Obituary: When Rajesh Khanna requested a lyricist for his song

Strange things have happened in Indian cinema. One among them is seeking a transfer of lyrics from one film to another to suit a particular situation. A Mumbai daily reports one such case. The lyricist was Yogesh Gaur (1943-2020), who passed away today at the ripe age of 77.

It happened thus in 1970s, when Hrishikesh Mukherjee was directing 'Anand' starring Rajesh Khanna in the title role. He heard the lyrics of a song composed for another film and he liked it so much that he and his hero, apart from a newcomer Amitabh Bachchan kept requesting the other director to give it to their venture. Finally, it happened and the song 'Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye' became a major hit among the public.

Hailing from Lucknow, Yogesh had kept a niche slot for himself writing for select directors who made meaningful and family socials. His work too was specialized, limited to around 30 films in a span of four decades but he is remembered for his intricate wordplay.