Emma pays tribute to OP Nayyar.
Linked by shruthi. Join Blogbharti facebook group.Almost all his songs seemed to have been inspired by some western numbers, yet the modernity in his music was in perfect sync with the traditional Indian sounds. His localization is in fact is in top form in most of his numbers, giving them a distinct and identifiable individuality that hasn’t been replicated ever since and will never be.
O P Nayyar was a class act. As an artist one has to focus on two aspects.
1. the creation process
2. the marketing process
Part of the marketing process that O P Nayyar became beholden to was the fact that he never needed to use Lata.
I find it hard to believe that O P Nayyar could not have discovered a new part of his talent had he collaborated with a new voice and a person. This is the usual Indian Akkad that gets us down.
We need to be aware of it. Celebrating something as a success also means we can lose the sight of the price paid for it.
OP’s creations are so tantalising that you never get bored to listen to his numbers repetitively. No doubt his compositions had sameness, but he used to keep the listeners enthralled with the use of dholak, violin, mendolene. His tunes were inimitable - only he himself used to imitate his creations. The fact that I continue to feel mesmerised with his compositions like Ayiye Meherban, Piya Mai hun patang tu dor, Thandi Thandi Hawa etc. inspite of repetitive listening, speaks the magic of his creations.
Why O.P. lost the limelight is a matter to be pondered over. Even versatile C.Ramchandra also was edged out from 70’s onwards. Yes, OP did a mistake by putting all his eggs in one basket (i.e. Asha Bhosle). The need of hour was to discover new singers and give them opportunity, but he never did that. Apart from this, his well known egoistic attitude (e.g. refusing award from Lata, refusing assignment for Amitabh movie et.c) cost him dearly and he was sent to exile.
But OP’s thousands of songs shine like diamond. He has literally left a khazana for the music lovers. Although he was a populist music director (like SJ, KA, LP), he never allowed cacophony in his creations and maintained his music soothing for the ear.
Rashid Khan
I remember a few songs by Geeta Dutt (Roy) sung under O.P. Nayyar’s direction. I think that Shamshad Begum made a comeback with his help.