O. P. Nayyar
Encyclopedia
Omkar Prasad Nayyar was an India
n film music director
and composer born in Lahore
, India
, now in modern day Pakistan
. He was particularly acclaimed for his peppy numbers.
's Aar Paar
(1954), Mr. & Mrs. '55
(1955), C.I.D. (1956), and Tumsa Nahin Dekha
(1958). O.P. went on to notch up even higher distinction through his compositions for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon
and Mere Sanam
. The former movie included his enormously popular song, Bandaa Parwar, Thaamlo Jigar, while the latter included Jaayiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge and Pukaarataa Chalaa Hoon Main. Some months later, his scores for the movie, Kashmir Ki Kali
, once again gained high popularity.
O.P. is reported to have commanded the highest fees in the Hindi movie music world at the height of his reign as a composer . He was the first Hindi music director to receive 100,000 rupees for his compositions for a movie. It was a very substantial sum of money in the 1950s.
O.P. was known to have a stubborn individuality, and traits of aloofness and imperiousness. However, he was always generous with struggling newcomers and artists who had been marginalized in the movie industry. The press was always deferential to him, and frequently referred to him as a "rebel" composer. Many columnists too labeled him as a maverick. Judging from his combative performance in various TV talk shows later on, O.P. seemed to enjoy those epithets.
During the 1950s, the state-controlled All India Radio
found O.P. too "trendy", and put for quite some time a ban on broadcasting most of his tunes. He seemed to have remained undaunted by this highhanded government order, and went on to create more, similar tunes, and most of them continued to receive national popularity. The far-away Radio Ceylon
, (which later transformed into Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), was at that time the only source from which O.P.'s new hits could be heard. Soon the English language press began referring to him with the honorific, "maestro", though Opee was still very young then.
, Asha Bhosle
, and Mohammed Rafi
, and was instrumental in building their careers. Some Bollywood
observers maintained that Asha Bhosle was his find and that he groomed her specially for his tunes. Many of his compositions which Asha sang are memorable and have a contemporary flair.
O.P. never worked with Lata Mangeshkar
, the melody queen. After a breakup with Mohammed Rafi, Opee started to work with Mahendra Kapoor
, an upcoming male singer. He also worked in the movie, Sambandh, with Mukesh, who was the favorite playback singer of Raj Kapoor
. Based on one of Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali compositions, O.P. composed the song, Chal Akelaa, Chal Akelaa, sung by Mukesh. The same movie also included a memorable baritone rendering by Hemant Kumar, who was both a top-notch singer and a renowned Bollywood composer in his own right. Like many other movies for which Opee provided scores, Sambandh is remembered mostly because of its music.
Mahendra Kapoor sang O.P.'s compositions, displaying much depth of feelings, and provided cadence and rhythm to O.P.'s style. His rendering of the song for Dharmendra
, Badal Jaaye Agar Maali, Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali in Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi was an instant hit.
O.P. recognized very early in the career of Kishore Kumar
his talent as a singer. Both movies, Baap Re Baap and Raagini contain many Kishore Kumar hits in the inimitable O.P. style. Regrettably, a cordial relationship between Opee and Kishore Kumar did not endure.
O.P. did produce great hits with Shamshad Begum, notably "Kajra Mohabbatwala" even when she was not in demand.
In the black-and-white movie era, Madhubala
, who could provide a distinct, stylized performance for O.P.'s songs became O.P.'s favorite heroine. After her untimely death, heroines like Vyjayanthimala
, Mala Sinha
, Padmini
, Asha Parekh
, and Sharmila Tagore
lip-synced several of the O.P.-Asha Bhosle numbers, and a large number of those songs gained high popularity.
O.P. and Asha Bhosle parted ways in 1974, and that parting impacted O.P. for the rest of his life. After the breakup, he tried to work with several good singers, including Dilraj Kaur, Alka Yagnik, Krishna Kale, Vani Jayaram
, and Kavita Krishanmurthy, but the magic in his work somehow seemed to have long gone. Almost until his last days, he would often refer to Asha as a singing sensation. Embittered Asha, on the other hand, practically ignored him after the breakup, and held the thought that she was beholden to no single composer.
On the part of Asha, she went on to become a widely popular singer while working with many other composers, including, most notably, R D Burman, who gave her voice a special dimension.
Majrooh Sultanpuri
and Sahir Ludhianvi
wrote some memorable lyrics for some of O.P.'s earlier compositions such as in Naya Daur. However, generally keeping clear of established song writers of his time, O.P. experimented with different upcoming lyricists like Jan Nisar Akhtar
, Qamar Jalalabadi
, Shamshul Huda Bihari, and Ahmed Wasi
, who tried to write the lyrics that would match the sensuous tunes which O.P. would have in his mind. In the tradition of the great composers in India, O.P. was fond of the poetic flourish of the Urdu language for his more serious songs. The Rafi rendering, Dil ki Awaz Bhi Sun, Mere Fasane pe Na Jaa in Humsaya is one of Opee's haunting scores.
O.P.'s wife, Saroj Mohini Nayyar, is an accomplished lyricist. She wrote the C H Atma song, Preetam Aan Milo, which launched O.P. into the big league of Bollywood composers.
O.P. started the tradition of assigning to comedians full three-minute long songs, some of which proved even more popular than the songs sung by the heroes themselves. These supporting actors also received excellent reviews. Thus, comedian Om Prakash
sang O.P.'s composition, Churi Bane Kanta Bane Oo My Son in Jaali Note
. Comedian Johnny Walker
sang O.P.'s popular song, Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan in C.I.D., "Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee" (Mr. & Mrs. 55), and Main Bambaika Baaboo, Naam Meraa Anjaanaa in Naya Daur
. There was later a movie titled Johnny Walker where Johnny Walker himself was the hero. Along with some other numbers in the last movie, Asha Bhosle/Gita Dutt's, Thandi Thandi Hawaa in it is memorable.
Rhythm was O.P.'s specialty. His spirited composition, Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanonkaa featuring Dilip Kumar
and Ajit in Naya Daur
(1957) is an all-time favorite in India even after fifty years. Lata Mangeshkar once said that her most favorite O.P.-Asha Bhosle tune was Aao Huzoor Tumko Sitaaromein Le Chale in Kismet. The last Opee composition which Asha sang was Chain Se Humko Kabhi. It was meant to be included in the movie, Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
(1974), but it was dropped in the final version of the movie. However, it became an O.P. classic, and it won Asha a Filmfare Best Playback Singer Award.
According to some critics, O.P. did not choose his movies well and wasted some of his superb tunes on B-grade actors like Joy Mukherjee
, Biswajeet, and Babita
. Though O.P. was still active in his musical career in the 1960s and '70s, to the regrets of his fans, O.P. did not compose music for the then superstar Rajesh Khanna
or budding Amitabh Bachchan
. O.P. also did not provide music for movies starring heroes of the day like Sanjeev Kumar
, Shashi Kapoor
, and Jitendra
. Again, with the exception of Rekha, O.P. did not compose music for heroines like Hema Malini
, Rakhee, or Zeenat Aman
, who were all well known around the time he could have made a re-entry as a top composer. O. P. gave music to only one movie with Raj Kapoor (Do Ustad).
Another Bollywood maestro, S D Burman, was far more successful as a composer. Twenty years Opee's senior, the mild mannered Sachin Dev Burman composed exquisite tunes for a succession of Bollywood stars despite a long-lasting breakup with Lata Mangeshkar. With Asha Bhosle singing for Nargis
his mellifluent composition, Koi Aayaa Dhadkan Kehti Hai in Lajwanti, S D Burman had all but declared that he was Asha's new mentor. O.P. held Burman in high esteem and was reported to have said that the Burman-Lata solo for Waheeda Rehman
in Guide
, Aaj Phir Jeeneki Tamannaa Hai, was the best ever song in Hindi for its sheer evocative beauty and matching lyrical lines.
Apart from Hindi films, O.P. also composed music for a few South Indian movies, including Neerajanam in Telugu
. Even though in 1988 Neerajanam was a flop at box office, the music was such a rage that it created a record for the most sold album in south until over taken by A.R.Rahman's Roja.
O.P. faded from the Bollywood scene in early 1970s, though he made a comeback attempt in the 1990s --- "Mangni" and "Nishchaiy" in 1992 and "Zid" in 1994.
were two among them. Gajendra Singh included Opee as a judge for his successful TV show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Ahmed Wasi
interviewed O.P. twice for Vividh Bharati and presented his life-sketch through six hour-long episodes collectively titled as Mujhe Yaad Sab Hai Zaraa Zaraa.
For some years before his death, O.P. had been estranged from his family members to the extent that he had requested that they be not allowed to attend his funeral. Following the estrangement, he had moved out of his house at Marine Drive in Mumbai (Bombay), leaving his family behind, and begun to stay at a friend's place in the suburb of Virar. A month before his death, he had moved to yet another friend's place in Thane.
O.P. died on 28 January 2007 through cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son.
On his death, tributes came from many prominent Bollywood figures, including Lata Mangeshkar
, B R Chopra, Shammi Kapoor
, Sharmila Tagore
, Mumtaz
, Mahesh Bhatt
, Khayyam
, Shakti Samanta
, Sonu Nigam
, Ravindra Jain
, and Anu Malik
.
Non-Filmy Album Labels as follows:
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and composer born in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, now in modern day Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was particularly acclaimed for his peppy numbers.
Career
O. P. Nayyar ( "O.P." ) started his career as a movie music composer by composing the background score for the movie Kaneez (1949). Aasmaan (1952), produced by Dalsukh M. Pancholi was O.P.Nayyar's first film as independent music director, after which he composed music for Chham Chhama Chham (1952) and Baaz (1953) but all these 3 movies couldn't make any impact on viewers. He started receiving increasing public recognition from his compositions for Guru DuttGuru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
's Aar Paar
Aar Paar
Aar-Paar is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film. Directed by Guru Dutt, the film has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. A light-hearted film , Aar-Paar stars Johnny Walker, Shyama, Shakila, Jagdeep, Jagdish Sethi, Bir Sakuja, Rajendra, Amir Banu, Rashid Khan, M.A...
(1954), Mr. & Mrs. '55
Mr. & Mrs. '55
Mr. & Mrs. '55 is a 1955 Bollywood film by director Guru Dutt. Guru Dutt stars alongside Madhubala, supported by Lalita Pawar, Johnny Walker and Jagdeep in this socially critical romantic comedy set in contemporary Bombay. The films music is by O. P...
(1955), C.I.D. (1956), and Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha - The Love Story is a Bollywood Romance film directed by Anurag Basu, while produced by Mukesh Bhatt. The film stars Emraan Hashmi and Diya Mirza in lead roles as Anupam Kher, Sharat Saxena and Surekha Sikri in supporting roles...
(1958). O.P. went on to notch up even higher distinction through his compositions for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon is a 1963 Indian Bollywood film. The film became a superhit at the box office. This was Nasir Hussain's second production, the first being Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai. He also wrote and directed it. It starred Joy Mukherjee and the Nasir Hussain fixture Asha Parekh...
and Mere Sanam
Mere Sanam
Mere Sanam was a Hindi film released in 1965 Hindi film starring Asha Parekh, Biswajeet, Pran, Rajindernath and Mumtaz. The film was a hit at the box office. The ear-pleasing music and beautiful locations were mostly responsible for the film's success. The story line and direction were also good,...
. The former movie included his enormously popular song, Bandaa Parwar, Thaamlo Jigar, while the latter included Jaayiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge and Pukaarataa Chalaa Hoon Main. Some months later, his scores for the movie, Kashmir Ki Kali
Kashmir Ki Kali
Kashmir Ki Kali is a 1964 Indian film directed by Shakti Samanta.-Plot:Wealthy and pampered Rajiv Lal is the only son of widowed Rani Maa. She would like him to get married and starts receiving proposals from all over the country. She meets with and interviews various prospective brides, and picks...
, once again gained high popularity.
O.P. is reported to have commanded the highest fees in the Hindi movie music world at the height of his reign as a composer . He was the first Hindi music director to receive 100,000 rupees for his compositions for a movie. It was a very substantial sum of money in the 1950s.
O.P. was known to have a stubborn individuality, and traits of aloofness and imperiousness. However, he was always generous with struggling newcomers and artists who had been marginalized in the movie industry. The press was always deferential to him, and frequently referred to him as a "rebel" composer. Many columnists too labeled him as a maverick. Judging from his combative performance in various TV talk shows later on, O.P. seemed to enjoy those epithets.
During the 1950s, the state-controlled All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
found O.P. too "trendy", and put for quite some time a ban on broadcasting most of his tunes. He seemed to have remained undaunted by this highhanded government order, and went on to create more, similar tunes, and most of them continued to receive national popularity. The far-away Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
, (which later transformed into Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), was at that time the only source from which O.P.'s new hits could be heard. Soon the English language press began referring to him with the honorific, "maestro", though Opee was still very young then.
Artists
O.P. worked extensively with Geeta DuttGeeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
, Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
, and Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi
Mohammad Rafi , was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. He was awarded National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India....
, and was instrumental in building their careers. Some Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
observers maintained that Asha Bhosle was his find and that he groomed her specially for his tunes. Many of his compositions which Asha sang are memorable and have a contemporary flair.
O.P. never worked with Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, the melody queen. After a breakup with Mohammed Rafi, Opee started to work with Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor was an Indian playback singer.In a career spanning five decades, his repertoire extended to 25,000 songs in various regional languages, including memorable hits like ‘Chalo ek baar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono’ Gumrah, ‘Neele gagan ke taale’ Hamraaz, and in various...
, an upcoming male singer. He also worked in the movie, Sambandh, with Mukesh, who was the favorite playback singer of Raj Kapoor
Raj Kapoor
Known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
. Based on one of Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali compositions, O.P. composed the song, Chal Akelaa, Chal Akelaa, sung by Mukesh. The same movie also included a memorable baritone rendering by Hemant Kumar, who was both a top-notch singer and a renowned Bollywood composer in his own right. Like many other movies for which Opee provided scores, Sambandh is remembered mostly because of its music.
Mahendra Kapoor sang O.P.'s compositions, displaying much depth of feelings, and provided cadence and rhythm to O.P.'s style. His rendering of the song for Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
, Badal Jaaye Agar Maali, Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali in Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi was an instant hit.
O.P. recognized very early in the career of Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
his talent as a singer. Both movies, Baap Re Baap and Raagini contain many Kishore Kumar hits in the inimitable O.P. style. Regrettably, a cordial relationship between Opee and Kishore Kumar did not endure.
O.P. did produce great hits with Shamshad Begum, notably "Kajra Mohabbatwala" even when she was not in demand.
In the black-and-white movie era, Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
, who could provide a distinct, stylized performance for O.P.'s songs became O.P.'s favorite heroine. After her untimely death, heroines like Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
, Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha is an Indian actress, who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her acting talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early fifties till late seventies...
, Padmini
Padmini (actress)
Padmini was an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer who has acted in over 250 Indian films. She has acted in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language films...
, Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
, and Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore is an Indian film actress. She has won National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards for her performances.She has led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011...
lip-synced several of the O.P.-Asha Bhosle numbers, and a large number of those songs gained high popularity.
O.P. and Asha Bhosle parted ways in 1974, and that parting impacted O.P. for the rest of his life. After the breakup, he tried to work with several good singers, including Dilraj Kaur, Alka Yagnik, Krishna Kale, Vani Jayaram
Vani Jayaram
Vani Jayaram , the unmatched nightingle of India, is a prominent Indian female playback singer. She has recorded more than 8,000 songs in 14 different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi...
, and Kavita Krishanmurthy, but the magic in his work somehow seemed to have long gone. Almost until his last days, he would often refer to Asha as a singing sensation. Embittered Asha, on the other hand, practically ignored him after the breakup, and held the thought that she was beholden to no single composer.
On the part of Asha, she went on to become a widely popular singer while working with many other composers, including, most notably, R D Burman, who gave her voice a special dimension.
Majrooh Sultanpuri
Majrooh Sultanpuri
Majrooh Sultanpuri was an Urdu poet, lyricist and songwriter...
and Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist and songwriter. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym...
wrote some memorable lyrics for some of O.P.'s earlier compositions such as in Naya Daur. However, generally keeping clear of established song writers of his time, O.P. experimented with different upcoming lyricists like Jan Nisar Akhtar
Jan Nisar Akhtar
Jan Nisar Akhtar was an important 20th century Indian poet of Urdu ghazals and nazms, and a part of the Progressive Writers' Movement, who was also a lyricist for Bollywood....
, Qamar Jalalabadi
Qamar Jalalabadi
Qamar Jalalabadi , also known as Qamar Jalabadi , was a writer, particularly of soundtracks of Bollywood movies.-Early life:...
, Shamshul Huda Bihari, and Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi is not an anonymous name in the field of Urdu literature and Hindi film music. He has been associated with the Hindi film music in two ways. One is that he is himself a lyricist and second that being a radio announcer he was always in touch with the film songs.-Early years:Ahmed Wasi...
, who tried to write the lyrics that would match the sensuous tunes which O.P. would have in his mind. In the tradition of the great composers in India, O.P. was fond of the poetic flourish of the Urdu language for his more serious songs. The Rafi rendering, Dil ki Awaz Bhi Sun, Mere Fasane pe Na Jaa in Humsaya is one of Opee's haunting scores.
O.P.'s wife, Saroj Mohini Nayyar, is an accomplished lyricist. She wrote the C H Atma song, Preetam Aan Milo, which launched O.P. into the big league of Bollywood composers.
O.P. started the tradition of assigning to comedians full three-minute long songs, some of which proved even more popular than the songs sung by the heroes themselves. These supporting actors also received excellent reviews. Thus, comedian Om Prakash
Om Prakash
Om Prakash was an Indian character actor. He was born in Jammu as Om Prakash Chibber. He used to play the role of Kamla in the stage play by the famous Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj Koliwada. Starting his career in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of...
sang O.P.'s composition, Churi Bane Kanta Bane Oo My Son in Jaali Note
Jaali Note
Jaali Note is a 1960 Hindi film directed by Shakti Samanta, based on theme of counterfeit money. It stars Dev Anand along with Madhubala, Om Prakash, Madan Puri, and Helen.Films' music was by O.P...
. Comedian Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker (actor)
Johnny Walker is the screen name of an Indian movie comedian, who acted in over 300 movies. He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore, India, the son of a mill worker. The family shifted to Mumbai when the textile mill his father worked in closed...
sang O.P.'s popular song, Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan in C.I.D., "Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee" (Mr. & Mrs. 55), and Main Bambaika Baaboo, Naam Meraa Anjaanaa in Naya Daur
Naya Daur
Naya Daur is a 1957 Indian drama film starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007.-Plot:...
. There was later a movie titled Johnny Walker where Johnny Walker himself was the hero. Along with some other numbers in the last movie, Asha Bhosle/Gita Dutt's, Thandi Thandi Hawaa in it is memorable.
Rhythm was O.P.'s specialty. His spirited composition, Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanonkaa featuring Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
and Ajit in Naya Daur
Naya Daur
Naya Daur is a 1957 Indian drama film starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007.-Plot:...
(1957) is an all-time favorite in India even after fifty years. Lata Mangeshkar once said that her most favorite O.P.-Asha Bhosle tune was Aao Huzoor Tumko Sitaaromein Le Chale in Kismet. The last Opee composition which Asha sang was Chain Se Humko Kabhi. It was meant to be included in the movie, Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye is a 1974 Hindi film produced by Ratan Mohan and directed by S. Ali Raza. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Rekha, Iftekhar, Premnath, Jeevan, Bindu, Madan Puri, Ranjeet and Jayshree T. The film's music is by O. P. Nayyar.-Awards:...
(1974), but it was dropped in the final version of the movie. However, it became an O.P. classic, and it won Asha a Filmfare Best Playback Singer Award.
According to some critics, O.P. did not choose his movies well and wasted some of his superb tunes on B-grade actors like Joy Mukherjee
Joy Mukherjee
- Family Background :Main article: Mukherjee-Samarth familyJoy Mukherjee is the son of Sashadhar Mukherjee and Sati Devi. His father was a successful producer and a co-founder of Filmalaya Studios. His paternal uncle is director Subodh Mukherjee, whilst his maternal uncles were Ashok Kumar and...
, Biswajeet, and Babita
Babita
Babita is an Indian actress. She is now better known as the mother of actresses Kareena Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor and the wife of Randhir Kapoor.- Early life :...
. Though O.P. was still active in his musical career in the 1960s and '70s, to the regrets of his fans, O.P. did not compose music for the then superstar Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
or budding Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
. O.P. also did not provide music for movies starring heroes of the day like Sanjeev Kumar
Sanjeev Kumar (actor)
Sanjeev Kumar was one of the most prominent Indian actors in Bollywood.-Personal life and background:Sanjeev Kumar was born as Jariwala in Gujarat to a Gujarati family. His first home was in Surat and family based in Mumbai. A stint in the film school took him to Bollywood, where he eventually...
, Shashi Kapoor
Shashi Kapoor
Shashi Kapoor , born Balbir-Raj Prithviraj Kapoor on 18 March 1938 in Calcutta , is an award-winning Indian film actor and film producer. He has also been film director and assistant director in Hindi Films. He is a member of the Kapoor family, a film dynasty in India's Bollywood cinema...
, and Jitendra
Jitendra
Jitendra is a common given name for males in India.Jitendra is derived from two words jeet + indra which means the one who has won Indra. The word 'Jitendra' is actually originated from 'Jitendriya' which means "one who has conquered the senses"...
. Again, with the exception of Rekha, O.P. did not compose music for heroines like Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
, Rakhee, or Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman is an Indian actress who has appeared in Hindi films, notably in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970...
, who were all well known around the time he could have made a re-entry as a top composer. O. P. gave music to only one movie with Raj Kapoor (Do Ustad).
Another Bollywood maestro, S D Burman, was far more successful as a composer. Twenty years Opee's senior, the mild mannered Sachin Dev Burman composed exquisite tunes for a succession of Bollywood stars despite a long-lasting breakup with Lata Mangeshkar. With Asha Bhosle singing for Nargis
Nargis
Nargis Dutt , born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna...
his mellifluent composition, Koi Aayaa Dhadkan Kehti Hai in Lajwanti, S D Burman had all but declared that he was Asha's new mentor. O.P. held Burman in high esteem and was reported to have said that the Burman-Lata solo for Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
in Guide
Guide (film)
Guide is a 1965 Hindi film starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. It was directed by Vijay Anand, who also contributed to the screenplay. The film is based on the critically acclaimed novel, The Guide, by R. K. Narayan, and is widely considered to be one of the masterpieces of the Indian film...
, Aaj Phir Jeeneki Tamannaa Hai, was the best ever song in Hindi for its sheer evocative beauty and matching lyrical lines.
Apart from Hindi films, O.P. also composed music for a few South Indian movies, including Neerajanam in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
. Even though in 1988 Neerajanam was a flop at box office, the music was such a rage that it created a record for the most sold album in south until over taken by A.R.Rahman's Roja.
O.P. faded from the Bollywood scene in early 1970s, though he made a comeback attempt in the 1990s --- "Mangni" and "Nishchaiy" in 1992 and "Zid" in 1994.
Personal life
During his retirement, O.P. stayed in touch with only a few select friends. Gajendra Singh and Ahmed WasiAhmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi is not an anonymous name in the field of Urdu literature and Hindi film music. He has been associated with the Hindi film music in two ways. One is that he is himself a lyricist and second that being a radio announcer he was always in touch with the film songs.-Early years:Ahmed Wasi...
were two among them. Gajendra Singh included Opee as a judge for his successful TV show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi is not an anonymous name in the field of Urdu literature and Hindi film music. He has been associated with the Hindi film music in two ways. One is that he is himself a lyricist and second that being a radio announcer he was always in touch with the film songs.-Early years:Ahmed Wasi...
interviewed O.P. twice for Vividh Bharati and presented his life-sketch through six hour-long episodes collectively titled as Mujhe Yaad Sab Hai Zaraa Zaraa.
For some years before his death, O.P. had been estranged from his family members to the extent that he had requested that they be not allowed to attend his funeral. Following the estrangement, he had moved out of his house at Marine Drive in Mumbai (Bombay), leaving his family behind, and begun to stay at a friend's place in the suburb of Virar. A month before his death, he had moved to yet another friend's place in Thane.
O.P. died on 28 January 2007 through cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son.
On his death, tributes came from many prominent Bollywood figures, including Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, B R Chopra, Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....
, Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore is an Indian film actress. She has won National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards for her performances.She has led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011...
, Mumtaz
Mumtaz
Mumtaz is an Arabic name commonly used in various countries in the Muslim world such as Afghanistan, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey, it can also be used as a female name...
, Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt , is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed films, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam and Zakhm....
, Khayyam
Mohammed Zahur Khayyam
Mohammed Zahur "Khayyam" Hashmi, better known as Khayyam, is an Indian music composer whose career spanned four decades .He has won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhie and 1982 for Umrao Jaan, and a lifetime achievement award in 2010...
, Shakti Samanta
Shakti Samanta
Shakti Samanta was an Indian film director and producer, who founded Shakti Films in 1957, which is most known for films like Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening in Paris, Kati Patang and Amar Prem.He received Filmfare Awards for Best Film for Aradhana, Anuraag and Amanush,...
, Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Hindi movies, as well as films in Assamese, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada language. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films...
, Ravindra Jain
Ravindra Jain
Ravindra Jain is an Indian music composer and lyricist. He won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1985.-Early life:...
, and Anu Malik
Anu Malik
Anu Malik , born Anwar Sardaar Malik, is a famous music director in the Hindi film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malek, Anu Malik made his debut as a music composer in the year 1977. After a considerable period of struggle, the 90's welcomed Anu with hits like 'Phir Teri Kahani...
.
Partial filmography
The following are a few of his major hits in Alphabetical order:- 12 O'Clock12 o'clock12 o'clock usually refers to a clock position on the 12-hour clock, either noon - 12 o'clock in the daytime - or midnight - 12 o'clock in the nighttime.It may also be:* A Wu-Tang Clan affiliate, 12 O'Clock.* A community in Quinte West-See also:...
(1958) - Aasman (1952)
- Aar PaarAar PaarAar-Paar is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film. Directed by Guru Dutt, the film has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. A light-hearted film , Aar-Paar stars Johnny Walker, Shyama, Shakila, Jagdeep, Jagdish Sethi, Bir Sakuja, Rajendra, Amir Banu, Rashid Khan, M.A...
(1954) - Aisa Bhi Hota Hai (1971)
- Akalmand (1966)
- Baap Re Baap (1955)
- BaazBaazBaaz is an Hindi film released in 1953, directed by Guru Dutt. This film is Guru Dutt's first starring film, an action film packed with adventure staged mainly on a ship.-Plot:The 16th century, the Malabar Coast...
(1953) - Bhaagam Bhaag (1952)
- Badey Sarkar (1957)
- Basant (1960) (Bajewala, A Tribute Song to Indian Cinema, in which shares tribute with S. D. Burman, Shankar JaiKishan and Naushad)
- Bin Maa ke Bachche (1979)
- Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi (1966)
- Chacha Zindabad (1959) (Great Comedy with Om Prakash and Kishore Kumar)
- C.I.D.C.I.D.C.I.D. is a 1956 Indian Hindi film. Produced by Guru Dutt, it was directed by Raj Khosla. It stars Dev Anand, Shakila, Johnny Walker, K. N. Singh and Waheeda Rehman. The movie was a crime thriller and has Dev playing a police inspector investigating a case. The music is by O. P. Nayyar and the...
(1956) - C. I. D. - 909 (1967)
- Chham Chham Chham (1952)
- Choo Mantar (1956)
- Dhake Ki Malmal (1954)
- Dil Aur Mohabbat (1968)
- Do Dilon Ki Dastan (1967)
- Do Ustad (1959)
- Duniya Rang Rangilee (1957)
- Dus LakhDus LakhDus Lakh is a Bollywood Comedy movie released in 1966. It had music by Ravi & the starcast included Om Prakash, Sanjay Khan, Babita, Manorama, Helen, Pran, Ramesh Deo, Seema, Neetu Singh & others....
(1966) - Ek Bar Muskurado (1972)
- Ek Musafir Ek HasinaEk Musafir Ek HasinaEk Musafir Ek Hasina is a 1962 Bollywood film. The film is produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee and directed by Raj Khosla. The film stars the producer's son Joy Mukherjee with Sadhana and Rajendranath. The film's music is by O.P. Nayyar. The film became a "superhit," taking a second top spot at the...
(1962) - Farishta (1957)
- Heera Moti (1978)
- Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(1962) - Howrah BridgeHowrah BridgeThe Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it links the city of Howrah to its twin city, Kolkata . On 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu, after Rabindranath...
(1958) - Humsaaya (1968)
- Hum Sab Chor HainHum Sab Chor HainHum Sab Chor Hain is the title of several Hindi films:*Ham Sab Chor Hain *Hum Sab Chor Hain *Ham Sab Chor Hain...
(1956) - Jaali NoteJaali NoteJaali Note is a 1960 Hindi film directed by Shakti Samanta, based on theme of counterfeit money. It stars Dev Anand along with Madhubala, Om Prakash, Madan Puri, and Helen.Films' music was by O.P...
(1960) - Johnny Walker (1956)
- Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujaala (1958)
- Kahin Din Kahin Rat (1968)
- KalpanaKalpanaKalpana is a Sanskrit word that means "creativity" and "imagination" in Marathi, Hindi and Nepali. It is also a popular female Hindu name.It may also refer to:* Kalpana , at NASAs Ames Research Center...
(1960) - Kaneez (1949) (Debut or First Film)
- Kashmir Ki KaliKashmir Ki KaliKashmir Ki Kali is a 1964 Indian film directed by Shakti Samanta.-Plot:Wealthy and pampered Rajiv Lal is the only son of widowed Rani Maa. She would like him to get married and starts receiving proposals from all over the country. She meets with and interviews various prospective brides, and picks...
(1964) - KismetKismetKismet may refer to:* Fate or Destiny in Turkish and Hindi-Urdu, a predetermined course of events, from Persian qesmat, from Arabic qisma, lot, from qasama, to divide, allot...
(1968) - Khoon Ka Badla KhoonKhoon Ka Badla KhoonKhoon Ka Badla Khoon is a 1978 Bollywood film directed by Kalpataru.-Cast:*Vinod Khanna*Mahendra Sandhu*Asha Sachdev*Ajit ... Al fanzo*Bindu*Jayshree T.*Padma Khanna*Purnima ... Mrs. Kotwal*Arpana Choudhary*Iftekhar ... Commissioner Kotwal...
(1978) - Love and Murder (1966)
- Mangni (1992)
- ManguManguMangu may refer to:Places:* Mangu, Nigeria, a Local Government Area* Mangu, Estonia, a village* Mangu, Burma, a village* Mangu-dong, a dong of Seoul, South Korea* Mangu Station, a railway station in SeoulPeople:...
(1954) - Mai Baap (1957)
- Mere SanamMere SanamMere Sanam was a Hindi film released in 1965 Hindi film starring Asha Parekh, Biswajeet, Pran, Rajindernath and Mumtaz. The film was a hit at the box office. The ear-pleasing music and beautiful locations were mostly responsible for the film's success. The story line and direction were also good,...
(1965) - MehboobaMehboobaMehbooba is a 1976 Hindi film produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini and Prem Chopra. The music is composed by R. D. Burman. The plot it is based on Gulshan Nanda's novel Sisakate Saaz, and Nanda also wrote the screenplay...
(1954) - Miss Coca Cola (1955)
- Mitti Mein Sona (1960)
- Mohabbat Zindagi HaiMohabbat Zindagi HaiMohabbat Zindagi Hai is a 1966 Hindi movie. Produced by K. C Gulati for Roop Chaya it is directed by Jagdish Nirula. The film stars Dharmendra, Rajshree, Mehmood, Deven Verma and Johnny Walker. The films music is by O. P. Nayyar....
(1966) - Mr. and Mrs.'55 (1955)
- Mr. Lambu (1954)
- Mr. Quartoon M.A. (1958)
- MujrimMujrimMujrim is an Indian Bollywood movie released on 28 June 1989, directed by Umesh Mehra. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Madhuri Dixit, Nutan. It also stars Amrish Puri, Shakti Kapoor and Gulshan Grover in supporting roles...
(1958) - Musafir khana (1955)
- Muqadaar Ki Baat
- NasihatNasihatNasihat is a 1986 Hindi film directed and produced by Aravind Sen. Rajesh Khanna, Shabana Azmi play the lead roles and supported by Mithun Chakraborty and Deepti Naval .-Plot:...
(1967) - Naya Andaaz (1956)
- Naya DaurNaya DaurNaya Daur is a 1957 Indian drama film starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007.-Plot:...
(1954 or 1957) - Neeranjanum (1988) (Telugu Film)
- NishchaiyNishchaiyNishchaiy is an Indian Bollywood film directed by Esmayeel Shroff, released on 17 July 1992. The film stars Vinod Khanna, Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor in pivotal roles.-Plot:...
(1992) - PhagunPhagunPhagun is the twelfth and last month of the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs activities within Sikhism. This month coincides with February and March of the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is 30 or 31 days long.-February:...
(1958) - Phir Wohi Dil Laya HoonPhir Wohi Dil Laya HoonPhir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon is a 1963 Indian Bollywood film. The film became a superhit at the box office. This was Nasir Hussain's second production, the first being Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai. He also wrote and directed it. It starred Joy Mukherjee and the Nasir Hussain fixture Asha Parekh...
(1963) - Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jayae (1974)
- Qaidi (1957)
- Raagini (1958)
- Sab Se Bada Rupaiyaa (1955)
- Sawan Ki GhataSawan Ki GhataSawan Ki Ghata is a 1966 Bollywood film produced and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Manoj Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Pran, Madan Puri. The films music is by O. P. Nayyar...
(1966) - Sambandh (1969)
- Shrimanji (1968)
- Shrimati - 420 (1956)
- Sone ki Chidiya (1958)
- Tumsa Nahin DekhaTumsa Nahin DekhaTumsa Nahin Dekha - The Love Story is a Bollywood Romance film directed by Anurag Basu, while produced by Mukesh Bhatt. The film stars Emraan Hashmi and Diya Mirza in lead roles as Anupam Kher, Sharat Saxena and Surekha Sikri in supporting roles...
(1957) - UstadUstadUstad is an Arabized Persian word is a honorific title for a Muslim man in South Asia. The title precedes the name and is usually used for well regarded teachers and artists, most often musicians. It is applied and used via informal social agreement. It is abbreviated as ut. or ud.-References:*...
(1957) - Yeh Raat Phir na Aayegi (1966)
- ZidZidZid may refer to:* Several Bollywood films:...
(1994)
Non-Filmy Album Labels as follows:
- Main Gabhru Punjab Da (2008)
- Eight (Stages Of Love) (2006)
- Movie "Don" (2006)
- Essential Chant Of Shiva (2005)
- Greatest Flute Maestro Pt. Pannalal Ghosh (2005)
- Hot Hot DJ Mix (2005)
- Bhajan Sree - M. S. Subbulkshmi (2004)
- Hanuman Chalish & Others Bhajans & Aarti (2004)
- Kabhi Kabhi - Classic Hits Remix (2004)
- Sree Ram Chale Vanwas (2004)
- Shree Sankat Mochan Hanuman Astak (2004)
- Golden Moments - Brian Silas Vol-2 (2003)
- Sampoorna Sundar Kand Vol.3 (2003)
- The Greatest Hits of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurushiya (2003)
- Uttare Ei HAOA - Yeh DasGupta (2003)
- Movie "Bollywood/Hollywood" (2002)
- BhajanAmrita - Sandhya Mukherjee (2001)
- Music For Reiki - Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (2001)
- A Journey With Jagjit Singh / Chitra Singh (2000)
- Ghazal --- Vaada --- Amjad Ali Khan (2000)
- Mohdi Hussain - The Finest Ghaza (2000)
- The Golden Moments - Begum Akhtar - Yeh Ankhon Ki Alam (2000)
- The Golden Moments - Parvez Mehdi - Toot Jaye Na Bharam (2000)
- Movie "Cotton Mary" (1999)
- 50 Glorious Remix Years (1999)
- Sai Geeth Mala (Songs On Sri SaiBaba Bhajans) (1999)
- Izhar-E-Gham-Mirza Sikandar Ali (1998)
- R A V I (1998)
- Ravi Kichlu: Dastan-E-Mohabbat (Ghazals) Cassette-1 (1996)
- Cry for cry - Music by Jagjit Singh (1995)
- The Golden Collection - Jagjit / Chitra Singh (1992)
- Vintage Ghazals - Jagjit / Chitra Singh (1992)
- Instrumental Hits From Films (1991)
- Pankaj Mullick - Piya Milan Ko Jana (1991)
- Dil Padosi Hai: Asha / RD Burman / Gulzar (1987)
- Bhajnashram (1986)
- Best Of Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh (1984)
- Muqabila - Nasihat - Naat (1984)
- Silk Soft Remixes (Compilation)
- Ustad Salamat Ali Khan
- The Best Of O. P. Nayyar Vol. 1 to Vol. 6
- Parichay - Introduction To India's Musical Geniuses (O. P. Nayyar)
- OP Nayyar-Penaz Masani - Dekho Mohabbat Ka Dastoor
- OP Nayyar-Penaz Masani - Jaane Do (1990)
- OP Nayyar-Ashok Khosla - Naye Kapde Badlkar
- OP Nayyar-Ashok Khosla - Ajnabi Shehar Mein
- OP Nayyar-Runa Laila - Allah Ne Is Dil Ne
- OP Nayyar-Runa Laila - Kehdo Is Raat Se
- OP Nayyar-Runa Laila - Wadiyan Wadiyan
- Golden Collection - O. P. Nayyar (Compilation)
- O. P. Nayyar, Asha Bhosle - Sunheri Yaadein
External links
- SACHINITI the website with active participation from the largest collection of his fans
- List of hindi songs composed by O. P. Nayyar
- Brief Biography
- http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/feb/04dinesh.htm