Amit Khanna, Ila Arun, Kausar Munir, Mayur Puri and Panchhi Jalonvi form the jury

Screenwriters Association (SWA), the Indian guild of screenwriters and lyricists, unveiled today the final jury which has selected nominees and winners of the Lyrics category of SWA Awards, 2020. The first ever SWA Awards to honour writers of Hindi feature films, TV shows, web series and lyrics will be held online on September 27, 2020.

The jury comprises of eminent lyricists such as Amit Khanna (Chalte Chalte, Des Pardes), Ila Arun (Mandi, Well Done Abba!), Kausar Munir (Ishaqzaade, Bajrangi Bhaijaan), Mayur Puri (Pyar Ke Side Effects, Any Body Can Dance) and Panchhi Jalonvi (Ra.One, Baaghi 3).

Highlighting the importance of songs in Indian cinema, Robin Bhatt, President, SWA, said, `Antaras and mukhdas of iconic songs have stayed in our hearts long after the curtains fell. It is time to honour and celebrate those incredible lyricists whose poetry gives language to the hidden feelings of the average person.`

SWA Awards 2020 will select two winners for the Lyrics category: Best Lyricist for Feature Film and Best Lyricist for TV Serial/Web Series. From 146 entries across Hindi feature films and TV serials/web series released in 2019, the three-member pre-jury shortlisted 15 contenders for each category. From among those 30, the final jury then selected five nominees for each category. These will be announced online on September 10, 2020.

Sridhar Rangayan, Chairperson, SWA Awards Committee, said, `Even as lyricists are currently fighting for their due credit on online platforms, we at SWA would like to acknowledge and celebrate their work. SWA is confident that the selections are perfect as the Lyrics pre-jury and the Lyrics final jury consists of very eminent lyricists.`

Applauding SWA Awards, Amit Khanna, lyricist, singer, producer and jury member, said, `These awards, judged by the writers' own peers, will in the years to come become the hallmark of excellence in filmed entertainment.`

Ila Arun, singer, lyricist and actor as well as jury member, said, `The jury didn't see the song in isolation but valued it vis-a-vis the story of the film. The process was transparent and lengthy, and the final decision was unanimous.` Panchhi Jalonvi, lyricist and jury member, said, `It is a matter of pride for all of us that SWA, the most respected organization in the Hindi film industry, which has been committed to the rights of screenwriters for the last sixty years, is now launching SWA Awards for and by the writers.`

Mayur Puri, screenwriter, lyricist, filmmaker and jury member, said, "Respect of one's peers is the highest form of recognition an artist can have.`

Each jury member read the lyrics and heard the shortlisted songs individually, marking scores according to a pre-determined set of criteria, focusing on the merit of the craft, ignoring the song's popularity or commercial success. Then, in the online jury meeting, they jointly deliberated on their choices to finally come up with the list of nominees and winners.

Summing up the experience, Kausar Munir, lyricist and jury member, said, `The first-ever SWA Awards are truly democratic because they are of, by and for the writers. I hope, in years to come, they become a binding and bonding platform for the screenwriters' community.`

SWA is holding the first ever SWA Awards on the occasion of its Diamond Jubilee year in 2020. Since they are judged by knowledgeable screenwriters and lyricists, these awards promise to become the most coveted validation for writers in India, much like the awards of other prestigious international writers' guilds and literary organisations. Originally scheduled to be held in Mumbai on May 16 this year, the ceremony will now be held online to protect the health and safety of all participants and attendees during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, on September 27th at SWA's social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swaindiaorg and YouTube: http://youtube.com/screenwritersassociation

The Screenwriters Association (formerly Film Writers' Association) is a trade union of screenwriters and lyricists who write Films, TV and Digital Media in India. With a membership of over 25,000 writers, SWA safeguards the interests, rights, compensation and privileges of its members in all matters relating to their professional engagement and working conditions. It has been working for the last 60 years to get the Indian film and TV industries to acknowledge the central role of writers through collective bargaining, legal assistance, mediation and settlement of disputes and education.

About the Lyrics Jury Panel

AMIT KHANNA is an eminent lyricist, poet, director, film producer, author and journalist. He has written lyrics for 400 films & non-film songs for films like Chalte Chalte, Swami and Agnichakra. He has also produced the National Award winning films Gudia and Sardari Begum.

ILA ARUN is an actor and Rajasthani folk Singer known for her mesmerizing husky voice. She has acted in several films such as Jodha Akbar, Begum Jaan and the recently released Ghoomketu. Some of her most popular songs are Choli ke Peeche and Ringa Ringa from the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

KAUSAR MUNIR is a contemporary award-winning lyrics, dialogue and screen-writer for the Indian film and television industry. Her lyrical contributions include films like Ishqzaade, Ek Tha Tiger, Dhoom 3, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Dear Zindagi, Meri Pyaari Bindu, Tubelight, Secret Superstar, Padman, and many more. Her releases this year (2020) include Amazon Series The Forgotten Army, and Netflix releases Yeh Ballet, Guilty and Gunjan Saxena.

MAYUR PURI is a professional storyteller, screenwriter, lyricist & filmmaker working in Mumbai for two decades now. He has written over 100 songs and scripted blockbusters like Om Shanti Om and ABCD. His directorial short feature Firdaws was selected in over 36 international festivals. He has also written Hindi Dialogues for several Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Netflix movies/series including the Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Lion King. PANCHHI JALONVI is a lyricist working in the Hindi Film Industry. He is well known for writing the songs for films like Dus, Ra.One and Yeh Hai Bakrapur.