By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
‘दिल की हर बात अधूरी
है अधूरी है अभी
अपनी एक और मुलाक़ात
ज़रूरी है अभी
चंद लम्हों के लिए
साथ का वादा कर लो
फिर मिलोगे कभी इस
बात का वादा कर लो’
O. P. Nayyar, one of the most sought after Music director of Hindi Cinema needs no introduction. Nayyar, credited with creating enchanting and rhythmic melodies made the audience clap &, dance in the cinema hall. Surprisingly & interestingly, too, the music maestro never ever composed music for a song rendered by Lata Mangeshkar. Instead he ventured to make her younger sister Asha Bhosle sing many boisterously merry nay titillating songs -most notable being – ‘Sir Pe Topi Lal Haath Mei Resham Ka Rumal O Tera Kya Kehna ‘ penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri from Nassir Hussain directed “Tumsa Nahin Dekha” ( 1957 ) featuring Shammi Kapoor and Ameeta. His next best were “Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, ‘Reshmi Shalwar Kurta Jaali Ka’ Asha Bhosle- Shamshad Begum and ‘ Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanon Ka” sung by Mohammed Rafi-Balvir in B. R. Chopra’s ” Naya Daur” ( 1957) to win the Filmfare Award For Best Music Director in 1958.
Shamshad Begam, 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 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) ‘Jaaiye Aap Kahan Jaayenge’ (Mere Sanam) & “Zara Haule Haule Chalo More Sajana” (Sawan Ki Ghata)) to mention some.
They also recorded songs for many hit movies like ” Ek Musafir Ek Hasina” (1962) and’ “Kashmir Ki Kali” (1964). It would be injustice if we do did not mention “Yeh Raat Phir n Aaayegi” (1966) starring Biswaeet & Sharmila Tagore. The film, a suspense thriller, had many hit numbers including ‘Yehi Woh Jagah Hai Yehi Woh Fizayen Yehin Par Kabhi Aap Humse Mile The” and “Mera Pyar Woh Hai” to mention only two.
‘देखिये तो ज़रा मुस्कुरा के
कौन बैठा है पहलू में आके
ओ दिल वाले दांव लगा ले
कर दिया दिल को तेरे हवाले
ये नीची निगाहें गज़ब कर गईं
पता ना चला ज़ुल्म कब कर गईं
हुज़ूरेवाला’
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 one of the most popular songs ‘Babuji Dheere Chalna,Pyaar Main Jara Sambhalna’ from Guru Dutt’s “Aar Paar” picturized on Shakila and two hit numbers from Madhubala Bharat Bhushan Starrer ” Phagun” (1958) -‘Ik Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya’ and ‘Tum Rooth Ke Mat Jana’ both duets in the voice of Rafi and Asha.
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 favourite films he did as a composer. Like many Celebs of his genre his last days were not as blissfully Rosy as his music was. Died 28 January 2007, aged 81.
‘ज़रा हौले-हौले चलो मोरे साजना
हम भी पीछे हैं तुम्हारे
कैसी भीगी-भीगी रुत है सुहानी,
कैसे प्यारे नज़ारे
ज़रा हौले-हौले’
