There are many well-known instances of Hindi film music directors singing songs. There are also cases of playback singers composing music. But cases of lyricists singing songs aren’t that well known. Let’s list a few prominent lyricists who have singing credits in Hindi film songs:
Amitabh Bhattacharya is an accidental lyricist. He wanted to be a playback singer but the success of Dev.D (2006) took him down a different path and boy what a journey that has been! He did, however, fulfill his desire to be a playback singer and has a few songs to his credit as one. While he usually sings group songs or pitches in to provide backing vocals, there is one lovely song that he sang solo – Ankahee (Lootera, 2013).
Although Amitabh Verma has not been very prolific, he will be remembered for writing the lyrics for some wonderful songs – Alvida (Life In A Metro, 2007) and Barhaan Dil (Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta, 2010) to name a couple. As a playback singer, he has one forgettable song to his credit – Very Sorry (Fatso, 2012) – but a delectable cover of Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna Yahi Hai (Hanste Zakhm, 1973) is a better example of his singing abilities – https://youtu.be/92eyCdaUv8E.
Not many know that Anand Bakshi, who produced countless hits over several decades as a lyricist, had a penchant for singing and had a few Hindi film songs to his credit as a playback singer. His superstition that films he sang for bombed at the box office may have prevented him from singing more songs than he did. Jagat Musafir Khana (Balika Badhu, 1976) was one of his two solo Hindi film songs. While the audio release carried his version of the song, Shakti Samanta recorded another version sung by Bhupinder for the film when he found out about Bakshi’s superstition!
Ankur Tewari is an indie artist who has carved a substantial niche for himself in Hindi films. His high point in the film industry came as the music supervisor for Gully Boy (2019) for which he won several music awards including the Filmfare Best Music Album award. He shared this award with the film’s director Zoya Akhtar. Tewari has Hindi film credits as director, writer, actor, lyricist, music director and singer. He earns a place in this list since his singer credits are fewer than his composer credits and far fewer than his lyricist credits. A recent favourite sung by him – Plum Wedding (The Archies, 2023).
Ashish Pandit, who used to be a Pritam regular as a lyricist, has a few songs to his credit as a playback singer, though he appears to provide only backing vocals in them. One example – Tu Jaane Naa – Reprise (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, 2009).
Lyricist Bharat Vyas sang a handful of Hindi film songs in his earlier years but he’s best known for Kavi Raja Kavita Ke Mat Ab Kaan Marodo (Navrang, 1959). This wasn’t an instance of singing though – Vyas recited this song to rhythm. Kavi Raja.. was a deeply personal poem written by him in the early stages of his career when he was struggling to make ends meet.
Gauhar Kanpuri recited a couple of lines in the Hindi film song Le Gayo Re Daaka Daal Ke (Geet Ganga, 1981).
Gulshan Bawra, a close associate of R.D. Burman, had singing credits in Pyar Hamen Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya (Satte Pe Satta, 1982). He probably contributed to spoken lines in the song.
Gulzar was no singer but did lend his baritone voice at times to commentary in films and, in a few cases, in songs. The soundtrack of Kill Dil (2014) has three songs that opened with Gulzar reciting his poetry.
Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi sang his poem sans instruments in the song Ae Mere Desh Ke Amar Shahidon (The Gold Medal, 1975).
Though Kavi Pradeep was known primarily for his work as a lyricist, his ability to compose tunes and sing was well regarded. His sincerity shone though in every song he sang. A favourite – the title song of Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chaaon (1971).
The uber prolific Kumaar has singing credits in one song – Crazy Cukkad (Crazy Cukkad Family, 2014). He probably sang the song’s opening lines and provided backing vocals.
Lyricist Maya Govind sang the solo opening lines in the Hindi film song Mandir Mein Bhagwan Rahte Hain (Mere Baad, 1988) and also perhaps a few chorus lines.
Mehboob, the lyricist in many of A.R. Rahman’s early Hindi films, turned music director and singer with the song Save Me Destiny (Soch Lo, 2010).
Nitin Raikwar is an outlier in this list because he has a fair number of credits as music director as well as lyricist. However, since he has many more credits as a lyricist than as a music director, he should probably be included in this list. He can be heard in the surprise hit Excuse Me Kya Re (Style, 2001). If you hear a similarity with Aati Kya Khandala (Ghulam, 1998), it is because it was Raikwar who came up with its idea and pitched it to Aamir Khan.
It is impossible to box an artist as talented as Piyush Mishra in any role but given his numerous lyricist credits and fewer music director credits, his inclusion here is warranted. Mishra sang, composed and wrote Duniya (Gulaal, 2009), a tribute to poets and lyricists in general, and Sahir Ludhianvi specifically. He included in this song the line “Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai”, which was penned by Sahir for Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa” (1957).
Prasoon Joshi recited the lines of poetry in Bharat (Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi, 2019).
Priya Saraiya is a fairly accomplished singer but since she has many more credits as a lyricist, she has been included in this list. One of her biggest hits – Sun Saathiya (ABCD: Any Body Can Dance – 2, 2015).
Virag Mishra of Rashmi Virag is credited as a singer in a couple of songs, including Bandagi (Hostel, 2014), which he also composed.
Shabbir Ahmed has singing credits in Jolly Good Fellow (Jolly LLB 2, 2017). He performed the Hindi rap lines in the song.
The voice of Naushad’s trusted partner Shakeel Badayuni can be heard in a mushaira song he performed for the film Pak Daman (1957).
Lyricist Siddhant Kaushal has singing credits in the film song Tipi Tipi Tap (Logout, 2025).
Swanand Kirkire is another multi-talented artist in this list who has been included because he has many more lyricist credits than singer credits. The song that shot him to fame also happens to be one of his most beloved songs – Bavra Mann (Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, 2005).
Vaibhav Shrivastava aka Vayu began as one half of Tanishk – Vayu. Tanishk Bagchi and Vayu later pursued solo careers with Tanishk becoming a music director who wrote some lyrics and Vayu becoming a lyricist who composed some music. He sang Main Dil Ka Darzi Hoon (Stree, 2018).
Honourable mention:
Kaifi Azmi recited his nazm “Makaan” in Sone Ki Chidiya (1958). He was listed in the opening credits as one of the lyricists even though he did not write the lyrics for any of the film’s songs. The nazm, whose opening lines went “Aaj ki raat bahut garm hawa chalti hai / Aaj ki raat na footpath pe neend aayegi / Sab utho main bhi uthoon tum bhi utho tum bhi utho / Koi khidki isi deewaar mein khul jayegi”, was filmed on Balraj Sahni. Incidentally, Kaifi Azmi, the film’s producer and writer Ismat Chugtai, and Balraj Sahni got together again many years later for the film “Garm Hava” (1973).
It’s worth mentioning that this list excludes artists who wrote lyrics for some Hindi film songs, but are not primarily known as lyricists. These artists are not included here since they are better known for their work in other roles – music director, actor, singer, etc. A subset of such artists:
Anand Raj Anand, Badshah, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, Himesh Reshammiya, Mithoon, Ravi, Ravindra Jain, Vishal Dadlani, Yo Yo Honey Singh.
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