Anand Bakshi was probably the most prolific lyricist of his time. He started his life as an army man and there he learnt to wax lyrical in the language of the masses. He was an outstanding lyricist whose career extended over four decades; Anand Bakshi had more than 4000 songs to his credit. His work displayed a remarkable ability to blend with different eras and their distinctive demands. He was one of those few poets who express love in multitude of ways.

Works of Anand Bakshi
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.

Awards:
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,GadarEk 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 ,

After a successful career spanning four decades this prolific lyricist passed away due to illness at the age of 82 on 30th March, 2002. The last released movie with his lyrics is Mehbooba (2008).