O.P.Nayyar…Not forgotten

Kaveetaa Kaul

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Update: You can listen to the podcast of my tribute in a programme dedicated to the Legendary O.P. Nayyar on PodioIndia Ep 31

Updated: 28th Jan07: A legend is no more.Shri O.P. Nayyar has passed away. An era has come to a close with him. None can replicate him and never will there be another Nayyar saab..May his soul rest in peace and in the knowledge that he is loved, admired, respected and will never be forgotten..

The finality of death is stark. One cannot die with the dead.. at best can mourn for them.. Let us feel solace in the fact that he perhaps lives on in his melodies, and will continue to do so for aeons. The sadness that creeps in at such news is beyond words.

He suffered a cardiac arrest all of a sudden, probably still under the care of his foster family, in Thane..the destituteness of his last 12 years, when his family allegedly forsake him, a witness to the vagaries of life…sad but true.

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Who can forget the lilting, romantic numbers unforgettable renderings, which had a distinct feel, recognisable in the choice of accompaniments, the piano, sax, acoustics and then the soulful strain of melody..

*Pukarta chala hoon main.. galli galli bahaar ki..bas ek shaam zulf ki..bas ikk nigaah pyar ki

*Chain se humko kabhi aapne jeene na diya (electrifying combination of asha Bhosle and O.P)

*balma khuli hawwayein.. mehki hooyi fizaayein, dil chhahta hai mera, behekna iddhar uddhar

*Woh huns ke mile humse..hum pyar samajh baithe

*Aap yunhi agar humse milte rahe.. dekhiye ek din pyaar ho jaayega (makes you want to fall in
love all over again)

*Sawan ki ghata chhayi, yeh dekh ke dil jhooma.. lee pyar ne angdayi , deewaana hua badal. (Rafis attitude..unbeatable)

*Aap ke hassen rukh..pe aaj naya noor hai..mera dil machal gaya..toh mera kya qasoor hai

*Ishaaraon ishaaron mein dil lene wale bataa yeh hunar tune seeha kahaan se

*humdum mere maan bhi jaao kehna mere pyaar ka..

*Poochho na humme hum unke liye, kya ya nazrane laaye hai, dene ko mubarak baad unhe aankon me aansoo aayen hain”

The list is endless..I can go on and on.. singing and typing.. reliving the days of school and college competitions when many of his compositions had led me to the coveted goal.

The news that fate had dealt him a rather severe hand, chokes one with despair. Apparently, his family had forsaken him and he had to seek refuge with some kindly souls who took him in as their guest…for the last few years..as reported . The vicissitudes of life can daze even the most unfazed by emotion. But the smile never left him, nor did the glow from his face. I guess this is the mettle saintliness depicts. A calm beatific demeanour, even if everything material has been lost.

My father always said “chadhte sooraj ko hi salaam hai”..Who worships the setting sun, its only the rising which is heralded.

This man a powerhouse of talent, perhaps the only Music Director of those days whose name would appear on the billboards of the films over and above the cast and crew and read something like ‘O.P.Nayyars so and so”. Today he is forgotten, unknown, to most .

In the days of yore, when his contemporaries were stalwarts who were steeped in classical training like S.D.Burman, Naushad, Jaidev, Madan Mohan, he was perhaps the only music director who could not read music and had no classical training. Imossible to believe if you hear ‘Chhota sa balma, anknhiyan neend chura le gayo” or ‘ woh hans ke mile humse’. Every nuance of the ‘harkatein’ and ‘murkiyaan’ perfectly placed. His heart spoke and he recorded music which has eventually defied time. I cannot recall any of his tunes, being unsuccessful, which is a commendable feat in itself.

His signature tune with the hoof clicks in songs like ‘Maang ke saath tumhaara‘ or ‘haule haule saajna’ from Saawan Ki ghata, was unprecedented. Use of the ’sarangi’ was innovative ..in fact he must have been the first to embellish his songs with its soulful strains.

I remember seeing him recently on the musical show “Sa re ga ma pa” which I watch because of the high calibre of the participants, where he was accorded a standing ovation by the audience and a programme was dedicated to just his songs. His quiet dignity and poise apart from his signature white attire and hat, made him a striking picture of health and elegant calm.

Who could have imagined that after the adulation and celebration of an hour of the show, he returns to an almost monastic solitude of either a Hotel room or an adopted family !!

What is fame, then, in the final analysis. Only a fickle food on a shifting plate. A recognition by those who you dont know and whose concern for you is ephemeral..If this story does not prove it, none will.

‘Fame is a vapour, popularity an accident; the only certainty is oblivion”

‘chal akela chal akela chal akela- tera mela peechhe chhota rahi chal akela’..is perhaps what he bids us adieu with..

‘Phir miloge kabhi is baat ka vaada kar lo, humse ek aur mulaqat ka vaada kar lo‘..is probably what the heart yearns to say..

instead we have to accept reality and murmur ‘ Bahut shukriya badi meherbaani’.. your songs are imcomparable, and will never fail to tingle us with the joy with which you have composed them!

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Sohail Rana music composer from Pakistan famed for the hauntingly melodious ghazal, one of my absolute favourites ‘ Mujhe tum nazar se gira toh rahe ho, mujhe tum kabhi bhi bhula na sakoge’...speaks emotionally of his last call to O.P Nayyar Saheb a month back..scroll down comments.

Ashwini Karandikar, his adopted daughter too has left a comment, on her life with the legend.

Ashraft through his comment has informed us of his passion for O.P.Nayyar’s music and that he has laboriously collected every single song composed by the maestro. Incredible! True passion and grit which needs to be lauded. Priceless treasure is now his!

Siraj Khan who has been writing the biography of O.P.Nayyar Saheb, exclusive rights for which had been granted to him by the maestro, had commented on this post last year as well.. Please read his tribute and of his plans for the book.

Kaveetaa Kaul

Friends please click on the header of the video box ‘Kavees Video collection’ . It will open a page which has on its left a category ‘ O P Nayyar hits’ and lower in the Community section a contributor ‘O P Nayyar Hits(me , trying to display build another vodpod for Op ji on this page , didnt happen so inserted it as an option here )

Clicking on the category ” O.P. Nayyar Hits” will bring you to a collection of his songs, which you can listen and watch…something I do often to uplift my spirits.

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