Entertainment News Desk – Today is the 16th death anniversary of OP Nayyar, who made a distinct identity in the world of music by giving music to excellent songs like Ude Jab Jab Zulfen Teri…, Ishaaron Ishaar Mein Dil Dene Wale…. OP Nayyar’s film career started with the film Aasmaan, but the credit for giving him national recognition goes to Guru Dutt. OP not only earned name by giving excellent music, but his stories in Bollywood were also no less. Be it swearing to Lata Mangeshkar to never lose any song of his composition or not talking to Mohammed Rafi for 3 years after getting angry, he was also a special identity of Bollywood due to his nature.
Guru Dutt had recommended Geeta
Nayyar was born on 16 January 1926 in Lahore. He had great interest in music from the beginning. In such a situation, after taking music training, he started giving music in films. Although OP first composed music for the film Aasmaan, he gained recognition from Guru Dutt’s films. Actually, Guru Dutt’s wife Geeta Dutt liked OP’s music very much. Therefore, she recommended OP to her fiance Guru Dutt to cast her in his film. How could Guru Dutt refuse Geeta’s advice? Therefore, he gave OP a chance to give music in the 1954 film ‘Aar-Paar’. In this film, OP proved his talent in excellent songs like ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar..’, ‘Babuji Dheere Chalna..’. Then OP became included in Guru Dutt’s favorite list and OP started composing music in most of Guru Dutt’s films. He worked with Guru Dutt in great films like Mr. & Miss 55 and CID.
When he got angry with Mohammad Rafi, he did not talk to him for 3 years.
One day OP had to record music with Mohammad Rafi. So he started waiting for Mohammed Rafi to record with 70 musicians. OP was very punctual, although Mohammed Rafi also did not like coming late, but that day Mohammed Rafi came late by an hour. When OP asked Mohammed Rafi, he said, sorry there was a slight delay in recording. Nayyar Saheb did not say anything and asked the musicians to start recording. During this time, a musician casually asked Mohammad Rafi why he came late. Rafi Saheb said in his innocence, the recording was being done at Shankar Jaikishan’s place, there it got late. Then what, on hearing the name of Shankar Jaikishan, OP Nair got enraged and told the musicians, ‘There will be no recording now.
Rafi Saheb, you go to your home, musicians, you also go to your home, I am also going home. Now I am in no mood to record at all. Then he got that song recorded by Mahendra Kapoor. After this, talks between OP and Mohammad Rafi remained closed for about three years. During this period, OP did not even miss any song of Mohammad Rafi, hence his enmity with Lata Mangeshkar was famous in the film industry. In his film career, OP never made Lata Mangeshkar sing songs nor did he ever receive awards in her name.
Died at the age of 81
OP gave many great songs to the film industry in his career. For which he is remembered even today. Although during this time he was also branded as a rebel and an unconventional musician, but he never regretted it. He always thought ahead of his time, but the last journey of his life was not good. It is said that he was left alone in the last stages of his life. In such a situation, on January 28, 2007, at the age of 81, he breathed his last at the house of one of his fans. Because of his music, OP’s name is still taken with pride in the art world.
