OP Nayyar and Asha Bhosle.
OP Nayyar had been known over the years for his unconventional composition of music during the golden age of bollywood films, that is, 50s and 60s. If Rafi was his first choice during that period, he had also shown his liking towards Samshad Begum, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle. In the 60s it was Asha Bhosle all the way.
Asha’s songs in Phir Wahi Dil Laya Hoon, picturised on Asha Parekh, like “zulf ki chayonme chehre ka ujala lekar”, “aankho se jo utri”, “nazni bara rangeen hai wada tera” with Rafi became evergreen hit. Rafi sang the songs in the most stylish manner for Joy Mukherjee. Similarly Asha’s songs in Kashmir Ki Kali, in 1964, picturised on Sharmila Tagore like “isharo isharo me”, “diwana hua badal”, etc., created the romantic mood of the film which was supplemented by fantastic location of Kashmir. Rafi had always created magic for Shammi Kapoor, and as such his songs in the film like “yeh chaand sa roshan chehra”, “kisi na kisi se”, “yeh duniya usi ki” became landmark hits. OP Nayyar was probably at his best in the mid -60s, and all these films had appealed to the masses during that period.
Asha Bhosle was sublime even in Ek Musafir Ek Haseena, where the songs were picturised on Sadhna. The notable songs include “aap yuhi agar humse milte rahe”, “bahut shukriya bari meherbani”, “msi pyar ka rahi hoon” where sung duet songs with Rafi. The songs were very successful and went a big way in establishing the career of Asha Bhosle at a time when Lata was dominating the film industry and there were other singers like Geeta Dutt, Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, etc., who made significant contribution to bollywood music.
Asha was used by OP Nayyar for even singing songs based on intoxication. The song “yeh reshmi” in Mere Sanam, picturised on Mumtaz, “ayo huzur tumko” picturised on Babita became big hits. Besides Asha’s performance in Mere Sanam in songs like “jayie aap”, “humne to dilko aapke kadmo pe rakh diya” with Rafi picturised on Asha Parekh and Biswajeet, had become immortal over the years. OP Nayyar’s stylish westernised andaz was bolstered by strong performance of both Rafi and Asha, and if 10 best songs of Asha are chosen in her career, at least 5 songs will be the compositions of OP Nayyar, the legendary composer. The songs and the films should be restored for their musical value.
By: Supriya Chatterji.
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