Avinash Anantarai Vyas (21 July 1912 – 20 August 1984) was an Indian music director, lyricist and singer of Gujarati cinema. Avinash Vyas composed music for more than 190 Gujarati films. He won the Gujarat State Film Award for Best Lyricist and Best Music 25 times. He was conferred with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India in 1970.
Avinash Vyas was born on July 21, 1912 in Gujarat. His father's name was Anandaraya and mother's name was Manibehan. Avinash Vyas received his early musical training from Ustad Allauddin Khan. His career began with HMV under Young India where Avinash Vyas released his first gramophone record in 1940 and made his debut in the film industry with the Gujarati film 'Mahasati Ansuya' in 1943 with famous composer Ustad Alla Rakhan. His first big hit was Gunasundari in 1948, a bilingual film in both Gujarati and Hindi languages.
He has composed over 1200 songs for 190 Hindi and Gujarati films, taking his total number of songs to over 10,000. He worked with most of the leading singers of his time such as Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Asha Bhonsle, Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, Usha Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt, Samuman Kalyanpur, Mukesh, Hemant Kumar, Talat Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor and Usha Mangeshkar. was He composed and composed songs with singers like Qamar Jalalabadi, Indivar, Bharat Vyas and Raja Mehndi Ali Khan. Geeta Dutt was his credited lyricist and she sang more songs in Gujarati films despite being a Bengali.
Avinash Vyas has composed many works in various literary genres like Geet, Ghazal and Garba, but he is most famous for the Garba he wrote. The devotion to Ambaji overflowing in his arms is unmatched for its expression.
Avinash Vyas composed his works himself. His compositions were as poetic as they were melodious. Apart from Sugam Sangeet, he has also composed music in Gujarati films. He rendered the very famous song "Pinjere Ke Panchi Re, Tera Dard Na Jaane Koi" by poet Pradeepji. He was appointed by Kanaiyalal Munshi as the Chairman of the Music Department of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
