A celebrated music director, Omkar Prasad Nayyar or OP Nayyar had an outstanding feel for beat. His music, often using rock and Punjabi folk tunes, was characterized by melody, energy, and a superb rhythm.
Career of OP Nayyar
OP Nayyar worked with the Jalandhar station of
All India Radio before moving to
Mumbai 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.
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 in Bollywood. 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.'
In the year 2007 O.P. Nayyar died in
Mumbai on 28 January 2007.
Filmography of OP Nayyar
| 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. |
