O.P.Nayyar’s immortal relationship with Mohammad Rafi
By: Souvik Chatterji, Master of Law from Warwick University, Coventry,UK, Master of Law from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Omkar Prasad Nayyar (better known as O.P.Nayyar) is known to be one of the trend-breakers of the traditional music in the Golden Age of Indian film music, in the 50s and 60s. During that period although the Film arena were glorified by Giants of different specialisations, namely Naushad with his Brilliant Ragas, Roshan with the use of Sarengi and providing immortal mujras and qawallis, Madanmohan with his everlasting Ghazals, the general trend of Hindustani classicals and folk songs were used by most of the music directors. Excepting Shankar-Jaikishan who worked on diversified subject matters like Hawaiian flavour in ‘Ajeeb Dastaan hai yeh’ in Dil Ek Mandir, 1963 to European Chorus Background in ‘Meherbaa likhoon’ in Sangam, 1964, and Salil Chowdhury blending Russian March in Do Bigna Zameen, 1953, to Indian Chorus in ‘zindagi kaisi hai paheli’ in Anand, 1971, there were not many Music composers who experimented with a blend of Eastern and Western Music. 1
O.P.Nayyar came with an unique trend of merging Punjabi bhangra with Spanish tunes. The other unique feature of OP Nayyar is his association with Mohammad Rafi, the greatest singer India can ever produce in the world of playback singing. Rafi was a genius by his own standards and the way a person gets mesmerised in a historical monument in respect of admiring any part, the diwan-i-khas in Agra Fort, or diwan-i–aam in the same Fort, the same way experts on music have a very tough time judging the best performance of Rafi, whether his ghazals are the best, or his songs with an intoxicated atmosphere, or whether his pure classical numbers. Rafi had sung probably the maximum number of songs for OP Nayyar who knew the westernised andaz would not have suited anyone else in the same way as Mohammad Rafi.
Manna Dey, O.P.Nayyar and Mohd Rafi
Born in Lahore in 1926, OP Nayyar was fascinated by music. He was not trained in music, but left home to pursue a career as a composer. He got his first break when he composed the background score for the film Kaneez, 1949. He started his journey with Gurudutt in the film Baaz and the first successful break he received in Gurudutt’s film AarPaar, 1954. Also he stormed the film world with his outstanding performance in the film CID, 1956, Mr and Mrs 55, 1955.
One striking feature in the songs of the film CID, 1956, is that the female voice used by OP Nayyar varied according to the requirement of the film. The main playback singers included Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle, the noted songs being “ kahin pe nigahen, kahin pe nishana,” “ puch mera kya nao re”. Yet the male playback was provided by Mohammad Rafi for all the characters of the film. It included Johnny Walker in the song ‘Ai dil mushkil jeena yahaan, zara hatke zara bhachke yeh hai bombai meir jaan’,2 further Dev Anand in the song ‘Ankhon hi ankhon me ishara ho gaya’. It is even amazing that there was a street song being sung by a road peddler in the film titled ‘Leke pehela pehela pyaar’ which could have been sung by any playback singer, OP Nayyar even engaged Rafi to sing it. There were other hits in Mr and Mrs 55, 1955, like ‘Muhobbat karlo, aji karlo’, ‘jane kahan mera jigar gaya ji’ and ‘Dilpe hua aisa jadoo”.
Mohd Rafi and O.P.Nayyar
If the 50s were characterized by the fast numbers of OP Nayyar, the 60s provided him the honour of being rated as one of the most elegant music directors with the same esteem at which Roshan, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madanmohan used to be rated. The two films Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, 1962, and Phir Wohi dil Laya Hoon, 1963, stands out as the films where OP Nayyar had experimented the most. There was a duet of Rafi and Asha titled “aap yuhin agar humse milte rahe, dekhie ek din pyar ho jayega”. The dance sequence on actress Sadhna impersonated the way a peacock welcomes the monsoon. The effects produced by OP Nayyar was so outstanding that the background, the picturisation and the voice of Rafi and Asha synchronised together. The other two songs of Rafi “Mujhe dekhkar aapka muskurana” and “Mai pyar ka rahin hoon” had absolute western tunes with odd chords. Rafi had left the audience speechless with his performance in a slightly classical andaz in the songs “Phir tere shahar me” and “Humko tumhare ishq ne kya kya bana diya, jab kuch na ban sake to tamasha bana diya.” The lyrics of OP Nayyar’s songs were mostly written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and S.H.Bihari who had brought out their most romantic passion while composing the lyrics which could very well be categorised as Shayeris.3
In the film Phir Wohi dil Laya Hoon, 1963, picturised on Joy Mukherjee, OP Nayyar had made a very stylish endeavour towards the traditional blend of the western and eastern music. Rafi’s song “Nazni bara Rangeen hai wada tera” starts off with the traditional folk sequence with Punjabi where as the antara has “humdum mere maan bhi jaavo” which has the effect of Guitar. In the other song “Aji kibla, mohetarma, kabhi shola, kabhi nagma” has the same blend of Punjabi Folk with Guitar effect. In the song “zulf ke chaome chehere ka ujala lekar” OP Nayyar had made Rafi and Asha answer each other in almost a contest of Shayeri, the way urdu writers used to face each other through their poetic verses. Besides OP Nayyar’s beat oriented composition having effect of the tanga (Cart-pulled by horses) titled “Banda parwar, thamlo jigar, banke pyar phir aya hoon” in the film was equally melodious as “Maang ke saath tumkara” in the film Naya Daur,4 picturised on Dilipkumar, “Yuh to humne laakh hasin dekhe hain” in the film Tumsa Nahin Dekha, 1957, “Kisi na kisi se kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin dil lagana parega”, in the film Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964.
Naushad, Anil Biswas, O.P.Nayyar, Khayyam
Besides Rafi’s western romantic mood is utilized by OP Nayyar in a very stylish way in the songs “Diwana hua badal, sawan ki ghata chayi” and “Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehera” in the film Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964 picturised on Shammi Kapoor and “Humne to dilko aap ke kadmome rakh diya, is dil ka kya karenge yeh ab aap sochiye” in the film Mere Sanam, 1965 and “Phir Miloge Kabhi is baat ka wada karlo, humse ek aur mulakat ka wada karlo” in the film Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi, picturised on Biswajeet. In all these songs the sarengi and santoor had played a very pivotal role accompanied by the intoxicating appeal of Rafi’s voice.
Besides OP Nayyar had a reputation for stubborn individuality all along his career. Many remember him as being aloof and imperious, but always generous with struggling new-comers and those marginalized in the industry. The press and electronic media frequently referred to him as a rebel composer, as did many columnists labelling him a maverick. During the fifties the state-controlled All India Radio found OP Nayyar too trendy and had put in place a ban on most of his very famous tunes from being broadcast. This ban was in force for quite some time. Reports suggest that he was unfazed by this rigid government order and went on to create more of such tunes most of which were national hits. The far away Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation of the then Radio Ceylon was the only source from which his new hits could be listened in.5
Although lack of compromise resulted in OP Nayyar fading away from the film arena in 1970s, whenever anybody has to choose some of the most stylish andaz of Rafi, they have to reflect back on OP Nayyar for the unique compositions which have not been obsolete with the fading time. The Archive of Mohammad Rafi should equally restore the compositions of OP Nayyar as well.
Souvik Chatterji - the author along with his wife, Rumi Chatterji
1 A Detailed discussion on the composition of Shankar Jaikishan is made in the Article Shankar Jaikishan –the most versatile Musical Gaint of the last Century.
2 My father Ex-Chief Public Prosecutor, Bankshall Court North, (Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Kolkata), interviewed Milon Gupta, the famous mouth-organ player who played the mouth organ in the song said Rafi’s impersonation of Johnny Walker had created such an impact on the masses that the song became a greater hit than the song that was composed for the hero of the film, that is Dev Anand.
3 Majrooh Sultanpuri received the highest honour of excellence in Indian Cinema, the DadaSaheb Phalke award for his outstanding contribution to the Film Industry.
4 OP Nayyar received Filmfare Award for his Music Composition in Naya Daur, 1957.
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._P._Nayyar
August 16th, 2007 at 7:15 am
dear shirish kulkarni ji i got this news from internet just search 60 icons of india in google you will find there
August 16th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Mohd Parvez ji:
Actually I searched the hindustan times of last 2 days : 13 th , 14th
August and could not find the mention of the legend.
Please post it on this site: thanx .
binu nair.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
refer post 18. Why do we have to demean someone to prove greatness of other? All are great, hugely great. OP is great, Rafi is equally great. No point saying one wouldn’t have been him without any other. OP was OP even without Lata. That does not in any way degrade or lower Lata, OP or Rafi.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Post 21:
I could not find that news in Hindustan Times.
But in Times of India todays special section called Movers & Shapers, Rafi Sahab’s name has been included as belonging to that band of men and women whose vision and actions changed India, mostly for the better!
Rafi Sahab, aap ka jadoo phir chalne laga hain!
Jai Rafi Sahab
August 15th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
great news worlds largest news paper hindustan times nominated rafi saab amongst top 60 indian icon
August 15th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Post 18:
If rafi saab was ur great admirer, please tell us more about your
association with the legend. thanx.
binu nair
August 14th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. SOUVIK FOR THIS FINE ARICLE
ON O.P. NAYYAR’S ASSOCIATION WITH RAFI SAHAB !
BEST REGARDS/A.T.M. SALIM.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Rafi was my great admirer. I am a great fan of him. His voice always hunting me. His departure was a irreparable damage for us. I am a worshipper of his song. He was a great singer in his time. Incomparable singer. His persoanlity was surpassed everybody.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Dear sir
The song ‘Ajeeb dasthan hai ye’ is from movie Dil apna aur preet parai and not from Dil ek mandir as wriitten
prabhakar
August 14th, 2007 at 8:40 am
A very well written article by Mr. Souvik Chatterjee on late Sri. O. P. Nayyar’s music contributions to Hindi Film music and his partnership with Mohd Rafi. For all O. P. Nayyar music fans I might add that SaReGaMa/RPG has come out with a terrific set of 4 CDs (and cassettes too) titled “Remembering O. P. Nayyar” released soon after his demise earlier this year. This is a must buy and a collectors item for all O. P. Nayyar and Mohd Rafi fans. The songs were carefully selected by Mr. Manek Premchand with extremely well written sleeve notes and an excellent selection of Sri. O. P. Nayyar’s greatest hits re-mastered with terrific sound quality. Without any hesitation, Mohd Rafi saab never sounded this good. CD 1 with “Udhar Tum Hasin Ho”, “Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein”, “Mang Ke Saath Tumhara”, “Jawaniyan Yeh Mast”, “Tum Jo Huye Mere Humsafar”, “Main Soya Akhiyan Meeche”, “Bahut Shukriya”, Main Pyar Ka Rahi Hoon”, “Zulf Ki Chhaon Mein”, “Pukarta Chala Hoon Main”, “Aap Ke Haseen Rukh”. Some of the greatest Mohd Rafi hits on the first CD itself. Songs from Naya Daur, Tumsa Nahin Dekha”, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Phagun, Ragini, Kalpana, Kashmir Ki Kali, Sawan Ki Khata, Mere Sanam, Hum Saya etc. are interspersed between the remaining three CDs. A fantastic collection of songs to reminisce while enjoying Mr. Chatterjee’s excellent tribute to Sri. O. P. Nayyar.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:59 am
Some the greatest songs produced by Op Nayyar were sung by Mohd Rafi. All the songs of EK Musafir EK hasina , Kashmir Ki kali, Tumsa Nahee Dekhha, Baharain Phir BHi Aauengi sung by Mohd rafi were huge hits. I feel OP Nayyar would not have been OP nayyar if not for Rafi.
Asif
August 13th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
has anyobdy heard of the film Raakh Aur Chingari—Song is Yeh Anjaan Rahein Yeh Manzil Paraye Mujhe Zindagi Too Kaha Lehke Aayee.I am looking for it for so long, if u have it please pass over.I will be greatly indebted to u. Also looking for songs from movie Naach Utha Saansar,great songs. Shashi Kapoor starter.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
ref post 11:
Mr. Ramakrishna, I know that rd played the mouth organ for the dosti songs. But milan gupta played it for the background score in dosti. He also played in lp’s dost. I’ve seen both rd and milan perform live; really cherish those memories. There was another person in rd’s group, bhanu gupta, who used to play the mouth organ. rd and lp were great buddies; lp used to assist rd initially and rd would happily play for lp when required. He also used to play the mouth organ and tabla for his dad. But I’m not sure if he ever played for op. But whoever played in “kisi na kisi se”, I just love the mouth organ piece in that song.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
great and very informative article Mr. chatterjee. We did miss you the entire last year, but you are making up with article after article. Good deed. Keep the ink flowing and keep us informed of all other facets of Mohd. Rafi sahab and others associated with him - be it mds, directors, producers, actors, song writers or other singers. yeah, o p did castigate rafi sahab once for coming late for a recording although for no fault of the latter. but they did make up again after o p realised what a blunder he had committed. whoever rebuffed rafi sahab had to pay a price for their folly. rafi sahab never once behaved in that manner with any artiste, junior or senior. keep posting more articles of interest to all of us rafians. thanks.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
refer post -8,
haldar babu,
for your information R.D.Burman was an excellent mouth organ player. he has played for the songs of Dosti. I think he has played the mouth organ starting notes of the song ‘ kisi na kisisey , kabhi na kabhi’ of kashmir ki kali.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Can anyone send for me: Aji kibla mohotarma from the film: Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Aye chand jara chhup ja.
adress: ailahibaks@gmail.com
August 13th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Other OPN - Rafi hits were NAYA DAUR (Aana Ho To AA Rahame, Dil Leke, Maangake Saath, Saathi Haath Badana, Mai Bambai Ka Babu, Yeh Desh Hai Veera Jawanon Ka), TUMSA NAHI DEKHA (Chupanewale Saamane Aa, Jawaniyan Yeh Mast, Dekha Kasamse), KASHMIR KI KALI(Deewana Hua Badal, Isharo Isharon Me, Hai Duniya Usiki, Suban Allah, Hai Re Hai), SAWAN KI GHATA (Julfonko Hatale, Hoton Pe Hasin), HEERA MOTI (Hont Hai Tere, Kuch Aur Nahin Bas Dyan Tera), KALPANA (Tu Hai Mera Prema Devta), MERE SANAM(Pukarta, Humne To Dil Ko, Tukade Hai Mere Dilke, Roka Kai Baar Maine, Humdum Mere, Huye Hai Tumpe Aashiq Hum), PHIR WAHI DIL LAYA HUN (Zulf Ki Chaon Me, Door Bahut Mat Jayiye, Aanchalme Sajalena Kaliyan, Lakhon Hai Nigahon Me), HUMSAYA (Dil Ki Aawaj, Tera Shukriyan), BAHAREN PHIR BHI AAYEGI (Aapke Hasin Rukh, Suno Suno Miss Chatterjee, Dilto Pehlehise), EK MUSAFIR EK HASINA (Aap Yunhi Agar, Muzhe Dekhakar, O Yaar Zulfonwale), MOHABBAT ZINDAGI HAIN (Na Jaane Kyun, Yeh Phurnoor Chehara, Tumhari Mulaqat Se), EK BAAR MUSKURADO (Zamane Ki Yadon Ne), etc. Of course, one cannot forget Manmora Bawra piturised on Kishore Kumasr in RAAGINI.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:33 am
The author has mentioned that Milon Gupta had played the mouth organ for Bombay’s national anthem. There’s another op composition which has a beautiful mouth organ accompaniment; it’s one of the lesser celebrated songs from Kashmir ki Kali, but it’s a favourite of mine. My guess is that Milon Gupta played the mouth organ for this song too. Enjoy Rafi’s “Kisi na kisi se kabhi na kabhi” from the King of Rhythm:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ciDrId6g-6A
August 13th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Re Comment No.4
Mr. Ramkrishna you are right that O.P. was mad at Rafi for showing up late for a rehearsal but that was not the end of their relationship. O.P. did use Rafi after 2 years. In an interview a few years ago he said,
“The biggest mistake of my life was keeping that farishta away from my studio for 2 years.”
That is reverence which never ended between the two.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I’ve always admired the orchestration in OP’s music. In my humble opinion, no one has employed the sarangi-santoor-dholak-drum-guitar-sitar-drum-sax-flute combo the way he did. When he was at his best, there were few md’s who could surpass him in orchestration. Just listen to the music of “Diwana hua badal”. Much before fusion music came into vogue in the 70s, OP defined what fusion music was all about. Within a few seconds, there would be a switch from sitar to guitar or from dholak to drums, but the rhythm would always remain so beautiful. And there was always that unpredictability about the change in sur and taal, the op magic. He used three deadly weapons to maximum advantage — Geeta, Rafi and Asha. He definitely gave Rafi’s voice a different dimension. As far as Asha is concerned, I don’t think there’s any md who comes close to him, not even the burmans.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I remember listening to a program from Vividh Bharatee titled “Fauji Bhaeeun ke Liye”. O.P. was the special presenter and he recited the following verse from Allama Iqbal and said that this was his motto of life.
“Aye taaere’ lahuti us rizq se maut achchi,
Jis rizq se aati ho parwaz me kotahi”
(taaer = bird, lahut = stratosphere, rizq = sustenance, parwaz = flight, kotahi = shortness)
This verse was written to emphasize the need to keep one’s self-worth and not to compromise with short term gain.
When in the 70’s the music was getting corrupted and O.P. left the music scene refusing to compromise and started the homeopathic medicine practice, I thought he kept up his motto.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Souvik I would like to add my views with reference to your article. The song ‘ ajeeb dastan hai yeh’ is from the film ‘ Dil apna aur preet paraye’ picturised on Meena kumari jee. Rafi sahab has rendered the humoruos number ‘ Main hoon Mr Johny, mainey sab mulkon ka piya hai pani’ for Johny Walker in the film ‘Mai Baap’ music by O.P.Nayyar. What a superb playback. In the movie one feels as if Johny walker himself is singing. I heard that once during a recording session of O.P.Nayyar for a film Rafi sahab came late. Of course rafi sahab apologised with the reason that he was held up in a session with Shankar- Jaikishen. And that was the end of relationship of Rafi sahab with O.P.Nayyar. In the latter movies Mahendra Kapoor was taken as a playback.
August 12th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
where was this souvik chaterjee all these days : I was just imagi-
ning; after reading the o.p. nayyar : special.
for readers info : I may add that o.p. nayyar gets the highest
royalty after a.r.rehman and in the seventies his musical senses
quite dried up. Music lovers will always be indebted to him for his
path-breaking musical offerings.
binu nair.
August 12th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Souvik, a good article again. In the fourth picture, I think it’s Anil Biswas in between Naushad and OP.
August 12th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
May anybody send me “Meri Gadi Uran Khatola” from film “Aurat”
my e-mail id is
ganesh_3310@yahoo.co.in