Syed Gulrez, a multi-talented writer and lyricist, breathed his last at his Los Angeles home on 4th November. Son of renowned novelist Adil Rashid, he worked with composers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bappi Lahiri, Naushad Ali, Viju Shah, Anu Malik, Bappa Lahiri, Abhishek Ray and Gourov Dasgupta. He recorded many albums for Venus and other international audio companies.
He had written the scripts of Jagmohan Mundhra’s Apartment, Kiran Merchant’s Zara Si Bhool, Joy Augustine’s Miami Se New York and some other films.
As a song writer, he started his film career with Jagmohan Mundhra’s Kamla. Among the other films for which he wrote the lyrics are Vishkanya, Janam Kundli, Aa Dekhen Zara, Aloo Chaat, Victory and Apartment. The book Kuchh Dil Se
has a selection of his shayari.
“He was a spontaneous lyricist,” says Rajesh Rathi, who also started his career as an assistant to Jagmohan Mundhra in Kamla. “During the music sittings with Bappi-da, Gulrez would take me out, light a cigarette and by the time it was over, his lyrics would be ready,” recalled Rajesh, adding, “He would always use me as a bouncing board. His lyrics were catchy and meaningful. And his sense of humour was unbeatable.”