This article is written by Mr. H.V.Guru Murthy

What a combination it was, Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhonsle under the direction of O.P.Nayyar, Vintage Music in the fiftees and especially early sixties. Perhaps, OPN had special chemistry with Rafiji and Ashaji and the Singers also gave the maximum melodies under OPN’s baton. Otherwise we would not have got songs which we remember and rejoice even today after more than 30 years.

The list is long, perhaps starting with CID – “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar” along with Shamshad Begum followed by three duets in NAYA DAUR – “Sathi Hath Badana”, “Ude Jab Jab Zulfen Teri” and the super melodious “Mangake Saath Tumhara”. Shammi Kapoor had “Dekh Kasamse” and “Sar Par Topi Lal” in TUMSA NAHI DEKHA. The first song especially had the Grand Entry of MR in the last stanza. KASHMIR KI KALI had three duets – “Isharon Isharon Me”, “Hai Re Hai” and perhaps one of the best romantic duets ever recorded in the Indian Film Industry “Ye Dekhake Dil Zhooma”.

O.P.Nayyar and Mohd Rafi

“Hoton Pe Hasin” from SAWAN KI GHATA also had the late entry of Rafiji in the last stanza. BAHARE PHIR BHI AYENGI had two wonderful duets – “Suno Suno Ms Chatterjee” and “Dil To Pehle Hi Se”. PHAGUN had the melodious “Mai Soya Ankhiyan Meeche”, “Ek Pardesi Mera”, “Tum Rootake Mat Jana” and “Jaa Jaa, Jaa Meri Chodade Kalayi”. KALPANA starring Ashok Kumar and Padmini had “Pyaara Pyaara Hai Sama” and “Mai Aaongi Kidiki Me ………..Aji Chalega”.

Separate chapters can be written on the combination for Joy Mukherjee and Biswajeet starrers. Who can forget songs from Biswajeet movies like “Phir Miloge Kabhi” and “Aapse Maine Meri Jaan” from “YEH RAAT PHIR NA AAYEGI, “Roka Kai Baar Maine”, the super melodious “Humne To Dilko Aapke” and “Haanji Haanji Haanji” from MERE SANAM. Similarly Joy Mukherjee starrers had songs like “Zulfa Ki Chaon Me” and “Door Bahut Mat Jayiye” from PHIR WAHI DIL LAYA HUN, “Tera Shukriya” from HUMSAYA and the four super wonders in EK MUSAFIR EK HASINA – “Bahut Shukriya”, “Aap Yunhi Agar”, “Mai Pyaar Ka Rahi Hun” and “Iran Humne Dekha”.

Mohd Rafi, O.P.Nayyar and Asha Bhonsle

Though Rafiji and Ashaji have sung more than 900 songs containing lot many wonderful, melodious and popular songs for other MDs, but the songs under OPN had a separate magic. Under OPN, Ashaji has also sung many good songs with Mahendra, Mukesh and KK, but most of these songs never came anywhere near that of Rafiji and Ashaji duets. Similarly, under OPN, Rafiji and Geethaji also gave hit duets.

I also personally feel and I am very sure, most Music lovers will agree with me that Ashaji blossomed under OPN and her own standard came down after she left OPN. RD never gave with Ashaji solo songs like PUCHO NA HAME HUM UNKE LIYE from “Mitti Me Sona”, JAYIYE AAP KAHAN JAYENGE from “Mere Sanam”, AANKHON SE JO UTARI HAI DIL ME from “Phir Wahi Dil Laya Hun”, CHAINASE HUMKO KABHI from “Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye”, RAAT KO CHORI CHORI from “Mohabbat Zindagi Hai”, HUZUREWALA from “Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi”, AAO HUZUR TUMKO from “Kismat”, WOH HANSKE MILE HUMSE from “Baharen Phir Bhi Ayengi”, MOHABBAT HO GAYI JINASE from “Kahin Din Kahin Raat”, HAATH AAYA HAI from “Dil Aur Mohabbat”, O BARASO RE and CHAM CHAM GUNGARUN BOLE from “Phagun”, etc., which OPN could regularly churn out with Asha.

Even the so called popular Cabaret numbers of RDB and Ashaji’s were no where near the class of Ashaji and Senior Burman in “Talash” – KARLE PYAAR KARLE KE DIN HAI YAHI, “Jewel Thief” – RAAT AKELI HAI and JALTE HAI JISKE LIYE, LA LA LA LA LA LA and “Sharmilee” – RESHAMI UJALA HAI, which were very melodious and sensuous but never loud like that of RDB’s.

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