Most of his compositions have a distinct Punjabi influence. The legend created unforgettable songs as 'Ello main hari piya' (Aar Paar), 'Kahin pe nigahen kahin pe nishana (C.I.D.), 'Maang Ke Saath Tumhara' (Naya Daur), 'Aaiye meherban baithiye jaanejaan' (Howrah Bridge), 'Zara holle holle challo more sajna' (Sawan Ki Ghata), 'Chain se humko kabhi' ( Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye).

O.P. Nayyar was born in undivided India in Lahore in 1926. He was earlier employed in AIR, Jullundur. Nayyar scored very popular music for many 1950's films like Baaz, Aar Paar, Mr and Mrs '55 and Kishore Kumar films like P.L.Santoshi's Cham Chama Cham and Kardar's Baap Re Baap.

He dropped out of college to compose music. Not long afterwards HMV, the recording company, released his compositions ’ Pritam aan milo’ and ‘Kaun nagar tera door thikana’

His family shifted from Lahore to Amritsar after partition. In 1949, Nayyarcame to Bombay and met the producer-director Krishan Kewal who was making Kaneez. Thus his career started with scoring the background music for Kaneez.

In 1951 in Delhi Bhatia a close friend recommended Nayyar to Pancholi who was releasing Nagina starring Nutan and Nasir Khan. But he got his first break as a composer in Aasmaan. Followed were the films like ‘Chham Chhama Chham’ and Guru Dutt's Baaz.Santoshi had dropped Naushad to assign Nayyar while Guru Dutt too opted for Nayyar.But his films flooped badly so he was ready to pack his bags and leave for Amritsar The next film with Guru Dutt Aar Paar was a hit and later on they worked together in Mr. and Mrs. 55.

In the late 50s, his films include Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Presley image, and Howrah Bridge with the most famous song, Mera naam Chin Chin Choo.He also scored the Shammi Kapoor's hit film, Kashmir Ki Kali.

In the 1960s who did one film a year and crafted exquisite scores for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) and Mere Sanam (1965). His limited musical education did not come in the way of embellishing his melodies with well-chosen instruments like the sarangi which he popularised or the piano which ripples through Aapke haseen rukh pe from Baharein Phir Bhi Aayegi.

Guru Dutt and Nayyar reunited for Baharein Phir Bhi Aayegi (1966), but Asha was singing instead of Geeta in a Guru Dutt film. Nayyar's luck had begun to run out when it came to the box-office. Despite composing some truly timeless melodies like Dil ki awaz bhi sun for Joy Mukherji's Humsaaya (1968), the film didn't do well.

In the late 1960s, Nayyar fell out with his favourite Mohammad Rafi but managed to conjure memorable songs even with Mukesh (Chal akela), Mahendra Kapoor (Lakhon hai yahan dilwale) and Kishore Kumar (Tu auron ki kyon ho gayee).

Nayyar was so involved with Asha Bhosle that he neglected other great singers like Geeta Dutt and Lata Mangeshkar. Together they created magic. In about 70 films, they scaled new heights in music. He molded Asha's voice and gave her style and respectability.The Nayyar-Asha team lifted to an unprecedented high in 1957- 1958 with around nine releases in both years and a string of successful scores like Naya Daur (for which he won the Best Music Director Award), Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Sone Ki Chidiya, Phagun, Howrah Bridge and Ragini.

In the early 1990s, Nayyar made a surprise comeback with Zid and the Salman Khan-Karisma Kapoor starrer Nischay, with his unmistakable tunes. Today, the maestro,is seen as a guest on television shows.