Yesudas's first Hindi song was for the movie Jai Jawan Jai Kisan song Dilruba Kya Hua music scored by A.A. Raj, Anand Mahal (1972) but first released song was in the film Choti Si Baath, both with music scored by Salil Chowdhury, a long-standing collaborator. His most popular Hindi songs are from the 1976 movie Chitchor with music given by Ravindra Jain. The greatest tribute paid to him is cited during an interview with Ravindra Jain, wherein the blind music director confessed that if he ever happened to regain vision, the first person he would like to see was Yesudas. Yesudas's greatest association in Hindi was with Ravindra Jain and the duo combined to produce memorable including Oo Goriya re (from the film Naiyya – directed by Prashanth Nanda),Sunayna (from the film Sunayna). The film in which Yesudas sang the most memorable Hindi songs is claimed to be Sawan Ko Aane Do with music given by the notable late Shri Raj Kamal. His most popular songs include Jaanam, Chand jaise mukhde pe and Tujhe Dekh Kar Jagwale Par (from Saawan Ko Aane Do), Kahan se aaye badra (from Chasme Baddoor), and Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa (from Anand Mahal) etc. His song Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein (from Sadma), penned by Academy Award winner lyricist Gulzar, is one of few notable and melodious song written in Lori prose. Yesudas was also nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer thrice: for "Gori Tera Gaon" from Chitchor in 1977, for Ka Karoon Sajni Aye Na Baalam from Swami in 1978, and "Sunayana in Nazaron Ko" from Sunayana and winning the trophy for Dil Ke Tukde Tukde from Dada in 1980.
