Omkar Prasad Nayyar (16 January 1926 -- 28 January 2007) was an Indian film music director and composer born in Lahore, British India, now in Pakistan. O. P. Nayyar ("O.P.") started his career by composing the background score for the movie Kaneez (1949). Aasmaan (1952), produced by Dalsukh M. Pancholi was O.P.Nayyar's first film as independent music director, after which he composed music for Chham Chhama Chham (1952) and Baaz (1953). He composed music for Guru Dutt's Aar Paar (1954), Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), C.I.D. (1956), and Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957). He composed music for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Mere Sanam. The former included his song, Bandaa Parwar, Thaamlo Jigar, while the latter included Jaayiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge and Pukaarta Chalaa Hoon Main. Some months later, he scored for the movie, Kashmir Ki Kali. Although he composed superb music, he was never recognised by Filmfare. During the 1950s, the state-controlled All India Radio found O.P. too "trendy", and put for quite some time a ban on broadcasting most of his tunes.[1] The far-away Radio Ceylon, (which later transformed into Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), was at that time the only source from which O.P.'s new songs could be heard. O.P. worked extensively with singers Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, and Mohammed Rafi. He never worked with Bollywood's leading female singer Lata Mangeshkar. The Lata Mangeshkar song "Ek To Balam Teri Yaad Satayein" from 1958 film Aji Bas Shukriya was used in a 1973 movie Taxi Driver, for which O. P. Nayyar was the Music Director. This song was originally composed by Faruk Kaiser & Roshan Lal. According to music and film expert Rajesh Subramanian, the song Aap ki haseen rukh from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi was originally planned with full orchestration. On the day of the recording many musicians failed to report on time. Nayyarsaab being a strict disciplinarian packed off the latecomers and started composing afresh with the musician who had arrived on time. The rest is history. Aap ki haseen rukh continues to mesmerize music lovers till date. After a rift with Mohammed Rafi, O.P. started to work with Mahendra Kapoor, an upcoming singer. Mahendra Kapoor sang O.P.'s compositions in several films. He sang for Dharmendra, Badal Jaaye Agar Maali, Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali in Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi. He worked in the movie, Sambandh, with Mukesh and in the movie, Shrimanji 1968, with Kishore Kumar for majority of the songs along with Mahendra Kapoor. Based on one of Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali compositions, O.P. composed the song, Chal Akelaa, Chal Akelaa, sung by Mukesh. The movie also included a baritone rendering by Hemant Kumar. O.P. produced a few songs with Shamshad Begum, including "Kajra Mohabbatwala". After Madhubala's death, heroines like Vyjayanthimala, Mala Sinha, Padmini, Asha Parekh, and Sharmila Tagore lip-synced several of the O.P.-Asha Bhosle numbers. O.P. and Asha Bhosle parted ways in 1974. After that, he tried to work with several singers, including Dilraj Kaur, Alka Yagnik, Krishna Kale, Vani Jayaram, and Kavita Krishanmurthy. Majrooh Sultanpuri and Sahir Ludhianvi wrote lyrics for some of O. P.'s earlier compositions such as Naya Daur. During the making of Tumsa Nahin Dekha, the film director Nasir Hussain developed differences with Sahir Ludhianvi and Majrooh Sultanpuri had to write the remaining songs other than the title song. O. P. always experimented with different upcoming lyricists like Jan Nisar Akhtar, Qamar Jalalabadi, S. H. Bihari, and Ahmed Wasi. O.P.'s wife, Saroj Mohini Nayyar, is a lyricist. She wrote the C H Atma sung song, Preetam Aan Milo, which was later sung by Geeta Dutt in Mr. & Mrs. 55. For Shrimati 420 (1956), Mukhda of "Yahan Hum Wahan Tum" was written by Saroj. O.P. started the tradition of assigning to comedians full three-minute songs. Comedian Om Prakash sang O.P.'s composition, Churi Bane Kanta Bane in Jaali Note. Comedian Johnny Walker sang O.P.'s song, Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan in C.I.D., "Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee" (Mr. & Mrs. 55),Main Bambaika Baaboo, Naam Meraa Anjaanaa in Naya Daur and Bajewala in Basant. There was later a movie titled Johnny Walker where Johnny Walker himself was the hero, for which, however, he was not keen on composing music. When its director Ved Madan was persuading him to compose the album, he demanded the Latest Cadillac Limousine jokingly for the fee hoping that Ved Madan cannot fulfill the demand and he can get out of it. To his surprise, however, the car was delivered to his house and he could not back out and ended up composing the music for this album.

• published: 14 Mar 2014
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