Manoj Muntashir is an Indian lyricist, poet and screenwriter. He has written Bollywood songs like Galliyan, Tere Sang Yaara, Kaun Tujhe, and Teri Mitti.
Wiki/Biography
Manoj Muntashir was born as ‘Manoj Shukla’ on Friday, 27 February 1976 (age 47 years; in 2023) in Gauriganj, Amethi District, Uttar Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Pisces.
Manoj Muntashir’s Child Pictures with his Mother
He attended a convent school in his town. He completed his schooling from HAL School Korwa in Amethi in 1994. He graduated from Allahabad University with a bachelor’s degree in Science.
Manoj Muntashir in College Days
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 8″
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Black
Family & Ethnicity
He belongs to Brahmin Family. His father was a farmer and his mother a teacher; he is the only child of his parents.
Manoj Muntashir with his Mother
His wife, Neelam Muntashir, is a writer.
Manoj Muntashir with his wife
The couple has a son named Aaru.
Manoj Muntashir with his Son
Career
Early Career and Television
In his hometown, he started writing poetry during his school days. His friends took him to ‘Mushaira’ where he started reciting his poems. After his graduation, he moved to Mumbai in search of work in 1999 with just Rs. 700 in his pocket. There, Manoj met Indian singer and Musician Anup Jalota who asked him to write a Bhajan for him. Although he had never written any Bhajan before, he took up the project because he needed money. After he wrote the Bhajan, Anup gave him a check of Rs. 3000, which was his first salary in Mumbai. In 2004, he was assigned to write a song for the film ‘Rang Rasiya,’ but due to some problems, the film was released almost a decade later in 2014.
He entered the television industry through an opportunity given by Amitabh Bachchan to write for ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati,’ an Indian TV series on Sony TV based on the American reality show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ in 2005.
Manoj Muntashir with Amitabh Bachchan
He has also written scripts for reality television shows: India’s Got Talent, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and Indian Idol Junior.
In Movies
He started his career as a lyricist with the film ‘U, Bomsi n Me’ (2005) where he wrote four songs.
He then worked for television. His work reached the public in 2014 when he penned lyrics for several songs on ‘Humnasheen,’ Shreya Ghoshal’s first chart-topping ghazal album.
He has written the lyrics of songs: ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ‘Ek Villain’ (2014), all Hindi version songs of the movie ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015), all tracks of the movie ‘Jai Gangaajal’ (2016), ‘Kuch To Hai ‘ from the movie ‘Do Lafzon Ki Kahaani’ (2016), all tracks from the movie ‘Rustom’ (2016), all tracks from the movie ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ (2016) , ‘Phir Bhi Tumk Chaahunga’ from the movie ‘Half Girlfriend’ (2017), all Hindi version songs of the movie ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ (2017), all tracks from ‘Baadshaho’ (2017), ‘Dekhte Dekhte’ from ‘Batti Gul Meter Chalu’ (2018), ‘Dil Meri Na Sune’ from the movie ‘Genius’ (2018), ‘Kaise Hua’ from the movie ‘Kabir Singh’ (2019), and ‘Teri Mitti’ from the movie ‘Kesari’ (2019).
He has also written singles: Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main (2015) by Atif Aslam, Aa Bhi Ja Tu Kahin Se (2015) by Sonu Nigam, Maiya Teri Jai Jaikaar (2016) by Arijit Singh, Pyaar Manga Hai (2016) by Armaan Malik, Tumhe Dillagi (2016) by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Aap Se Mausiiquii (2016) (album ) by Himesh Reshammiya, Oh Humsafar by Tony Kakkar and Neha Kakkar, and Humnava Mere by Rocky-Shiv.
As a writer
He made his film debut as a screenwriter with the film ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (2015); he wrote the dialogues for the Hindi version of the film.
He has also written dialogues for Hindi versions of films: Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017), Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019), and Marvel’s Black Panther (2018). In 2018, he published his first book through Vani Prakashan titled ‘Meri Fitrat Hai Mastana…’.
Awards & Honors
- Zee Cine Awards – Jury’s Choice Award for Best Lyrics for the movie ‘Kesari’ in 2020
- Yash Bharati Award by Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2016
Manoj Muntashir Receives Yash Bharati Award
- Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman for Best Lyricist in 2016
Manoj Muntashir Gives Award Acceptance Speech for Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman
- Arab Indo Bollywood Award for Best Lyrics for the song ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ‘Ek Villain’ in 2015
- Indian Telly Award for Best Script (Non-Fiction) for the show ‘India’s Got Talent’ in 2014
Mirchi Music Awards
- Listeners’ Choice Award for Best Song for ‘Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga’ from the movie ‘Half Girlfriend’ in 2014
Manoj Muntashir with Mirchi Music Awards
- Listeners Choice Best Album for the movie ‘Ek Villain’ in 2015
- Listeners’ Choice Award for Best Album for the movie ‘Kabir Singh’ in 2019
- Critics Award for Best Album for the movie ‘Kesari’ in 2019
IIFA Awards
- Best Lyrics for the song ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ‘Ek Villain’ in 2015
Manoj Muntashir with his IIFA Award
- Best Lyrics for the song ‘Tere Rashke Qamar’ from the movie ‘Baadshaaho’ in 2015
Indian Icon Film Awards
- Best Lyrics for the song ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ‘Ek Villain’ in 2015
- Best Lyrics for the song ‘Tere Sang Yara’ from the movie ‘Rustom’ in 2016
Hungama Browser’s Choice Award
- Best Lyrics for the song ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ‘Ek Villain’ in 2015
- Best Song for ‘Galliyan’ from the movie ”Ek Villain’ in 2015 (shared with Ankit Tiwari and Mithoon)
Controversy
Filmfare Awards Lineup
In 2020, he lost the Filmfare Award for Best Lyrics to ‘Apna Time Aayega’ from the film ‘Gully Boy’ (2019), which was nominated with ‘Teri Mitti’ from the film ‘Kesari’ (2019). The loss upset him at the Indian award show, and he decided to boycott the show. In his social media post, he announced,
Honorable award…Even if I try all my life.. I will never be able to write a song better than #TeriMitti, a line better than.. ‘Tu Kahti Thee Tera Chaand Hoon Main Aur Chaand Humesha Rahta hai’. You failed to respect the words that made millions of Indians cry and protect their motherland. It would be a great insult to my art if I continued to care for you. So here I say my last goodbye. I officially announce- I will not attend any award show until I take my last breath. Alvida.”
Manoj Muntashir’s Instagram post on Award Show Ban
Controversial dialogues in Adipurush
In June 2023, after the release of the Bollywood film Adipurush, there was a significant backlash on social media directed at him. He faced criticism for using vulgar language in the film, and netizens mocked him for using controversial lines like ‘marega bete,’ ‘bua ka bagicha hai kya,’ and ‘jalegi tere baap ki.’ Due to threats to his safety, he was granted security cover by the Mumbai Police on 19 June 2023.
Signature
Signature of Manoj Muntashir
Favorite Things
- Lyrics(s): Shailendra, Santosh Anand
- Poetry: ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’ by Sahir Ludhianvi, ‘Parchhaiyan’ by Sahir Ludhianvi
Facts/Trivia
- His family members and close friends affectionately call him ‘Manu’.
- A book by Sahir Ludhianvi inspired him to take interest in writing poetry as a profession. According to Manoj,
Ever since I was a child, I jotted down the words the most when I heard any film song, and soon Sahir Ludhianvi and Shailendra became my favorites”
- Around 1985, his father left his job and his mother took over the house and started teaching in a school with a monthly salary of Rs. 500. His mother used to spend Rs. 300 in his tuition and the rest for household expenses.
- Manoj loved to read and write since childhood. While in high school, he came across the book ‘Diwan-e-Ghalib’ by Mirza Ghalib. Because he did not know Urdu, it was difficult for him to read the book. He thought that he needed to know Urdu to write poetry; then, one day, he bought a book from a nearby mosque for Rs. 2; the book has Urdu translation in Hindi.
- His first job was not in Mumbai but in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) for All India Radio at a salary of Rs. 135 in 1997.
- Before coming to Mumbai, he changed his surname to ‘Muntashir,’ which means ‘scattered soul.’ He took the name because no poet had ever used it and it was unique to him.
- The song ‘Galliyan’ is a Nazm written by him during the Kashmir Tour in 2001 when he was sitting on the banks of the Dal Lake. Ankit Tiwari heard him recite Nazm at Hard Rock Cafe Andheri. Ankit handed over Nazm to Indian film director Mohit Suri, who decided to use her in the film ‘Ek Villain.’ Speaking about it, Manoj said,
I told him, it is nazm, which is not music friendly. Especially the kind of music we have today does not allow this awkward and long meter. But Mohit (Suri) doesn’t want to listen. I was very skeptical given the format of the poem. He worked for days non-stop with Mithoon to put it together. I bow to the genius of Mithoon who composed it even without changing a single word from the original. Mohit and I both shed tears when we first heard the composition”
- Once in an interview, she revealed that she chose her profession over marriage. Narrating, he said,
The first time around the wedding card was printed and May 13, 1997, was the date of the wedding, which I still remember clearly. Around the end of April, the bride’s brother came to see me and asked what my future plans were. I told him that bro, I’m going to be a lyricist. He said, that’s fine, but what work are you going to do? I told him I’m not going to lie, but I want to write songs for the rest of my life. We went back and canceled the wedding. Of course, I like that girl. But the choice was between writing and marriage, and I chose to write.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
