By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
ये है रेशमी, ज़ुल्फ़ों का अन्धेरा ना घबराइये
जहाँ तक महक है मेरे गेसुओं की, चले आइये
O. P. Nayyar, one of the finest music composer, is credited with creating enchanting and rhythmic melodies making the audience clap &,dance in the cinema hall. He was also the only music composer who did not record even a single song in the voice of Lata Mangeshkar. Instead he is credited with shaping & promoting the career of Asha Bhosle, making her sing many boisterously merry nay titillating songs, & rub shoulders with Lata Mangeshkar.
Throughout his chequered career spanning over four decades he tuned so many all-time hits like – “Babuji dheer chalna, Pyaar mein zara sambhalna” picturized on Shakila ( Aar Paar-1954), “O leke pahela pahela pyar” and “Aankhon hi aankhon mein ishara ho gaya” ( C.I.D. 1956), “Aaiye Meharbaan,baithiye jane jaan” ( Howrah Bridge-1958), “Sar Par Topi Lal, Haath Mein Resham Ka Rumal” (Tumsa Nahin Dekha-1957) & “Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya, Jaate Jaate Mitha Mitha Gham De Gaya” ( Phagun-1958) to mention only few.
B.R. Chopra’s “Naya Daur” earned him a Filmfare Award ,& rightly so, for his numbers ” Ho Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri” rendered by Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, ‘Reshmi Shalwar Kurta Jaali Ka’ Asha Bhosle- Shamshad Begum and ‘ Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanon Ka” sung by Mohammed Rafi- For Best Music Director in 1958.
Shamshad Begam, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle have been his favourite female playback singers. He made Shamshad sing’ ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar, Laga Teere Nazar’ still a popular number from film ” Aar Paar” ( 1954 ) and later composing hits like ‘Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar’ by Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle & Rafi, ‘ Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein’ rendered by Geeta Dutt & Mohammed Rafi in Raj Khosla directed ” C.I.D. ” in 1956 featuring Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman and Shakila. Nayyar also gave her preference over Geeta Dutt to sing the sensuous club number ‘Aaiye Meharbaan ‘ picturized on Madhubala in 1958 suspense- thriller “Howrah -Bridge” besides many breezy nay enchanting songs such as “Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe”,Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhonsle, ‘Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera Na Ghabrayeea’ picturized on seductress Mumtaz (Mere Sanam, 1965) ‘Aao Huzoor Tumko Sitaron Main Le Chaloon’ (Kismat) and ‘Jaaiye Aap Kahan Jaayenge’ (Mere Sanam) to mention some.
They also recorded songs for many hit movies like ” Ek Musafir Ek Hasina” (1962) and’ “Kashmir Ki Kali” (1964). O.P. Nayyar exploited Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duo beautifully in many romantic duets for instance “Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon ‘ , ‘Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe’, ‘Bahut Shukriya Badi Meharbani (Ek Musafir Ek Hasinaa-1962) & ‘Isharon Isharon Men Dil Lenewale’, and ‘Diwana Hua Baadal- ” Kashmir Ki Kali” ( 1964) to mention a few.
