These are a few of my favourite…….…O.P.Nayyar duets…

What is so special about an O.P.Nayyar duet – is it the lilting music, the flawless singing, the infectious rhythm of each song that keeps you engaged throughout or the lyrics, which were usually of high order.   It’s like he would throw into his magician’s hat, his distinctive melody and rhythm and then sprinkle in some sheer magic, romance, tenderness and passion and conjure up this totally incredible musical creation!!   Undeniably every music director had his or her special brand of duets – but for me, an OPN duet has always been magically melodious.  His duets encompassed the soft and tender, the seductive and passionate, the folksy and rural, serious and melancholic, classical and conventional, rousing and motivational and of course the contemporary and foot tapping! 

Putting together a song list for a forthcoming O.P.Nayyar show put me in touch again with some much-loved and well-known duets as well as some rare and lesser-known ones.  After a lot of thought and editing and reediting, I decided that the following were amongst my favourite O.P.Nayyar duets – and I certainly wont be surprised when I come across a hitherto unheard or rare gem and include that as well!!

Hoton Pe Hasin – Asha dazzles and Rafi is admirably unassuming in this song from Sawan Ki Ghata with lyrics by S.H.Bihari. Every time Asha utters kya baat hai ik jaadugar ki, she gives the ‘baat’ a new twist each time – assails your senses with its sheer headiness!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E275-gFk9tA


Phir Miloge Kabhi, an intensely romantic song from Ye raat phir Na aayegi is picturised on Sharmila Tagore and Biswajit.  Rafi is superb especially when he touches the high notes in ‘ham se ik aur mulaqat’ – his nuances are indeed incomparable while Asha has just one stanza and is just as awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI0RBdfwfPo


Dil to pehle - Rakishly handsome Dharmendra woos the elegant and beautiful Tanuja in Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi.  An Asha and Rafi duet with heart tugging tenderness and melodic arrangements and characteristic OPN beats.  As one listener puts it, Rafi Saab’s singing just takes your breath away!  And Asha is no mean second either! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_HkyfawmBk


Jahan jahan khayal jaata hai – This amazing song written by Sahir Ludianvi from Bade Sarkaar (1957) is sheer delight with shades of Pukar ta in the opening interlude and Rafi’s entry.  OPN’s trademark tabla and varying tempo in the stanza are very much part of this song with some lovely whistling and percussion as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au-olGIwhAk&feature=related


Meri neendon mein tum - from Naya Andaz is a tender and delicate waltz with some lovely piano, violin and rhythm section sung by Kishore and Shamshad Begum and is filmed on Kishore and Meena Kumari.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsRj8T5LhFk&feature=related

Diwana Hua Badal – a song for all time! Bewitching Sharmila and endearing Shammi complete the picture with Rafi and Asha never ceasing to amaze with their vocal prowess.  There has never been a song that is so widely sung but still is never considered stale or boring or repetitive. It never gives me more pleasure than to be able to perform this gorgeous song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beqTRIpoos8

Tum Jo Huye Mere – this beautiful waltz featured Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman in the film 12 O Clock, a murder mystery directed by Pramod Chakraborty.  Lovely violin section throughout adds to the beauty of the song.  Geeta is her playful yet sweet self while Rafi exudes elegant charm.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxeZ_pt8w0&feature=related

Bahut shukriya – Gem of a song rendered by Asha and Rafi embellished mostly with harmonium and tabla accompaniment from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina featuring the gorgeous Sadhana and urbane Joy Mukherjee – the film had a number of lovely songs and was a music lovers’ paradise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW7fFc1eQuw

Hum ne to dil ko – Mere Sanam had some great songs, esp. Pukarta and Ye hain reshmi and jaayiye aap kahan. A duet that may not have been picturised, but features in the film’s soundtrack. Rafi and Asha are classy in this stunning duet that again is a soft and slow waltz with elegant and neat violin accompaniment throughout the song.                                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiwtPdDELpo

thodasa dil lagake from Musafirkhana  - absolutely refreshing and breezy duet where Shamshad and Rafi sing for Johnny Walker and Shammi – Shamshad’s voice oozes fun and exuberance and though Rafi only hums in the song, he still makes his presence felt especially the way he modulates his voice so well to suit the persona of Johnny walker.                                          

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrHheE_t_1k

Saathi Haath Badhaana – From Naya Daur that gave us hits like Uden Jab Jab and Ye Desh hai veer jawan – this was an inspiring and motivational duet (Asha and Rafi) featuring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala.                                                                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-n_g3GhEkw

Pyar Par Bas To Nahin –from Sone Ki Chidiya.  Talat (also starring with Nutan in the film) in his inimitable style walks straight into your heart… sigh!!  Asha (also has her own equally brilliant version of the song in the film) with her gorgeous humming manages to create a lasting impression on the listener! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_yn4FxxTEU&feature=related

Haath Aaya Hai – The beautiful Sharmila woos Joy in this melody from Dil aur Mohabbat with lyrics by Shehan Rizvi.  Asha is a treat as she dominates the song with her fine nuances and variations with Mahendra Kapoor coming in for just the second stanza.       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5fqMF10vr4&feature=related

Mujhe mera pyar from Humsaya featuring Sharmila and Joy Mukherjee is yet another auditory treat sung by Asha and Rafi tackling with élan and ease the complicated twists and turns that OPN creates in the melody!  Great sitar and violins section and the trademark OPN rhythm add to the charm of the song!                                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-1htTfeOSc

Aankhon hi aakhon mein - What OPN duet list would be complete without this cheerful and treasured song from CID.  Rafi sings only the refrain, which is enough to set the mood for the song and Geeta complements Rafi’s gentleness with bright ebullience!  Simply orchestrated, this song has four verses but never seems too boring or long for the listener. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--sA1FZ7slY

I know the list is endless and that I can go on and on!  So many more duets I greatly love and admire like main pyar ka rahi hoon, isharon isharon, udhar tum haseen, jaane kahan mera, sun sun zalima, dekhoji dekho.  The above list is in no particular order of preference – would be too difficult for me to do that since I find them all equally wonderful!!  Would love to have comments from our readers about their favourite OPN duets and any trivia that they might like to share regarding them. 

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