By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
यहीं पर वफ़ा का, नया रंग भर के
बनाई थी चाहत की, तसवीर तुमने
यहीं की बहारों से, फूलों को चुन कर
संवारी थी उलफ़त की, तक़दीर तुमने
वो दिन आपको याद कैसे दिलायें
यहीं पर कभी आप हमसे मिले थे
यही वो जगह है
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.
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 Bhonsle- Shamshad Begum and “Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanon Ka” sung by Mohammed Rafi- For Best Music Director in 1958.
Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle have been his favorite 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 and Shakila. Nayyar also gave Asha Bhosle 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) & “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.
It would be injustice if we did not mention ‘Tum Rooth Ke Mat Jana’ a duet in the voice of Rafi and Asha fom “Phagun”, “Jawaniyaan Yeh Mast Mast Bin Peeye” & “Chhupne Wale Samne Aa” both by Mohammed Rafi from 1957 starrer “Tumsa Nahin Dekha”. “Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra”, & “Hai Duniya Usiki, Zamana Usika” from “Kashmir Ki Kali” ( 1964) & “Mohabbat Cheez Hai Kya, Isiko Kar ke Dekhenge”, “Zara Haule Haule Chalo Mere Saajana” (Sawan Ki Ghata) & “Phir Milogi Kabhi Is Baat Ka Vaada Kar Lo” (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi).
I happened to meet the stylishly happy-go-lucky composer once in 1988 and asked him what prompted him to give prominence to Asha over Geeta Dutt for singing the exotically sensuous number ‘Aiyee Meharbaan’. I also discussed about “Aar Paar” and “C.I.D.”, my other two favorite films he did as a composer. The legendary music maestro died on 28 January 2007 in Mumbai.
प्यासी, है नज़र, हां, ये भी कहने की है बात क्या
तुम हो मेहमां, तो ना ठहरेगी ये रात क्या
रात जाये रहे आप दिल में मेरे
अरमां बन के रह जाइये,
ये है रेशमी .जुल्फों का अँधेरा न घबराइए
