Au Revoir Mr. O.P.N!

One of my favourite Music Composers left for his heavenly abode on Sunday.

I opened various news sites to read more about how he had passed away. But hey! Most news sites did not even consider Mr. O.P.Nayyar consequential enough to devote a tiny sq. cm of newsprint to him! Ofcourse and why would they? Shilpa Shetty winning Big Brother deserves to make the headlines; Amitabh Bachchan quoting that Ash is a domesticated girl provides food for our news hungry souls. But not an old ‘loony’ music composer who has been a recluse for the last few decades. It does not matter that he gave Bollywood some of the biggest hits, some of the most melodious numbers that one can identify with even today. It does not matter that most of his songs have been converted into raunchy remixes by adding a few beats here and there – so if those songs were not created in the first place, our Indian remix Industry would be at a loss of what to mutilate next.

Not a ‘famous’ soul cried (or may be they did but the media did not consider that important too – if AB hurts his toe, you will have the entire film industry shedding copious tears and the media reporting it as headlines!). Not even the ‘Rajas of Remix’ most of whose ‘masterpieces’ are created by mixing various sounds and beats with O.P.N’s melodies. Am just thinking aloud – should they not at least shed tears wondering what they would do once their stock of O.P.N melodies is exhausted? What will they remix next?

I guess this is what happens when you shut yourself away from the limelight. If you are out of sight once, you are out of mind for the media forever.

‘Yellow Journalists’ of the Indian media – the next time you hum a ‘Mera naam chin chin choo’ or ‘Zara holle holle chalo more sajna’ or ‘Babuji dheere chalna’, remember that these melodies were created by the magician you did not even think deserved a tribute when he died!
Mr. Nayyar, some of us who loved your music and who can identify with it even today, mourn for you. May your soul rest in peace!