Omkar Prasad Nayyar was born on 16th January 1926 in Lahore
in an educated respectable family. He had developed a love for music
unlike any other member in his family. His father was extremely against
singing. At that time most of the educated families thought in Lahore
that music is practiced only by ‘Mrasis and Bhands’. These were the
people almost like jokers who would come and entertain on celebrations
of events by well placed families. O. P. Nayyar as he was always known
challenged his father and left home to come to Mumbai. He thought that
he would try his luck to become a great music composer.
When he had left home he told his father and other members of the
family that he would show his face only after earning fame. When he
became famous he went to his father’s place in a new car. He flaunted
his riches and fame in front of his family. He was well received though
his father was still not very happy.
O. P. Nayyar never gave opportunity to the great singer Lata Mangeshkar. Instead female singers who sang for him were Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begam and later Asha Bhosale. It is said that when Asha Bhosale started singing for O. P. Nayyar, he stopped calling Gita Dutt. Once Gita Dutt who was suffering due to problem with unhappy relationship with Guru Dutt telephoned him for work. To that O. P. Nayyar answered that he had made contract with Asha Bhosale that he will not use any other female voice.
After struggle in Mumbai he got his first break in 1952. He was given
the opportunity to direct music of film ‘Asmaan’. There after he did a
couple of movies of little merit. However, he met noted director and
actor Guru Dutt. He impressed Guru Dutt who gave him a number of movies-
‘Baaz’ (1953), ‘Aar Paar’ (1954), ‘Mr. & Mrs. 55’ (1955), and
‘CID’. The music of all these films was appreciated by the audience.
With these films to his credit, O. P. Nayyar came into limelight.
Aar Paar
CID
Nasir Hussain who was another important producer engaged him for his
film ‘Tumsa Nahi Dekha’ that was released in 1957. Then there was no
looking back for O. P. Nayyar. He became very important music director
of the Hindi films.
Tumsa Nahi Dekha
O. P. Nayyar never gave opportunity to the great singer Lata Mangeshkar. Instead female singers who sang for him were Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begam and later Asha Bhosale. It is said that when Asha Bhosale started singing for O. P. Nayyar, he stopped calling Gita Dutt. Once Gita Dutt who was suffering due to problem with unhappy relationship with Guru Dutt telephoned him for work. To that O. P. Nayyar answered that he had made contract with Asha Bhosale that he will not use any other female voice.
Life of O. P. Nayyar shows that he just followed his heart. He was less
bothered about anyone including his family members and friends. In some
ways O. P. Nayyar was like Steve Jobs. Both brilliant but both not
worldly wise to maintain good relations with people around.
Thanks for reading.
