A celebrated music director, Omkar Prasad Nayyar or OP Nayyar has an outstanding feel for beat. His music, often using rock and Punjabi folk tunes, is characterized by melody, energy, and a superb rhythm.
OP Nayyar worked with the Jalandhar station of
All India Radio before moving to Bombay to make a career in films. His first assignment was scoring the background music for the 1949 Muslim social, Kaneez.
In 1952, Dalsukh Pancholi signed OP Nayyar as the
Indian film music director for Aasmaan. However, it was the lilting score of
Guru Dutt`s Aar Paar that proved to be Nayyar`s breakthrough film. He then went on to create unforgettable melodies in Mr. and Mrs. 55, CID, and Naya Daur. The latter won him the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 1957. Significantly, Nayyar did not employ Lata Mangeshkar`s voice for any of his compositions. His early songs were rendered by
Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum and the later ones by
Asha Bhosle. In fact, OP Nayyar is credited with giving Asha Bhosle`s singing a distinct style and identity.
In 1957, OP Nayyar composed the foot-tapping music for Tumsa Nahin Dekha. The film, aided by its music, was instrumental in shaping Shammi Kapoor`s image as the footloose, Elvis Presly-like hero. Nayyar created musical magic the next year once again with Howrah Bridge; its `Aaiye meherbaan` and `Mera naam Chin Chin Chu` remain amongst Hindi cinema`s most popular songs.
OP Nayyar often slipped in the sound of horse hoofs and ghungroo, or ankle bells, which lent his music a distinctive quality. This is evident, for instance, in Aankhon hi aankhon mein` (CID), `Diwana hua badal` (Kashmir Ki Kali), and `Maang ke saath tumhara` (Naya Daur). He returned to cinema after two decades to score the music for the Telugu film Neerajanam.
OP Nayyar has been associated with the following films:
| Kaneez |
Phagun |
Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi |
| Aasmaan |
Ragini |
CID 909 |
| Baaz |
Sone Ki Chidiya |
Nasihat |
| Aar Paar |
Do Ustad |
Humsaya |
| Mehbooba |
Basant |
Kahin Din Kahin Raat |
| Mr and Mrs 55 |
Jaali Note |
Kismet |
| CID |
Kalpana |
Sambandh |
| Chhoo Mantar |
Mitti Mein Sona |
Aisa Bhi Hota Hai |
| Naya Andaz |
Ek Musafir Ek Hasina |
Ek Baar Muskurado |
| Tumsa Nahin Dekha |
Hong Kong, |
Taxi Driver |
| Naya Daur |
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon |
Khoon Ka Badla Khoon |
| Qaidi |
Kashmir Ki Kali |
Heera Moti |
| Ustad |
Mere Sanam |
Nischay |
| Howrah Bridge |
Akalmand |
Zid. |
