna in the 1970s, picturised on a cannabis-smoking Zeenat Aman. His lyrics were set to music by the finest composers of the film industry, including R.D. Burman and Kalyanji-Anandji. A long association with music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal produced some of his best work: Bobby, Amar Akbar Anthony, Sargam, and Asha, for which he penned the immensely popular "Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho Aakhir Toot Jaata Hai."

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Anand Bakshi perfected the art of writing simple, easy-on-the-ears ditties such as "Ilu Ilu" from Subhash Ghai`s Saudagar and Aditya Chopra`s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. This prolific lyricist has changed his style over the years to suit the demand of the contemporary generation. Yet the poetry in his lyrics is impossible to be missed. This is evident from the 1981 blockbuster Ek Duuje Ke Liye.

Anand Bakshi won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist four times:

1978 Apnapan

1981 Ek Duuje Ke Liye

1995 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

1999 Taal

Anand Bakshi has written lyrics for films such as,

Bhala Admi	Seeta Aur Geeta	Mr Natwarlal	Utsav	Khalnayak
Mehlon Ke Khwab	Bobby	Sargam	Aakhri Raasta	Mohra
Razia Sultana	Heera Panna	Suhaag	Sagar	Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath	Namak Haram	Dostana	Karma	Rajkumar
Phuol Bane Angarey	Ajnabi	Judaai	Naam	Dil To Pagal Hai
Yaadein	Dost	Karz	Nazrana	Pardes
Jab Jab Phool Khile	Roti	Shaan	Shahenshah	Dushman
Devar	Chupke Chupke	Ek Duuje Ke Liye	Chandni	Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate
Milan	Julie	Naseeb	Ram Lakhan	Zakhm
Teen Bahuraniyan	Sholay	Bemisaal	Agneepath	Taal
Aradhana	Bairaag	Meri Jung	Hum	Mohabbatein
Kati Patang	Amar Akbar Anthony	Shakti	Lamhe	Gadar — Ek Prem Katha
Khilona	Anurodh	Betaab	Saudagar	Yaadein
Amar Prem	Chacha Bhatija	Coolie	Khuda Gawah	Chori Chori
Hare Rama Hare Krishna	Satyam Shivatn Sundaram	Inquilab	Darr

Due to illness this illustrious lyricist passed away in 2002.