Yogesh Was A Poet First, Then A  Lyricist, Lata Mangeshkar, Nitin Mukesh, Hrishikesh Mukherjee Speak On The Poet

We would probably not have  known about the  death  of  poet-lyricist Yogesh Gaur had  the Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar not tweeted about it. Among the   most  articulate  lyricists  of Hindi cinema, Yogesh  was the quietest.Though he  formed  an  immensely productive partnership with composer  Salil Chowdhary, and this togetherness  yielded one  of Hindi cinema’s  best songs Kahin door jab din dhal jaye in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand, Yogesh   never  got his dues  in  the  Mumbai industry.

His  most enduring and  endearing partnership was  with director Basu Chatterjee .Yogesh wrote lyrics for Basu Chatterjee’s  Rajnigandha,   Chotisi Baat, Manzil, Pasand Apni  Apni,  Baaton Baaton Mein, Priyatam, Uss Paar ,Laakhon Mein  Ek,  Apne Paraye, Shaukeen and Jeena  Yahan.

Lataji remembers  Yogesh’s poetry with great  fondness. “Some of my most cherished songs  were written  by Yogeshji. He  was such a  quiet genius. His words were taken from normal conversation and yet so poetic. My songs Rajnigandha phool tumhare and Na jaane kyon hota hai yun zindagi ke saath from the films Rajnigandha and Chotisi Baat are  popular to this day. But there are  other lesser known songs that Yogeshji wrote for me that were equally beautiful, like  Raaton ke saaye ghane in Annadata, Madhbhari yeh  hawayen in Anokha Daan,Tumne diya piya sab kuch   mujhko pani  preet dayake in Uss Paar . These are among my most beautifully written songs. But my  favourite lyric by Yogeshji is Kahin door  jab din dhal jaye(sung by  Mukesh  in Hrishikesh  Mukherjee’s Anand).”

The  late  Hrishikesh Mukhrejee in whose Mili Yogesh wrote two of his finest  songs  Badi  sooni sooni hai zindagi and  Aaye tum yaad mujhe gaane lagi har dhadkan once told me he  thought  the poet was  shortchanged.  “Yogesh and  I  did Anand  and Mili together  and he wrote so beautifully in both the films. In fact do you know,  Zindagi kaisi hai paheli  was  to be  played in the background for the opening credits in Anand? It was Rajesh Khanna who  insisted on singing it on screen. He felt we were wasting a beautiful song in  the background.And he was right! I wish I had worked  more with Yogesh. But you know how it is  in this  industry. One forms  comfortable partnerships and  misses the  opportunity to work with some great talent in the process. Madan Mohan is a such a  great composer. But I  worked only once(in Bawarchi) with him,” said Hrishida regretfully.

 Many feel  Yogesh’s best  lyrics were sung by Mukesh. Not just the immortal  Kahin door jab din dhal jaye(contrary to  popular belief Yogesh did not write the other popular  Mukesh number  Maine tere liye in Anand which  was by  Gulzar).

Mukesh’s  son  Nitin Mukesh  certainly feels  indebted  to Yogesh. “Such a  sad loss. Yogeshji was  the perfect gentleman  and  so softspoken. And what  an artiste!  In all humility I’d like to  mention  three  of my most favourite songs of Papa where the lyrics played the most important  part  in the  overall  beauty of  the song. These  songs  were Kahin dur jab din dhal jaye in Anand,  Kai baar yuhi dekha hai yeh jo mann ki seema-rekha hai mann todne   lagta hai  in  Chotisi Baat and Nain hamare saanjh sakare  in  Annadata.”

Nitin Mukesh recalls  his father’s fondness  for  Yogesh and his poetry. “Although Yogeshji  was decades junior to Papa,Papa  had great regard for Yogeshji’s work and was  always happy to sing his   poetry.  Amongst  the  great lyric writers  of his times, Yogeshji was  considered  very special by Papa.In fact Papa  won the National award  for Kaee baar yuhi dekha hai which Yogeshji wrote. But if you ask me, my personal favourite song written  by  this underused poetic genius  is Nain hamare saanjh-sakaare  dekhe lahkhon sapne , sapne kabhi sach  honge ya nahin koi jaane naa koi jaane  na yahan….Wah!”

Touche.