Remembering O P Nayyar

He is called a maestro, genius, rebel, maverick and his peppy, trendy tunes have become embedded in the collective psyche of our nation. The songs composed by this legendary composer are still as popular as they were in the late 50’s and early 60’s when he was at the zenith of success. It is on this day i.e 28^th of January that he left this world three years back. He created his own unique style and rhythm and became immensely successful without using the genius of Lata. I am talking about one of my all time favourite music directors O P Nayyar. I have grown up listening to his music which critics say was ahead of it’s times infact All India Radio found it so trendy that it stopped airing it for sometime but O P did not change his style and ultimately AIR had to give in. It is astonishing to know that despite having no formal training in music he created such timeless melodies. He has given such gems as ude jab jab zulfein teri,maang ke saath tumhara,ye hai Bombay meri jaan,mera naam chin chin chun,reshmi shalwar karta jail ka,isharon isharon mein,aap yunhi agar mujhse milte rahe,bahot shukriya,yehi who jagah hai,ye hai reshmi zulfon ka andhera,dewaana hua badal,aap ke haseen rukh pe,chain se hamko kabhi.I like so many of his songs that not all of them can be accommodated in this short blog.

He was born on 16 january 1926 in Lahore. His first film as a music director was Aasman in 1952 but it sank at the box office so did his other two films Cham Chama cham and baaz . Just when he was ready to pack his bags and leave Aar Paar struck gold at the box office in 1954.Eilo main haari piya,kabhi aar kabhi paar,babuji dhere chalna became runaway hits . The successes of Mr & Mrs 55 in 1955 and CID in 1956 catapulted him to instant fame and he became the first music director in the Hindi film industry to charge one lakh fee per film. In 1957 he gave Asha Bhosle, at that time a struggling singer, a real chance to sing in Dileep Kumar starrer Naya Daur, earlier he had used her voice sparingly, and what happened next is history.The pair created magic in many films including Naya daur,phagun ,Kashmir ki kali,phir wahi dil laya hun,mere sanam,pran jaye par vachan na jaye etc. He is credited with moulding Asha’s voice and giving her respectability.

O P Nayyar popularised piano which ripples through in aap ke haseen rukh pe in baharein phir bhi aayengi. He composed naughty, haunting,spirited,romantic,sad songs ;a true genius. He lived and died on his own terms.

COLD WAVE

I have just come inside after enjoying a decent spell of sunshine, only thrice to be precise in the last 25 or so days, and I am in a good mood and chewing Shahi supari which Mateen mamu has brought for me from Karachi. Not only is it tasty it also provides a much needed warmth to my body in this painfully cold weather. Thanks to the ferocious cold wave which has taken the entire North India in it’s vice like grip many people including me are suffering from cold and Charles Dickens in his inimitable style beautifully describes what we are going through, “I am this moment deaf in the ears, hoarse in the throat, red in the nose , green in the gills, damp in the eyes, twitchy in the joints and fractious in temper”. There have been intense cold waves in the past, each lasting not more than 20 days as far as I can remember, but the present one has been tormenting us for nearly a month and yet shows no sign of subsiding, it,s intensity rising with every passing day. The days are dreary, mostly cloudy and depressing , nights are dull and bone chillingly cold . Getting out of the bed when you are covered In blankets or quilts is quiet a feat and that’s why I do not go to bed till late night, no matter how great the temptation to do so during the day.

The absence of sunshine for nearly a month has made me sympathise with the English for their desperate craving for it. As always the predictions of the meteorological department are boomeranging . It’s latest forecasts says that the prevailing weather conditions will improve within the next 24 hours and despite being aware that nothing of this sort will happen I am hoping for a better tomorrow. After all umeed pe duniya qayam hai.

A character to remember

In this bone chilling cold I am sitting in front of my computer thinking about the myriad thoughts which are whirling in my mind ,some are happy, some unhappy, some sweet some sour. Right now, I am not in a particularly good mood and it would be quite natural if I write my blog on some unhappy topic but I will write a fun filled entry because I need to perk myself up , in other words I need some sunshine.

The person being described here is very much alive and is a close relative of mine, let’s call him mamu, the very mention of him has brought a smile to my lips and I am feeling better already. Come winters and our dear mamu, although not weighing more than 40 kg’s, begins to look 80 kg’s thanks to the multiple layers of clothing he puts on in order to ward off the cold.You would have seen people wearing two or three sweaters but , I bet you won’t have seen anyone wearing five to six sweaters and I have not mentioned the jackets yet. On his head three woolen caps and a muffler can be spotted. And how can I forget the three pairs of socks that cover his feet if he has his way he would put on at least two pairs of shoes.

Since mamu is given to extremes he remains bare chested throughout the summers, what a contrast from winters, takes bath thrice a day and uses up not less than three bottles of talcum powder every month. How cute. is’nt it?

There is so much to write about my lovable mamu but I have to go but before that I can not resist myself from writing about his hoarding tendency. He collects everything from old bills to useless pens to torn clothes to rusty carrum and chess boards to used bus and train tickets. His attic is a veritable treasure trove. The above mentioned things are safely kept there. I hope you liked my mamu