Mehboob (lyricist)

Mehboob Alam Kotwal is a writer of Bollywood film song lyrics. He was born and brought up in Mumbai city of Maharashtra. His family moved to the city of Mumbai for good in the 1960s where he received his primary education, first in English and later in Urdu.

In 1986, Mehboob met music composer Ismail Darbar who used to play the violin in film orchestras in those days. And it was Darbar who taught him the difference between poetry and film lyrics. Darbar introduced Mehboob to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and he began his song writing career with Varma's 1992 film Drohi whose music was composed by R. D. Burman. He then worked with A.R.Rahman on Varma's Rangeela. Rahman liked his work and introduced him to Mani Ratnam and Mehboob penned the lyrics for the Hindi (dubbed) version of Bombay. Mehboob went on to work with Rahman on films such as Thakshak, Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and Dil Hi Dil Mein. He has also written the lyrics for Rahman's non-film album Maa Tujhe Salaam as well as Ratnam's Yuva.

Mehboob has collaborated with Ismail Darbar on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 1999 film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and on Shakti - The Power in 2002. He has also written the lyrics for Kamaal Khan's Hindi pop album "Kal Raat" (2003) and KK's albums - Pal and Humsafar.

• Drohi (1992)
• Rangeela (1995)
• Bombay (1995)
• Yash (1996 film) (1996)
• Return of Jewel Thief (1996)
• Daud (1997)
• Iruvar (1997)
• Vande Mataram (1997, album)
• Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998)
• Thakshak (1999)
• Rockford (1999)
• Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
• Dil Hi Dil Mein (1999)
• Khauff (2000)
• One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
• Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (2001)
• Grahan (2001)
• Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai (2001)
• Desh Devi (2002)
• Shakti - The Power (2002)
• Baaz: A Bird in Danger (2003)
• Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003)
• Calcutta Mail (2003)
• Lakeer – Forbidden Lines (2004)
• Uff Kya Jaadoo Mohabbat Hai (2004)
• Yuva (2004)
• Anniyan (2005)
• Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha (2006)
• Holiday (2006)
• Iqraar by Chance (2006)
• Halla Bol (2007)
• Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007)
• Apna Asmaan (2007)
• Contract (2008)
• Tahaan (2008)
• Halla Bol (2008)
• Sirf (film) (2008)
• Lamhaa (2010)
• Muskurake Dekh Zara (2010)
• Itra (2015)

One 2 Ka Four

• Khamoshiyaa gungunane lagi

Bombay

• Tu hi re
• Hamma hamma
• Kehna hi kya
• Kuchi Kuchi rakkama

Yash (1996 film)

• Yaaron na jane mujhe kya ho gaya
• Subah subah jab khidki khole

Daud

• O bhavare

Dil Hi Dil Mein

• Ae nazneen suno na
• Dola dola

Doli Saja Ke Rakhna

• Tar pum tar pum
• Kissa hum likhnege

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

• Chaand chuppa
• Nimbooda Nimbooda
• Tadap Tadap
• Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje
• Aankhon ki Gustakhiyaan
• Jhonka hawa ka

Rangeela

• Tanha Tanha
• Pyaar yeh jane kaisa

Thakshak

• Rang de
• Khamosh raat

Vande Mataram

• Maa tujhe salaam

Yuva

• Khuda hafiz
• Fanna Fanna
• Dhakka lagga bhukka

• 1996: Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent - Rangeela