Nayyar was born in
Lahore,
British India (present
Pakistan). He never received any formal music training. He composed the background score for
Kaneez (1949), and 1952's
Aasmaan (produced by
Dalsukh M. Pancholi), was his first film as music director. Nayyar then composed music for
Chham Chhama Chham (1952) and
Baaz (1953). Film producer, director and actor Guru Dutt enlisted him to compose and conduct music for
Aar Paar (1954), ''
Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955) and C.I.D.'' (1956). Nayyar's early work was primarily performed by Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi, with Asha Bhosle introduced in
C.I.D. Nayyar never worked with Lata Mangeshkar, though her song
Saari Saari Raat Teri Yaad Satayein from the 1958 film
Aji Bas Shukriyawas used in the 1973 Hindi film
Taxi Driver, for which he was the music director. In 1957 Filmalaya introduced
Nasir Hussain, who wanted a composer to provide romantic scores for newcomers Shammi Kapoor and
Ameeta. Nayyar's scores were featured in the Hussain films
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1964). During the decade, state-controlled
All India Radio banned most of Nayyar's songs because the broadcaster considered them too "trendy". According to music and film expert Rajesh Subramanian,
"Aap Ke Haseen Rukh" (from
Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi) was planned with full orchestration but many of the musicians were late for the recording. After a disagreement with Mohammed Rafi, Nayyar began working with singer
Mahendra Kapoor. Kapoor performed Nayyar's song
"Badal Jaaye Agar Maali, Chaman Hotaa Nahi Khaali" in
Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi. Based on a
Bengali language song
Ekla Chalo Re by
Rabindranath Tagore, Nayyar composed
"Chal Akelaa, Chal Akelaa" (sung by Mukesh in 1969 film
Sambandh). Nayyar co-produced songs with
Shamshad Begum (including
"Kajra Mohabbatwala"), and after
Madhubala's 1969 death
Vyjayanthimala,
Sadhana,
Mala Sinha,
Padmini,
Asha Parekh and
Sharmila Tagore lip-synced several Nayyar-Bhosle songs. Nayyar and Bhosle parted ways in 1974, and he then worked with Dilraj Kaur, Krishna Kalle,
Vani Jayaram and Kavita Krishanmurthy.
Majrooh Sultanpuri and
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote the lyrics for some of Nayyar's earlier songs, including
"Naya Daur". Nayyar also worked with developing lyricists such as
Jan Nisar Akhtar,
Qamar Jalalabadi,
S. H. Bihari and Ahmed Wasi. He began the tradition of assigning full, three-minute songs to comedians.
Om Prakash sang Nayyar's
"Churi Bane Kanta Bane" in
Jaali Note and
Eent ki dukhi paan ka ikka in
Howrah Bridge and
Johnny Walker sang
"Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan" in
CID,
"Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee" in
Mr. & Mrs. 55,
"Main Bambaika Baaboo, Naam Meraa Anjaanaa" in
Naya Daur and
"Bajewala" in
Basant. In addition to songs for Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt's,
Thandi Thandi Hawaa, Nayyar wrote
"Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanonkaa" (featuring
Dilip Kumar and
Ajit) for
Naya Daur (1957). The song earned him the 1958 Filmfare Best Music Director Award.
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974) (starring
Sunil Dutt and
Rekha) marked as last Nayyar's hit. The songs performed by Bhosle were
"Ek Tu Hai Piya",
"Dekho Are Dilbar",
"Chain Se Humko Kabhi".
"Chain Se Humko Kabhi" wasn't present in the film but won Bhosle the
Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Afterwards, Nayyar was less active in the 1970s and did not compose music for younger actors such as
Rajesh Khanna and
Amitabh Bachchan. His films included
Dilip Kumar,
Raj Kapoor,
Dev Anand,
Guru Dutt, Dharmendra,
Shammi Kapoor,
Sunil Dutt,
Joy Mukherjee,
Biswajit,
Feroz Khan,
Bharat Bhushan,
Madhubala,
Asha Parekh,
Sadhana,
Mumtaz,
Sharmila Tagore,
Rajshree,
Rekha,
Ameeta and
Shyama. In addition to Hindi films, Nayyar composed for
Neerajanam 1989 film in
Telugu. He made a brief comeback during the 1990s with
Mangni and
Nishchay in 1992 and
Zid in 1994. O.P. Nayyar played a major part in shaping up Asha's career, but Asha rarely mentions it. She mentions
S. D. Burman's name instead. Why OP and Asha parted away in 1974, neither of them ever talked about it. ==Personal life==