THE KING OF RHYTHM , OP NAYYAR AND HIS "TONGA BEATS"

  Top 10  Songs of OP Nayyar  with  his Trade mark TONGA BEATS  or  Ghoda Gaadi Beats

Every Music  Composer in Bollywood  from the  past, used  to have some of their  own, typical, trademark  music  pieces or  compositions  which  they  repeatedly  used  in their  songs . OP Nayyar  who is  considered  the  original King of  Rhythms( later Pancham was  also called  by that name), had  these  "Tonga  beats "  as  his  signature  tune , in many of  his  songs. Todays  attempt is  pick  10  of  his best  compositions  which had  his trademark Tonga  Beats .   Do note  that not all  of these songs have  the  characters / actors going or riding  in a  Tonga , but still  the beats were used to get that  special  effect in music, let us  start the  Count down.

1) First  song, where it started  may be ,  Film is  CID ,( A Guru Dutt Production, with Dev Anand as  hero) Song is Yeh Dil  Hai  Mushkil  hai Jeena Yaha, Yeh hai Bomaby Meri  Jaan  ,  picturised on Johny Walker and  Kum Kum ( ?) , and sung by Mohd  Rafi and  Geeta  Dutt, and written by Majrooh, shot on the streets  of  old  Bombay, there is NO Tonga  in this  song, but the  beats..  very  much there . (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJr7RlNwnUM)

2)Yu Toh  Humne  Lakh dika  hai,   the  tittle  song  of Tumsa Nahin Dekha, first  Film Directed by Naseer Hussain, and  had  Shammi Kapoor and  Ameeta  in the  lead. This is  considered a  break thro film for  Shammi, and made him  a star.  This  song  is  by Mohd  Rafi  and  the lyrics again by Majrooh Sultanpuri.  There is a  female  version by Lata  too  of same  song.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezpvc3lNLK0)
 
3)Maang ki Saath Tumhara,    From,  Naya  Daur.  This  BR Chopra  film Starring  Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala  is  a  Land Mark film in Indian Cinema , for  many reasons , one of  them being OP Nayyar's Music. It had  some wonderful songs  and  this  one  with the  Tonga  beats  is a  stand  out . Sung by  Mohd  Rafi and  Asha  and  lyrics  by Sahir  Ludhanvi , this  remains  even today  an Immortal song .(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBUBPElquj4)

4)Zara Haule Haule Chalo More Sajna  from ,Sawan Ki Ghata, a  Shakti Samanta  Film, starring Manoj Kumar and  beautiful Sharmila Tagore. This was  not  too  popular a  film, but this  song is  real foot tapping with its  rhythmic  beats, sung by  Asha  and  Written  by SH Bihari ( one of favorite lyricistof  OP Nayyar. It is  beleived  that  some  of Songs  Recorded for  Shakti Samanthas previous musical super hit  Kashmir  Ki Kali, was used in this  film.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=832PCXbQ37g)

5 )and 6)   Two  Songs  from the  film, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon,  another Nasir Hussain directed  Musical  Super  hit, starring   Asha Parekh and  Joy Mukerjee . This  is  second time  OP associated  with Naseer Hussain, Two  songs, both Rafi Solos,  first  one  the  Tittle  Song  Bandha Paravar , Phir  wahi DIL Laya  Hoon,  and  Second  one  is  Lakhon Hai Nigah Mein, this  is  not  in a  Tonga  again, and  Tong beats  are more  evident  in second half  of the  song. Both  songs  written By Majrooh, again.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFQteh1nrsM) and  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCp_Qm4PA3o)

7) Film is, Baap Re  Baap, Song is  Piya Piya Piya, Mera Jiya Pukaare , a  Duet  by Kishore  and  Asha, picturised  on Kishore  Kumar, the  hero and  Chand Usmani.  This  is actually in a  Carriage/ Tonga , song is  written by Jaan Nishar  Akhtar ( father  of  Javed  Akhtar)  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHji5Vzvvj4)
  
8)Film is,  Howrah Bridge , The  songs  is  Yeh Kya Kar Daala Tune ,  A Shakti Samanta  film, song picturised  on Ashok Kumar  and  Madhubala,  written by  Qamar Jallalabadhi , . This  film of course  made more  famous  songs,  Aaiye Meharabaan,  Mera Naam  Hai Chun Chun  Baba.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq2MJUo0KkQ)

9)Film, Humsaaya , song Mujhe Mera Pyar De De" , This  film starred ,Joy Mukerjee, Sharmila Tagore and Mala Sinha, Produced and  Directed  by Joy M himself, this song is  sung by  Rafi and  Asha  and  written by SH Bihari, not so  popular as  other  songs  in this  list, but a  melodious  one .
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy9wuIa1URY)

10) Film ,Bahare Phir Bhi Ayengi, song   the  Tittle  song, Badal Jaaye Agar Maali". This  film was  last from Guru Dutt  Productions, he died before  it was  released, starring  Dharmendra, Mala Sinha and Tanuja. This  song is  voice of  Mahendra  Kapoor, written by  SH Bihari, in  fact is  shot  in a train. The other  more popular  song in this  film, was  Aap Ki Haseen Rukh Pe,  by Rafi.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwpaXBguDlw)

It is  not  only  OP Nayyar  who used  these Tonga  beats  , many other  composers  also  tried  it, to name  a  few,  Naushad  in Many of  his  earlier songs , Salil Chaudray ( Madhumati  Songs and Itna Na Mujhe Se from Chaya), Ravi ,Usha Khanna ( Chand Ko Kya Maloom, Lal Bangla), Roshan in Usko Nahi  Dekha Kabhi Hai  Maa  from  film ,  Daadi Maa.

Some  25 years back, Composer  Tushar Bhatia  tried  to recreate  OP Nayyar's magical  music and  his  special Tonga  beats in the  music, of film Andaz Apna  Apna, especially in the  song, Ello Ello Sanam Hum Aa Gaye, was  he  succesful, not much i  would  say.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuQMdLveulc)

Hope  you  liked  this some  what  Unique  Count Down, Hindi films and  its songs, has  countless such very interesting  things  to discuss. Please  read and feedback, and  mention your name when you do. Will be  back soon  with any other interesting  series  of  Old  Hindi Retro songs