The top female lyricists in India include Kausar Munir, Anvita Dutt, Thamarai, Shreshta, Anu Elizabeth Jose and Abhiruchi Chand. Between them they have written hit songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, and won Filmfare, SIIMA and state awards. Film songwriting is still dominated by men, which makes their work stand out.
Lyricists rarely get the credit singers and composers do, and women lyricists get even less. Here is a closer look at six women who have shaped Indian film music, with their best-known songs and what they are doing now.
Female lyricists in India: quick facts
| Lyricist | Main language | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Kausar Munir | Hindi | Lehra Do (83), Falak Tak (Tashan) |
| Anvita Dutt | Hindi | Bachna Ae Haseeno, Queen; director of Bulbbul |
| Abhiruchi Chand | Hindi | Buddhu Sa Mann (Kapoor and Sons) |
| Shreshta | Telugu | Madhurame (Arjun Reddy) |
| Anu Elizabeth Jose | Malayalam | Muthuchippi Poloru (Thattathin Marayathu) |
| Thamarai | Tamil | Vaseegara (Minnale) |
1. Anvita Dutt
Anvita Dutt was born in New Delhi in 1972 and spent 14 years in advertising before she moved to films. She began as a lyricist and screenwriter with Yash Raj Films, and her song credits include Neal ‘n’ Nikki, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Kambakkht Ishq, Patiala House, Queen, Shaandaar, Phillauri and Badhaai Do.
She then turned director. Her first film, Bulbbul, released on Netflix on 24 June 2020 and was well received. Her second, Qala, followed on Netflix on 1 December 2022. She has since written lyrics for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (2025), with music by Vishal and Shekhar.
2. Kausar Munir
Kausar Munir grew up in Bandra, Mumbai, and studied English literature at St. Xavier’s College. She started in media research and then wrote for the TV serial Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, where she met director Vijay Krishna Acharya. He asked her to write Falak Tak for his film Tashan (2008).
Her songs include Pareshaan from Ishaqzaade, Nachdi Phira from Secret Superstar and Maana Ki Hum Yaar Nahin from Meri Pyaari Bindu. She has also worked on Ek Tha Tiger, Dhoom 3 and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, where she wrote both lyrics and dialogue.
Her biggest recognition came with Lehra Do from 83, which won her the IIFA Best Lyricist award in 2021 and the Filmfare Best Lyricist award in 2022. She also wrote the official anthem for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the dialogue for the series Rocket Boys.
She is one of the busiest lyricists in Hindi cinema now. Her recent films include Chandu Champion (2024), Raid 2 (2025), The Diplomat (2025) and Border 2 (2026).
3. Abhiruchi Chand
Abhiruchi Chand has written only a handful of songs, but most of them have stayed with listeners. Her first song was Le Chal Mujhe for the thriller NH10.
She followed it with Buddhu Sa Mann from Kapoor and Sons and Theher Ja from October, starring Varun Dhawan. The earlier version of this article also credited her with dialogue for Sanju, which we could not confirm, so we have removed it.
4. Shreshta
Shreshta, also spelt Shreshtha, is from Mancherial in Telangana. She began writing poems in Class 10, encouraged by her grandfather, and studied commerce and law at Osmania University in Hyderabad. Lyricist Vennelakanti encouraged her to write for films, and she started with devotional songs.
Her film debut, Oka Romantic Crime Katha, earned her the title of Telugu cinema’s first female lyricist. She became widely known for Chinuku Taake and Merise Merise from Pelli Choopulu (2016) and Madhurame from Arjun Reddy (2017). For Arjun Reddy she also composed and wrote Gundelona. Her later work includes Dorasaani (2019) and Alanaati Ramchandrudu (2024).
5. Anu Elizabeth Jose
Anu Elizabeth Jose, from Ernakulam in Kerala, debuted in 2012 with the Malayalam hit Thattathin Marayathu. Her songs for the film, including Muthuchippi Poloru, won her a SIIMA award, a Mirchi Music Award South and several other Best Lyricist honours.
She went on to write for Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla, Thira, 32aam Adhyayam 23aam Vaakyam and Aanandam, which has the song Nilaavil Ellaame. Her most recent listed credit is Uyarum Manjalayil from June (2019). The earlier version of this article said she was a software engineer before films; we could not verify that.
6. Thamarai
Thamarai, born in Coimbatore in 1975, is one of the most respected lyricists in Tamil cinema. She studied production engineering, worked as an engineer for about six years and then moved to Chennai to write as a freelance journalist and poet.
Her first film song was Thendral Enthan in Iniyavale (1998). Minnale (2001), with composer Harris Jayaraj and its hit Vaseegara, was the turning point. With Harris Jayaraj and director Gautham Vasudev Menon she worked on Kaakha Kaakha, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Vaaranam Aayiram, and she later worked often with A. R. Rahman.
She has won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist in Tamil three times, for Vaaranam Aayiram, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Thenali. Recent credits include Indian 2 and Brother (both 2024).
For more on the people behind Indian films, see our Bollywood section and celebs profiles.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most famous female lyricist in India?
Kausar Munir in Hindi and Thamarai in Tamil are among the most famous female lyricists in India, with major awards and long lists of hit songs.
Who was the first female lyricist in Telugu cinema?
Shreshta is credited as Telugu cinema’s first female lyricist. She debuted with Oka Romantic Crime Katha.
Which songs has Kausar Munir written?
Her songs include Falak Tak (Tashan), Pareshaan (Ishaqzaade), Nachdi Phira (Secret Superstar) and Lehra Do (83), which won her the Filmfare Award.
Did Anvita Dutt direct Bulbbul?
Yes. Anvita Dutt directed Bulbbul, which released on Netflix on 24 June 2020. She later directed Qala (2022), also for Netflix.
Sources: Kausar Munir (Wikipedia), Anvita Dutt (Wikipedia), Thamarai (Wikipedia), Shreshta (Wikipedia).
