Continued from the part 1. Article by Mahesh Chakravorty.

O.P.Nayyar and Asha have a marvellous collections to their credit. Looking at Asha’s entire repertoire there are many songs that have been marked in history as everlasting. And more than 50 of her career best have been Nayyar’s compositions. Maang ke saath tumhara, Aao huzoor tumko, Aaj koi pyar se, Woh haseen dard de do, Aaja mere pyar ke sahare, Zara haule haule chalo mere saajna, Jaiye aap kahan jayenge, Chain se humko kabhi are only couple of immortal gems to name. One can listen to on and on without getting monotonous. The last couple of Asha-Nayyar numbers were from Sambandh, Ek Baar Muskurado and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye.

Coming to Rafi Sahab’s and Nayyar’s combo, who can forget Taarif Karoon Kya Uski, Lakhon Hein Nigah Mein, Banda Parwar to name a few that have the stamp of Nayyar’s brilliance and Rafi’s incomparable range? Nayyar once fell out with Rafi Sahab but managed to conjure memorable songs even with Mukesh who sang Chal Akela in Sambandh, Mahendra Kapoor who sang one of his best, Lakhon Hai Yahan Dilwale and Kishore Da in Ek Baar Muskurado, Tu Auron Ki Kyon Ho Gaye.

OPN was never classically trained but his sense and knowledge about rhythm and melody was immense. It was perhaps innate too. He studied music for a while. He combined Punjabi folk tunes with peppy popular tunes in the classical meter to create a comprehensible feel among music lovers. He also created some of the most remembered classical tunes and made good use of classical talents – Jogiya Mere Ghar Aaye from the film Raagini in Ustad Aamir Khan’s voice. Ustad Raeez Khan enchants us with his sitar in Jayiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge in the film Mere Sanam, Manohari Singh played the saxophone in Hai Duniya Usiki from the film Kashmir Ki Kali, Sardar Hazaara Singh played the electric guitar in Lakhon Hai Yaha Dilwale from the film Kismat.. And in another classic moment, an enjoyable sarangi interlude by Pandit Ram Narain graces the songs Aana Hai To Aa from the film Naya Daur and Bekasi Had Se Jab Guzar Jaye from the film Kalpana.

It is also believed that after the breakup with Asha, he was unable to create similar magic with other singers. He came along with Krishna Kalle, Runa Laila, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Anuradha Paudwal later on, but with no charming results. Evidently it was the master without his muse in a creative vacuum.

Nayyar is still active though not as a musician anymore. His rare appearances on television shows as a judge or a special invitee is something viewers cherish.

This blog was published on Monday, January 23rd, 2006 at 6:33 am and Last modified on Friday, January 20th, 2006 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.