Awardee Profiles

Swanand Kirkire is an Indian lyricist, playback singer, writer, assistant director, actor and dialogue writer, both in television and Hindi films. Kirkire won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics twice: first in 2007 for the song "Bande Me Tha Dum...Vande Mataram" from the 2006 film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and then in 2009, for the song "Behti Hawaa Sa Tha Woh..." from the film 3 Idiots. He received Filmfare Award nomination for Best Lyrics for the song "Piyu Bole" in Parineeta (2005).

Swanand Kirkire was born and brought up at Rambagh in Indore-based Marathi speaking family to Chintamani (father) and Neelambari (mother), both of whom are classical singers. However he had no formal training in singing. He moved to Delhi after doing his graduation in commerce. In 1996, Swanand graduated from National School of Drama and started doing theatre.

Swanand's first brush with direction came when he wrote and directed a play on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in New Delhi. During his theatre days, he learned that Manju Singh, a television serial producer, was looking for a writer for his serial Swaraj, also on Bhagat Singh. He went to Mumbai and had an apartment in Warden Road. When the serial ended, he gave up his apartment and settled down in Goregaon, a Mumbai suburb.

Swanand was later introduced to filmmaker Pankaj Parashar, who in turn introduced him to director Sudhir Mishra. Mishra was doing a serial called Talash, with his assistant Ruchi Narain. He started assisting Sudhir while he was making Calcutta Mail, and then it continued with Chameli and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Swanand had written a song during his theatre days, "Bawra mann dekhne chala ek sapna". Sudhir Mishra heard the song and decided to use it in his film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Music composer Shantanu Moitra decided to record it in Swanand's voice. When the music was out it became an instant hit. Though the film's release got delayed, the music was sold out. It became popular and the music company decided to re-release it during the film's release.

He won the National Award In 2006 for Best Lyrics for "Bande Me Tha Dum" from Lage Raho Munna Bhai and In 2010 for Best Lyrics for "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" from 3 Idiots. He also received the Screen Awards in 2013 for Best Lyrics for "Maanjha" from Kai Po Che.