Amitabh Bhattacharya (; born 16 November 1976) is an Indian lyricist and playback singer who works in Indian films. He began his career in the 2000s as a playback singer, and gained recognition when he wrote lyrics for Amit Trivedi for Dev.D. He has notably worked with music director Pritam, writing the lyrics for his compositions for Barfi! (2012), Cocktail (2012), Agent Vinod (2012), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani(2013), Dhoom 3 (2013), Dilwale (2015), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Dangal (2016), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), Raabta (2017), Kalank (2019), Chhichhore (2019), Love Aaj Kal (2020), Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), Brahmāstra (2022), Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023), Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), Dunki (2023), The Great Indian Family (2023), Tiger 3 (2023), and Chandu Champion (2024).
He has won the National Film Award for the song "Agar Zindagi" from the film I Am. In his song-writing career he has won the highest number of awards, precisely 9, for the song "Channa Mereya" to date. His lyrics have been variously described as "frillfree" and "smartly worded".
Notable work In his career, he has worked with some talented music composers like Pritam, A. R. Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Ajay-Atul, Sajid–Wajid, Vishal–Shekhar, Salim–Sulaiman, Ram Sampath, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Sachin-Jigar and many more.
Some of his best known songs are "Iktara", "Channa Mereya", "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", "Bulleya", "Kabira", "Balam Pichkari", "Badtameez Dil", "Mast Magan", "Raabta", "Zehnaseeb", "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin", "Naina", "Khairiyat", "Manja", "Janam Janam", "Zinda Hoon", "Gerua", "Zaalima", "Sapna Jahan", "Sweetheart", "Namo Namo", "Ghar More Pardesiya", "First Class", "Kalank Title Track", "Param Sundari", "Kesariya", "Tere Pyaar Mein", "O Bedardeya", "Apna Bana Le" etc.
Early life Bhattacharya was born into a Bengali family. Bhattacharya did schooling in Lucknow at Spring Dale College, Indira Nagar in 1995 followed by graduation from Lucknow University in 1999.
Bhattacharya moved to Mumbai for becoming a singer in 1999. In an interview with The Times of India in 2013, Bhattacharya said that he migrated to Mumbai from Lucknow harbouring dreams of becoming a singer. He stood in the long queues in front of the music composers' offices and gave them demo "Audio Cassettes" to listen to him. But it didn't bear any fruit. During his struggling days, he started writing lyrics for Advertisement jingles to lower his frustration of not getting work. He learned the art of songwriting during those struggling days.
In the year 2004, when his friend Amartya Rahut introduced him to music composer Amit Trivedi, Trivedi and Rahut, who often composed music for television channels, took Bhattacharya as a dummy singer to give presentations of his music. Trivedi also urged him to write rough lyrics. While writing lyrics, Bhattacharya discovered that he had an innate talent for giving words to tunes. Over the years, Trivedi and Bhattacharya became good friends.
His major breakthrough came when Trivedi was working on the music of Anurag Kashyap's Dev.D, Trivedi insisted Bhattacharya write rough lyrics. Bhattacharya wrote the lyrics for the songs of Dev.D, and most of its major songs became a hit, thus nearly ending 8 years of his struggle for recognition.
Filmography As lyricist Year Film Composer Notes2008 Aamir Amit Trivedi 2009 Acid Factory Manasi Scott One songAlong with Manasi Scott 99 Ashutosh Pathak Shamir Tandon Dev D Amit Trivedi Eight songs2010 Chance Pe Dance Adnan Sami One Song Housefull Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Two Songs Udaan Amit Trivedi Four songs Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Pritam One Song Anjaana Anjaani Vishal–Shekhar One Song (Along with Anvita Dutt and Caralisa Monteiro) Band Baaja Baaraat Salim–Sulaiman 2011 No One Killed Jessica Amit Trivedi Thank You Pritam Three Songs I Am Amit Trivedi National Award: Best Lyrics Luv Ka The End Ram Sampath Ready PritamOne Song Desi Boyz Delhi Belly Ram Sampath Three Songs Chillar Party Amit Trivedi One Song Always Kabhi Kabhi Pritam Two Songs (One with SRK) My Friend Pinto Ajay–Atul Five songs Aazaan Salim–Sulaiman Three Songs Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl Pappu Can't Dance Saala Malhar 2012 Agneepath Ajay–Atul won IIFA Award for Best Lyrics Ek Main aur Ekk Tu Amit Trivedi Agent VinodPritamSix songs Housefull 2Sajid–WajidOne song Ferrari Ki Sawaari Pritam Cocktail Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi Jeet Ganguly Five songs Barfi! Pritam One song Heroine Salim–Sulaiman Aiyyaa Amit Trivedi 2013 Bombay Talkies Three Songs Go Goa Gone Sachin–Jigar Two songs Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Pritam Eight songs Ghanchakkar Amit Trivedi Lootera Chennai Express Vishal–Shekhar Seven songs Rabba Main Kya Karoon Salim–Sulaiman Three Songs Phata Poster Nikla Hero Pritam Two Songs Dhoom 3 One Song2014 Mr Joe B. Carvalho Amartya Bobo Rahut Yaariyan Pritam Hasee Toh Phasee Vishal–Shekhar Five songs Shaadi Ke Side Effects Pritam Two songs Darr @ the Mall Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy One By Two 2 States Lekar Hum Deewana Dil A. R. Rahman Ungli Sachin-JigarSalim-Sulaiman Two songs Happy Ending Sachin-Jigar 2015 Bombay Velvet Amit Trivedi Bajrangi Bhaijaan Pritam One song Brothers Ajay–Atul Phantom Pritam Five songs Shaandaar Amit Trivedi Four songs Dilwale Pritam 2016 Ghayal Once Again Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Ki and Ka Ilaiyaraaja One song Te3n Clinton Cerejo Banjo Vishal–Shekhar Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Pritam Won 12 Awards including 62nd Filmfare Awards & Zee Cine Awards Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh Clinton Cerejo Three songs Dangal Pritam 2017 Raees JAM8 One song (won Zee Cine Awards) Poorna Salim–Sulaiman Raabta Pritam,JAM8 Five songs (Two with Irshad Kamil) Tubelight Pritam Six songs Jagga Jasoos Five songs (won 63rd Filmfare Awards)2018Blackmail Amit Trivedi Four songs (One with Divine & Daval Parab)DhadakAjay–AtulThugs of HindostanKedarnath Amit Trivedi 2019Milan TalkiesRana Mazumder Four songs KalankPritamIndia's Most Wanted Amit Trivedi Super 30Ajay–AtulMission MangalAmit TrivediTwo SongsChhichhore Pritam The Zoya Factor Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy2020Dil BecharaA. R. RahmanDisney Plus Hotstar film2021Koi Jaane NaTanishk Bagchi One SongRoohiSachin–JigarFour Songs MimiA. R. RahmanNetflix filmBunty Aur Babli 2Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy2022JhundAjay–AtulThree Songs Dasvi Sachin-JigarOne songNetflix filmDhaakad Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Two Songs Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 PritamTwo Songs (One with Yo Yo Honey Singh)Laal Singh ChaddhaBrahmastraWon 68th Filmfare AwardsDrishyam 2Devi Sri PrasadBhediyaSachin-JigarQalaAmit TrivediOne songNetflix film2023ShehzadaPritamAbhijit VaghaniOne song Along with Ashish Pandit Zara Hatke Zara BachkeSachin-JigarWon 69th Filmfare AwardsTu Jhoothi Main MakkaarPritam All songsRocky Aur Rani Kii Prem KahaaniAll songs(One with Raja Mehdi Ali Khan)The Great Indian Family All songsTiger 3One songDunkiTwo songs2024MunjyaSachin-JigarStree 2 Chandu ChampionPritamTwo songs 2025AzaadAmit Trivedi All songs (one with Swanand Kirkire)NadaaniyanSachin-Jigar Netflix filmRaid 2Amit TrivediRe-used the track from previous installmentSitaare Zameen ParShankar-Ehsaan-LoyMetro... In DinoPritam Five songs Housefull 5Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Sajid–Wajid, Julius PackiamOne song - "Housefull 5 Mixtape" along with SameerMaalikSachin-Jigar All songs (one with MC Square)War 2Pritam Three songsParam SundariSachin-JigarSunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi KumariPritamThamaSachin-Jigar 2026IkkisSachin-JigarWhite Noise Collectives
As playback singer Year Film Composer Song 2008Aamir Amit Trivedi "Ek Lau""Ha Raham" 2009 Wake Up Sid "Iktara"Dev D "Emotional Atyachar"2010 Band Baaja Baaraat Salim–Sulaiman "Mitra" Udaan Amit Trivedi "Geet" "Aazadiyan" Admissions Open "Dariya Ubale""Aasman Ke Paar" Housefull Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy "Loser" Fast Forward "Aankhon ki Baat" 2011 No One Killed Jessica Amit Trivedi "Dua" 2012 Agent Vinod Pritam "Pyaar ki Pungi" Aiyyaa Amit Trivedi "What to do"2013Lootera "Ankahee""Manmarziyan""Shikayatein""Monta Re" Chennai Express Vishal–Shekhar "Tera Rasta Chhodun Na"2014 2 States Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy "Offo" Happy Ending Sachin–Jigar "Paaji Tussi Such a Pussy Cat"2015 Bhale Manchi Roju Sunny M.R. "Vaareva Ore Maccha" (Telugu)2019ChhichhorePritam"Fikar Not"2020Jai Mummy DiAmartya Bobo Rahut"Manney Ignore Kar Rahi" 2022BhediyaSachin-Jigar"Baaki Sab Theek"2024 Munjya"Hai Jamalo"
Film producer The Film (2005)
Awards Award Category Award Details Song: "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin" GiMA Awards Lyricist of the Year 14th IIFA Awards Best Lyricist Mirchi Music Awards Album of The Year Critics' Choice Song of the Decade 59th National Film Awards Best Lyrics Song: "Agar Zindagi" 7th Mirchi Music Awards Album of The Year Film: 2 States RMIM Puruskaar 2016 Lyricist of the Year Films:Ae Dil Hai MushkilDangalTe3nBanjo 2016 Screen Awards Best Lyricist Song: "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" 2017 SpotBoyE Awards Best Lyricist Song: "Bulleya" 9th Mirchi Music Awards Critics' Choice Lyricist of the Year Song: "Channa Mereya" Critics' Choice Song of the Year Critics' Choice Lyricist of the Decade News 18 Movie Awards Best Lyrics Zee Cine Awards Song of the Year 62nd Filmfare Awards Best Lyricist 2016 Sansui Colors Stardust Awards Best Lyricist 18th IIFA Awards Best Lyricist MT20Jubilee Awards Platinum Disc 63rd Filmfare Awards Best Lyricist Song: "Ullu Ka Patha" Zee Cine Awards Best Lyricist Song: "Zaalima" 10th Mirchi Music Awards Listeners' Choice Album of the Year Film: Jagga Jasoos 20th IIFA Awards IIFA Award for Best Lyricist Song: "Dhadak" 12th Mirchi Music Awards Lyricist of The Year Song: "Kalank" Song of The Year 13th Mirchi Music Awards Lyricist of the Decade Song: "Channa Mereya" Song of The Decade Song: "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin" 68th Filmfare Awards Best Lyricist Song: "Kesariya" Zee Cine Awards Best Lyricist 23rd IIFA Awards Best Lyricist 15th Mirchi Music Awards Best Lyricist Song: Tur Kalleyan 69th Filmfare Awards Best Lyricist Song: Tere Vaaste
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