Musician OP Nayyar’s 19th death anniversary
This day 28 January 2026 marks the 19th death anniversary of the “King of Rhythm,” Omkar Prasad Nayyar, popularly known as O.P. Nayyar. Nayyar remains the only legendary composer of the Golden Era who reached the pinnacle of success sans ever recording a single song with the Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar.
His collaboration with Asha Bhosle was professional and personal alliance that lasted nearly two decades. It transformed her from a “singer for vamps” into the definitive voice of the Hindi film heroine, leading them to be celebrated as one of the most invincible duos in Bollywood.
Asha Bhosle and
O P Nayyar’s combination was invincible. Not even the indomitable Lata Mangeshkar could come between them. Much before R D Burman, it was Nayyar who rescued Asha Bhosle from the fringes of playback singing.
Asha Bhosle admits that before Nayyar Saab came into her life, she was not the heroine’s voice. Lata Didi was. She used to sing for the vamp or the supporting actress. Nayyar Saab made her the heroine’s voice in ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’ and ‘Naya Daur’ in the 1950s. Then followed one chartbuster after another in the 1960s. Mujhe toh yaad bhi nahin kitne saare hit gaane aaye (I can’t even remember the number of hits).”
Acknowledged to be extremely temperamental and egoistic, Nayyar, reportedly in 1972 parted ways with Asha Bhosle. Apparently, Nayyar vowed to replace Ashaji in his compositions with equally successful singers.
News Edit KV Raman
