NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Indian music director O. P. Nayyar, who composed some of Bollywood’s most memorable tunes of the 1950s and 60s, died on Sunday after a heart attack at his home outside Mumbai, a news agency reported.

Nayyar, 81, was famous for the use of Punjabi rhythms in his music and is credited with making stars of several leading singers, including Asha Bhosle, Press Trust of India said.

Indian film director Mahesh Bhatt described Nayyar as “an audacious man who was a king in his time”.

Nayyar, who always dressed in white and was never seen without his distinctive black felt hat, was born in Lahore in what is now Pakistan in 1926.

He got his first break in 1949 when he was appointed music director on ‘Kaneez’ (Junior), but recognition came with 1950s movies like ‘Mr and Mrs 55’ and ‘CID’.—Reuters