Slice Of Life With Lyricist Yogesh Gaur

By Deepa | March 19, 2018

Subtle but sensitive lyrics, no heavy dose of philosophy, asking everyone to be optimistic and uncomplicated, unsophisticated language. That’s lyricist Yogesh Gaur. Yogesh Gaur has always been simple towards his approach of writing. He must have been simple and straightforward in his approach towards life too. His style of writing reflects that. His combination with Salil Chowdhury gave Hindi cinema some of the best songs. There’s was a stupefying combination after Salil-Shailendra. In other words, the essence of Yogesh’s simple lyrics makes him Shailendra’s successor in those terms.

Hailing from Lucknow, Yogesh Gaur, came to Mumbai in search of a job after the untimely demise of his father. The entire responsibility of the house came on the young shoulders of Yogesh who was just 16 then. He had to leave his studies mid way. Searching for a job in Mumbai, he approached his cousin dialogue and screenplay writer Vrajendra Gaur, only to find no help from him. Yogesh was also accompanied by his childhood friend Satyaprakash Tiwari, who insisted that Yogesh was made for film industry and should not give up. So it was settled between them that his friend will earn doing odd jobs while Yogesh should try to set his footing in the industry. All the agony, the pain, the anxiety of waiting for an opportunity came out in the form of poems which Yogesh scribbled everyday. It was while sharing his diary with music composer Robin Banerjee, that he was coaxed into writing lyrics for a tune Banerjee had created. Thus he finally made his debut in a C-grade film Sakhi Robin (1962). Yogesh was just 19. Thereafter, Yogesh began writing for C-grade films like Flying Circus, Marvel Men, Rustom Kaun and Husn Ka Ghulam. But he still had to struggle for a chance. Stardom finally arrived after almost a decade with Anand (1971). His rapport with middle stream filmmakers like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee was well set. Yet Yogesh remains an underrated lyricist. His was the case of reveal the art but conceal the artist. People are well versed with his songs from Anand, Rajnigandha, Mili, Chhoti Si Baat but are unaware that he was the lyricist behind these beautiful songs. What remains surprising and commendable is that even after struggling in life from a vulnerable age, Yogesh does not have any bitterness towards life. His lines, his talks have always hinted towards optimism in life. In tune with the middle stream cinema, Yogesh has portrayed life and its finer nuances in simple, sensitive but profound way. His words reflected the day to day struggle, happiness, agony, pain of a common man. He offered a slice of life from a common man’s point of view and hit the chord instantly with the music lovers.

Here’s a list of few such slice of life songs by Yogesh Gaur. Which is your favourite?

1. Anand (1971) –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw46YMgFmBY

2. Annadaata (1972) –

3. Rajnigandha (1974) –

4. Mili (1975) –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1fbP4hz_s

5. Chhoti Si Baat (1976) –

6. Chala Murari Hero Banane (1977) –

7. Priyatama (1977) –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u4RCyrqqhk

8. Manzil (1979) –

9. Apne Paraye (1980) –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLJ-Q5TdFA

10. Rang Birangi (1983) –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ktlirQ9IoE