Gujarat’s music fraternity is mourning the death of veteran composer, singer and music arranger Gaurang Vyas, who died in Ahmedabad on the night of 2 September at the age of 87. Over a career spanning several decades, Vyas made a significant contribution to Gujarati cinema, folk music, devotional songs and traditional musical forms. His death has prompted tributes from across the cultural sphere, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vyas was the son of renowned composer and Padma Shri awardee Avinash Vyas, one of the most influential figures in Gujarati music. Despite coming from such a distinguished musical family, Gaurang Vyas established a reputation of his own through his compositions, arrangements and work across several musical genres.
His association with music began at a remarkably young age. At just five, he played the harmonium and performed ‘Vaishnav Jan’, an early indication of the musical path he would eventually pursue. Yet music was not initially his profession.
Vyas began his working life in engineering and was employed by an established organisation. His growing attachment to music eventually led him to leave his job and devote himself entirely to the field. That decision marked the beginning of a long career in Gujarati entertainment and cultural music.
His professional entry into Gujarati cinema came when he worked as an assistant to his father on the film ‘Jesal Toral’. He later established himself as an independent music director with ‘Lakho Fulani’. The film also gave him an opportunity to work with legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar on Gujarati songs.
Over the years, Vyas became associated with more than 100 films. His work extended beyond mainstream cinema, encompassing folk and devotional music as well as traditional Gujarati compositions. His musical contribution was associated with films including Ketan Mehta’s ‘Bhavni Bhavai’, while ‘Maniyaro’, ‘Nasibni Balihari’, ‘Parki Thapan’, ‘Liludi Dharti’ and ‘Maiyar Ma Manadu Nathi Lagtu’ are among the works for which he is remembered.
A notable feature of Vyas’s career was his collaboration with some of India’s most celebrated singers. He worked with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor, Suman Kalyanpur, Bhupinder Singh and Praful Dave. Among his recognised compositions are ‘Maniyaro Te Halu Halu Thai Re Viyo’ and ‘Hu Tu Tu Tu, Jami Ramatni Rutu’.
His musical interests were not confined to films. Vyas also released a number of albums rooted in devotional and folk traditions. These included ‘Jalaramni Jhopdi’, ‘Bhajan Anmol’, ‘Ganga Satina Bhajno’, ‘Kahat Kabir’, ‘Jalaram Bapanu Halardu’, ‘Prachin Prabhatiyan’ and ‘Non-Stop Dandiya-Raas’. Through such projects, he continued to work with musical traditions closely connected to Gujarat’s cultural identity.
Recognition followed throughout his career. Vyas received around 11 state-level awards for best music direction. In 2022, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presented him with a lifetime achievement honour in recognition of his contribution to music. In 2024, the Gujarat State Sangeet Academy and the Gujarat Tourism Department also honoured his work.
Following news of his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Vyas on social media, sharing a photograph of the two together. Modi said Vyas had carried forward the rich musical legacy of his father, Avinash Vyas, while creating a distinct identity for himself within Gujarati music. He also described his death as a loss for Gujarat’s artistic community and expressed condolences to his family and admirers.
For generations of Gujarati listeners, Gaurang Vyas’s work represented a connection between cinema and the region’s wider musical traditions. His career moved comfortably between film compositions, folk melodies and devotional music, allowing him to remain closely connected with different sections of the Gujarati audience.
With his death, Gujarati music has lost a veteran whose career stretched across decades and several musical forms. The songs he composed, the films he worked on and the traditions he helped carry forward now form an enduring part of his artistic legacy.
