Jul 12, 2014 08:53 PM
4208 Views
PREFACE: To introduce - my music preference,
I am die-hard fan of Shankar-Jaikishan and second comes O.P.N.But my dad is a die-hard fan of O.P.N and second were Shankar-Jaikishan.I owe my DAD a lot, for keeping old movie cassettes, which I used to listen in 80s, 90s, 00s.Majority were Shammi Kapoor's and Dev Anand's.He was a die hard fan of Shammi and Dev Anand. He Loved 50s songs more and I loved 60s.So now you know why the swapping of music directors has happened.50s was O.P.N First era and 60s was S-J first era.
It is Saturday evening and after a nap, I get up and feel boring. Switch on my computer to find a song that regunevates.ok, but which.O.P.Nayyar Saab's song.ok, go to youtube and open the song from Jonny Walker.Munh se mat laga.I slowly start becoming active and by the end of 5 rounds of listening, I am actually dancing.
So what was special of O.P.N's compositions.Little though needed here.His songs were typical rock-n-roll kind of ones, a taboo during 50s and only C Ramachandra managed to score songs in similar fashion like Sunday ke Sunday or Shola jo Bhadke, etc.
O.P.N was a Rebel Genius, who will do exactly what he is asked not to do.The Audience loved his compositions and he was Numero Uno of later half of 50's.from AAR-PAAR to PHAGUN, his music was rage.
Then started S-J Era and O.P.N was in back seat till 1962, when he started equalling scores of S-J and came with numerous which started with the evergreen EK MUSAFIR EK HASEENA and ended with 1969 SAMBANDH.He had occasional hits after that, but the O.P.N Era was that 6 yrs at the top in 50s and 8 yrs in 60s.
Music was never the same before O.P.N and after O.P.N, even though RDB tried but his dimension was different and OPN was only copied and not equalled by any.early 90s showed MD's admiring OPN and he himself gave music for 2 movies and some movies had his style of music as tribute to the legend.
There are few things other than his music I would like to write here(as I understand, I need not write anything on his music since you are the better judge than me).
1) I remember GURU DUTT and OPN combination of 50's, a very unique 4th dimension of bollywood then, rivalling the other three top hero teams of Raj Kapoor-SJ, Dilip Kumar-Naushad and Dev Anand-S D Burman era.
2) His special consideration to compose a different type of song for JONNY WALKER in every movie and ensuring that was the most hit song for that movie.
3) His professional tussle with every one from producer to directors to singers and his rivals, especially SJ.Basis his music in Jonny Walker, Shankar of SJ fame composed a song which has OPN style of music in the initial few minutes and after the Raaga's start, Shankar politely tells his friend OPN.Yaar mere mat bura maan yeh gaana hain na baajaana hain in the film Love Marriage-1958, sung by Dev Saab. After this OPN curbed his rock-n-roll style as gratitude for Shankar Saab whom he consideres the complete musician he had seen in the Hindi Film Music industry till he lived.
4) Well People always want to keep poking some one and many did to him asking why not Lata.I know the exact truth, but no controversies please.He says her voice is not suiting his music.fine let us respect jis words and not pull the string beyond this.
5) His surely missed out Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum, which he himself admitted since he choose the more professional Asha.and to say so Hats off to Asha, she left him when she shouldn't have and went to RDB for a better career and when RDB was in hospital for heart surgery, she was busy in concerts.true professionalism. Keep the good work.
6) His typical BGM with piano, Accordion and not to forget the Horse Hoof rhythm which he himself said in an interview he was inspired from Pankaj Mullick's film music- 1941 release Doctor. Naushad has also used but slightly differently in Anmol Ghadi and Uran Khatola.
7) 60s was specially carved for music industry as every one who gave music in that era has been remembered till today a feat nearly achieved in 90s.And OPN was second most paid MD after SJ.OPN had hits every year and with same singers singing different songs all being sooper hits, singers being Mohd Rafi and Asha.
8) A minor strain in relation with Rafi saab and enter Mahndra Kapoor who was 70% Rafi.the Singer MD combination ran in the latter half of 60s with hits like Humsaaya and Kismat.
9) Can you believe OPN seldom worked with Mukesh.Only in Sambandh, when he wanted Rafi and he was not available due to strained relation did OPN bring Mukesh into his songs and my god what a difference it was, wonderful the song CHAL AKELA CHAL AKELA from 1969 Film Sambandh.
10) Lastly but not the least, reading his interview I understood one thing. He was highly principled man with discipline being his prime motto. Hard work and sheer talent brings such genius in the world. He was lonely in the latter part of his life, but always enjoyed and was part-time homeopathic.
I have shared many points on the legend, which actually is less than 1% definition on OPN Saab.
Viewers, please share anything I missed and keep me out of controversies.
