Known as the king of disco – Bappi Lahiri has passed away at the age of 69. And with this, the disco era of Bollywood has also come to an end.
Born into a Bengali family of singer, Bappi lahiri was trained by his parents who were trained classical singers, at the early age of four. He was close to his parents as he was the only child and had no siblings.
Bappi Da’s footsteps in the music industry
Bappi Lahiri started his music career at the age of 19 when he composed music for his first Bengali film Daadu in year 1972 and got his first Hindi film Nanha Shikari in year 1973. After the gap of two years and struggles Bappi Lahiri’s worked as a composer. His work was noticed in 1975 when he composed for Tahir Hussain’s Zakhmee and sang his first Song Nothing Is Impossible, Kehta Hoon Main Sach Bilkul.
Bappi Da is known for disco-style songs where he brought orchestration and fusion of Indian music with international sounds and youthful upbeat rhythms got success in Bollywood after late 70s. He then collaborated with his maternal uncle and legendary Indian singer Kishore Kumar ji. The uncle-nephew duo collaborated several times and made some remarkable music together.
Their most memorable song was Pag Ghunghroo Bandh from movie Namak Halaal which was released in 1982. While two other songs are Manzilen Apni Jagah Hai from Sharaabi, which hit the theatres in 1984. Chalate Chalte Mere Ye Geet Yad Rakhana from the film titled Chalte Chalte, released in 1975 and Saason Se Nahi Kadmose Nahi from Mohabbat, released in the year 1987. Their collaboration in Chalte Chale Mere Ye Geet Yad Rakhana gained widespread attention from the fans. Kishore Kumar won Filmfare Awards for his performances in Pag Ghungroo Baandh and Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain.
The songs from the film are composed by Bappi Lahiri. On the other hand, his collaboration with Bappi Lahiri in De De Pyar De, Inteha Ho Gayi, and Log Kehete Hai songs bagged him Filmfare Awards nominations. This Collaboration gave him huge success after which he earned the title – ‘King Of Disco’.
Bappi Lahiri also made in the Books of Guinness Book Of World Records in Year 1986 for composing 180 songs in 33 films which was a Record for highest Composition worldwide and he was also honored by the World Book of Records, London (UK) in Mumbai on May 1, 2018 for his Song “Jimmy Jimmy” from the 1982 film “Disco Dancer” Staring Mithun Chakraborty
Bappi Lahiri was known as Gold Man because his love for Gold, He was always seen heavily dressed up with loads of Gold chains and Bling, He considered gold Lucky for him, In one of his old interview he said “My mother gave me a gold chain with a Hare Rama Hare Krishna locket in it. I got Zakhmi – my first blockbuster. When my mother put on the chain for me, she had told me it would be lucky for me. More gold chains followed with more box-office successes. I have always got gold from my family. After my mother, it was my wife Chitrani who gifted me another gold chain with a big Ganpati locket on it, on my birthday, in 1977. This was following the super successful box-office runs of Aapki Ki Khatir and Bambai Ae Aa Mera Dost,” He also said that he Never weighted his gold as all the jewellery he has had Imprint of some God hence he never thought of weighting his jewellery.
King Of Disco Met King of Pop when Michael Jackson visited India in year 1996. Bappi Lahiri in an interview said “When Michael Jackson was in India, I had met him. I still remember him praising my song. he came up to me and noticed my gold chain with a Lord Ganesha pendant. He said, ‘Oh my God, fantastic! What’s your name? After I introduced Myself he asked me are you a Composer? I said yes then he had told me, ‘I love your song in Disco Dancer’. He said he had liked the song Jimmy Jimmy”.
Bappi Da’s family
Bappi Lahiri married Chitrani Lahiri on 24 January 1977 has 2 kids – Bappa Lahiri and Reema Lahiri. Both kids are into music industry. Bappa is a singer and a Music director, while his daughter Reema also followed the foot steps of her father.
He was active on social media and he used to post pictures from the past time to time.
Bappi Da in Politics
He also tried his luck in indian Politics and joined the Bhartiya Janta Party on January 31. He contested for Lok Sabha elections as he was declared BJP candidate from Srirampur seat, West Bengal.
69 Year old Disco king Bappi Lahiri passed away Tuesday night at the CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. he was dealing with multiple health issues, Bappi Lahiri
