Bandbaajabarat at 18:13, 28 March 2026

2026-03-28T18:13:53Z

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{{Short description|Indian songwriter and poet}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mehboob Kotwal
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|10|07}}
| birth_place = [[Bandra]] West, [[Mumbai]], India
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| occupation = Lyricist, writer
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'''Mehboob Kotwal''' (born 1961) known professionally simply as '''Mehboob''', is an Indian film lyricist.

==Early life==
Mehboob was born and brought up in [[Mumbai]], Maharashtra, where he also received his primary education, first in English and later in [[Urdu]].<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/lyricist-mehboob-on-collaborating-with-ar-rahman-for-heropanti-2-working-with-him-is-like-working-with-a-brother/articleshow/83033663.cms?]</ref>

==Career==
In 1986, Mehboob met music composer [[Ismail Darbar]] who played violin in film orchestras those days. It was Darbar who taught him the difference between poetry and film lyrics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981218/35250964.html |title=My First Break - Mehboob }}</ref> Darbar introduced Mehboob to filmmaker [[Ram Gopal Varma]] and he began his songwriting career with Varma's 1992 film [[Drohi (1992 film)|Drohi]] whose music was composed by [[R.D. Burman]]. He then worked with [[A.R. Rahman]] on Varma's [[Rangeela (1995 film)|Rangeela]]. Rahman liked his work and introduced him to [[Mani Ratnam]] and Mehboob penned the lyrics for the Hindi (dubbed) version of [[Bombay (1995 film)|Bombay]].<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jul/16meh.htm The man who almost gave verse to Devdas]</ref> Mehboob went on to work with A.R. Rahman on films such as [[Thakshak]], [[Doli Saja Ke Rakhna]] and Dubbed version of [[Kadhalar Dhinam|Dil Hi Dil Mein]]. He has also written lyrics for A.R. Rahman's non-film album [[Maa Tujhe Salaam (song)|Maa Tujhe Salaam]] as well as Mani Ratnam's [[Yuva]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=9XM SoundcastE: Episode 106 With Mehboob Kotwal {{!}} SpotboyE |url=https://www.spotboye.com/music/music-news/9xm-soundcaste-episode-106-with-mehboob-kotwal/60bf4ea4e5c49b0e58cae5cc |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.spotboye.com |language=en}}</ref>

Mehboob 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 [[Krishnakumar Kunnath|KK]]'s albums - [[Pal (album)|Pal]] and [[Humsafar (album)|Humsafar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-18 |title="People who listen to Hindi film music are craving for good poetry" – Mehboob |url=https://planetbollywood.com/wp/interviews/people-who-listen-to-hindi-film-music-are-craving-for-good-poetry-mehboob/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Planet Bollywood |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Filmography==
*[[Drohi (1992 film)|''Drohi'']] (1992)
*[[Rangeela (1995 film)|''Rangeela'']] (1995)
*[[Bombay (1995 film)|''Bombay'']] (1995) - Hindi dubbed version
*[[Yash (1996 film)|''Yash'']] (1996)
*[[Daud (film)|''Daud'']] (1997)
*[[Vande Mataram (album)|''Vande Mataram'']] (1997) - Non-film album
*''[[Doli Saja Ke Rakhna]]'' (1998)
*''[[Trishakti]]'' (1999)
*''[[Thakshak]]'' (1999)
*[[Rockford (film)|''Rockford'']] (1999)
*''[[Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam]]'' (1999)
*''[[Kadhalar Dhinam]]'' (2000) - Hindi dubbed version
*''[[Khauff]]'' (2000)
*''[[One 2 Ka 4]]'' (2001)
*''[[Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke]]'' (2001)
*''[[Grahan (film)|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|''Lakeer'']] (2004)
*''[[Uuf Kya Jaadoo Mohabbat Hai|Uff Kya Jaadoo Mohabbat Hai]]'' (2004)
*''[[Yuva]]'' (2004)
*''[[Anniyan]]'' (2005) - Hindi dubbed version
*''[[Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha]]'' (2006)
*[[Holiday (2006 film)|''Holiday'']] (2006)
*''[[Iqraar by Chance]]'' (2006)
*''[[Ek Chalis Ki Last Local]]'' (2007)
*''[[Apna Asmaan]]'' (2007)
*[[Contract (2008 film)|''Contract'']] (2008)
*''[[Tahaan]]'' (2008)
*''[[Halla Bol]]'' (2008)
*[[Sirf (film)|''Sirf'']] (2008)
*''[[Lamhaa]]'' (2010)
*''[[Muskurake Dekh Zara]]'' (2010)
*''Itra'' (2015)
*''[[Heropanti 2]]'' (2022)
*''[[Ponniyin Selvan: I]]'' (2022) - Hindi dubbed version

==Awards==
* 1996: [[Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent]] - ''[[Rangeela (1995 film)|Rangeela]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0576392}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotwal, Mehboob}}
[[Category:Musicians from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Marathi-language poets]]
[[Category:Indian male songwriters]]
[[Category:Indian songwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Hindi-language poets]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]

Mehboob Kotwal - Revision history

Bandbaajabarat at 18:13, 28 March 2026