Legendary composer who gave Kishore Kumar a break, once owned 3 luxury cars, died alone; no family members attended his last rites
Agencies OP Nayyar and Kishore Kumar came together for several hit songs.
Once, he was one of the most influential composers in Bollywood, making stars dance to his tunes and bringing evergreen chartbusters to life. However, OP Nayyar, the mastermind behind timeless songs such as classic club banger 'Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu' and the soulful and seductive 'Aaiye Mehrban', spent his twilight years in complete isolation and in dire financial straits. According to a DNA report, not one of his family members or anyone from the Bollywood fraternity attended his last rites when he passed away in 2007 following a heart attack.Bursting onto the scene in the 1950s as a confident, young refugee from Lahore, Nayyar challenged the titans of his day—Anil Biswas, Naushad Ali, Shankar-Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, and C. Ramchandra—and emerged as one of the most successful and highest-paid music directors in Bollywood.
As per a Hindustan Times report, despite lacking formal training in classical music, Nayyar composed songs deeply rooted in Indian ragas, like Chhota Sa Balama in Raag Tilang and the entire Phagun soundtrack in Raag Pilu. As the golden era faded, so did Nayyar's prominence in the industry. By the late 1970s, personal and professional setbacks started taking their toll. He distanced himself from his family in 1979, and although he returned briefly, he permanently separated from them in 1989. A
After spending some time with singer Madhuri Joglekar in Virar, Nayyar moved in with the Nakhwa family in Thane as a paying guest. According to Indian Express, he had chosen a life of quiet withdrawal, asking to remain disconnected from both his biological family and the glamorous film world that once idolised him. Rani Nakhwa, who came to know him through a small telephone booth where she worked, had no idea of his celebrity status when they first met. She offered him a room in her modest one-bedroom home. Over time, the bond deepened. He became a father figure to her, and she affectionately referred to him as Babujee. He, in turn, called her Raju, having disliked her real name. In his final years, he preferred the company of these ordinary yet kind-hearted people, choosing familial warmth over material success.In an interview with OPNayyar.org , Nakhwa said, "He lived like a king here. He liked having a beer in the afternoon and had his staple of two pegs of scotch in the evenings."When O.P. Nayyar passed away in January 2007 due to a heart attack, the music world lost one of its most influential voices. However, in accordance with his wishes, none of his family members or anyone from the film industry was informed. His funeral was attended only by the Nakhwa family, who had become his closest companions in his final chapter.
Reminiscing about his death, Nakhwa told OPNayyar.org , "He had told us not to inform his family of his death. We performed his last rites.' Nayyar's artistic contributions remain unmatched. Though his debut film, Asman, was unsuccessful, his big break came with Aar Paar in 1954 under Guru Dutt's guidance. With a revolutionary blend of Indian rhythmic patterns and Western instrumentation like saxophone, clarinet, and sarangi, as highlighted by the Hindustan Times , Nayyar transformed the soundscape of Hindi cinema. He once owned three luxury cars and hosted lavish parties at his music room in Kemp's Corner, but his final years were marked by simplicity, detachment, and emotional depth—mirroring the very soul of his compositions, the HT report revealed.
He introduced and championed major voices like Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. He worked with Kumar on several successful songs, including those in films like 'Baap Re Baap' (1955) and 'Ragini' (1958).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
41 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Kerala film conclave to be held in Thiruvananthapuram in August
The Kerala Film Policy Conclave, organised by the State government as part of the framing of a policy for the Malayalam film industry, will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on August 2 and 3 this year. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conclave at a function to be held at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall inside the Legislative Assembly complex here. Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian will preside over the function. The conclave, which will comprehensively discuss various aspects of cinema, will be attended by representatives of the seventeen states that have formulated the film policy, representatives of the National Film Development Corporation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism, personalities from the Indian film industry as well as international experts, various film organisations and experts in the fields of labour and law. Comprehensive discussions will be held on various issues related to the film sector. Following the conclave, the government aims to publish the draft of the film policy within a month. The film policy committee has till now held a total of 75 meetings with various stakeholders in the industry as part of efforts at formulating the policy. One of the major issues raised by various stakeholders in the meetings was the lack of formal recognition as an industry, due to which regulations are not in place to govern most of the activities in the Malayalam film industry. Following the discussions, the film policy panel outlined thematic areas regarding issues to be taken care of by the different government departments. The key thematic area will be the one related to gender and working conditions in the industry regarding issues to be handled by the Labour and Women and Child Development departments as well as the Human Rights Commission. These include issues related to casting couch, lack of proper implementation of Internal Committees in film sets, disparity in remuneration, threats against dissenting voices, long working hours, lack of women in technical departments, exploitation by agents and substance abuse.
India Gazette
42 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Pro Panja League co founder Parvinn Dabass shares vision at WOW awards 2025
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] June 23 (ANI): Pro Panja League co-founder Parvinn Dabass spoke at the WOW Awards & Convention 2025 (WOW Awards Asia) today at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, according to a release from Pro Panja League. At the two-day event themed WOW Megaverse, the actor-turned-sports entrepreneur shared his journey of creating India's leading professional arm-wrestling league. The founder of Pro Panja League also announced the Indian team's official participation for the prestigious World Police Games taking place in the USA. Explaining about the shift from being an MMA and UFC podcaster to founding Pro Panja League, Dabass stated, 'We started a website called and a podcast, the MMA India show. But when we wanted to start promoting sports, we wanted something for the masses at a low cost. We identified Panja because it's a sport with strong Indian roots and international appeal.' Stressing on building Panja beyond just a league and announcing the Indian Arm Wrestling squad's official participation for the World Police Games taking place in the USA this month, Dabass shares, 'We are not just building a league; we are building a complete ecosystem. We do events throughout the year, international events, corporate events, college events. We recently got into the World police games as well; the team is going to the USA.' Talking about the league being a standout for its inclusive approach as compared to other indigenous sports, Parvinn shares, 'We are one of the few leagues in the world, if not the only one, which has men, women and special athletes on the same platform from the very beginning.' Speaking about Pro Panja League's unique sports tourism strategy and distinctive venue choices, Dabass explained, 'Panja is one of the few sports which can fit any destination. We did our first event in front of the Gateway of India, surrounded by water on three sides. We did a huge event in front of the Gwalior Fort on the banks of the river, on top of a casino boat in Goa. The league has endorsed and supported partnerships with tourism boards, including Uttarakhand and Mizoram, turning events into destination experiences that showcase India's diverse locations.' Addressing why the sport works well in India, Dabass noted, 'We are a safe combat sport, the only one. I think Indian audiences connect more well with controlled combat sports. After starting just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the league has grown significantly. 'After our first season, we became known as the biggest arm wrestling promotion in the world with the best production,' Dabass added. Pro Panja League is India's top professional arm wrestling tournament, founded by actor-director-producer Parvinn Dabass and actress Preeti Jhangiani. Preeti Jhangiani serves as President of the People's Arm Wrestling Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Arm Wrestling Federation. The league's second season begins on August 5. (ANI)
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Kolhapuri Chappals Walk The Prada Runway. Without Any Credit To India, Unsurprisingly
The fashion world is finally catching on: India isn't just watching the runway, it's setting the trends. From designers like Sabyasachi and Rahul Mishra lighting up international fashion weeks to Indian motifs making their way into high fashion editorials, there's no denying it -- India is having a moment. But ask the Internet and fashion insiders, and they'll tell you one thing: the global industry still hasn't learned how to say "credit where it's due". Especially when it comes to anything 'inspired by' India. Take the latest fashion lookback. What's being paraded as cutting-edge often feels suspiciously familiar. From dupattas rebranded as "Scandinavian scarves" to lehengas styled as Y2K maxi skirts, to Gucci calling Alia Bhatt's Cannes saree look, a gown; the West seems to be falling in love with Indian fashion... but conveniently forgetting to mention it. And now, the humble Kolhapuri chappal has entered the global chat. What Yes, those Kolhapuris. The iconic, hand-stitched leather sandals that trace their roots back to 12th or 13th century Maharashtra have walked their way onto the global stage, thanks to none other than Prada. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prada (@prada) The Italian luxury label unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection in a dramatic, meaning-defying showcase curated by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons. With 56 looks in total, the show leaned hard into contrasts -- think brown leather jackets paired with briefs, and grey suits layered over red turtlenecks. The theme? "A shift of attitude - dismantling of meaning, and dismantling power." But there was little shift of attitude when it came to mentioning India. While the fashion crowd tried to decode the chaos, Indian viewers had laser focus -- four of the models were wearing what unmistakably looked like Kolhapuri chappals. A Legacy In Leather Here's a quick crash course on these chappal s: Kolhapuris are not just footwear, they're tradition stitched in leather. Originally crafted by skilled cobblers in the Kolhapur region, they gained fame for their durability, unique design and comfort. In the 18th century, King Shahu Maharaj himself helped popularise them, elevating their status beyond the local bazaar. Kholapuri chappal s are a favourite with not only influcencers, but Bollywood too. Today, you'll find Kolhapuris everywhere -- from street style to designer racks. And now, it seems, the Prada runway in Milan as well. But is this global love letter to Indian footwear authentic appreciation, or yet another case of fashion whitewashing? Mixed Reactions Online While some users celebrated the global spotlight on Indian craftsmanship, others weren't impressed. Many called it a repeat of the infamous "Scandinavian scarf" episode -- when Western brands styled a chunni and called it Nordic minimalism. "Prada SS26 includes Kolhapuri chappal, which originated from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, and is known for its intricate design and craftsmanship. Just like the 'Scandinavian scarves', the Western fashion industry is ripping off Indian fashion again," read one sharp comment on X. Here's what the internet had to say: It's not the first time a luxury brand has borrowed -- or outright lifted -- from Indian heritage. And while some argue that fashion has always been about borrowing and blending, the lack of attribution still stings.
