Bappi Lahiri is a popular Indian singer, producer, composer and musician. He became famous primarily as a film composer. He has more than 150 songs for various films on his account.
He is familiar to the general public thanks to the hit “Jimmy Jimmy, Acha Acha” from the Disco Dancer tape. It was this musician who in the 70s came up with the idea of introducing disco-style arrangements into Indian cinema.
Reference: Disco is one of the main genres of dance music of the 20th century, which emerged in the early 1970s. years.
Childhood and youth of Alokesh Lahiri
The artist's date of birth is November 27, 1952. He was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Calcutta (West Bengal, India). He was lucky to be brought up in a primordially intelligent, and most importantly, creative family. Both parents were singers and musicians of classical music.
Alokesh adored the atmosphere that reigned in their house. Parents listened to the immortal compositions of the classics, thereby instilling in their son a love for the "correct" music. The Lahiri family invited artists they knew to the house, and they arranged impromptu evenings.
The boy got acquainted early with musical instruments. He was interested in studying the sound of the tabla instrument. From the age of 3 he began to master the steam drum
Reference: Tabla is a musical instrument, which is a small paired drum. It was widely used in Indian classical music of the North Indian Hindustani tradition (Northern India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh).
Alokesh to "holes" erased the records of the American singer Elvis Presley. The guy loved not only to listen to immortal tracks, but also to follow the image of the artist. It was under the influence of Presley that he began to wear jewelry, which eventually became his obligatory attribute.
The creative path of Bappi Lahiri
Bappy began his career as a composer early. Moreover, he received great recognition as the author of musical works for films. He wrote cool disco songs. In his works, the artist brought the orchestration and perfect mixing of Indian music with international sounds and youthful upbeat rhythms.
His repertoire includes an impressive number of songs that were previously played on the best dance floors in many countries of the world, including the former USSR. Despite this, he sometimes skillfully recorded melodic and lyrical works that touched the soul.
Popularity covered him headlong at sunset in the 70s of the last century. During this period of time, he wrote soundtracks for films that are considered classics today. His works can be heard in the films: Naya Kadam, Aangan Ki Kali, Wardat, Disco Dancer, Hathkadi, Namak Halaal, Masterji, Dance Dance, Himmatwala, Justice Chaudhury, Tohfa, Maqsad, Commando, Naukar Biwi Ka, Adhikar and Sharaabi.
In the mid-80s of the last century, his tracks were featured in the films Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai and Aawaz Di Hai. He entered the Guinness Book of Records for recording over 180 tracks for 33 films in 1986.
In addition to being remembered as a film composer, Bappi Lahiri was distinguished by his signature style of clothing. He wore gold accessories and velvety cardigans. Sunglasses were an integral part of the singer's image.
Bappi Lahiri's creativity in the new century
In the new century, the musician did not stop at the achieved result. He continued to compose tracks that adorned the films, adding to them a "competent" sound. So from the beginning of 2000 to 2020, Bappi composed tracks for the following tapes:
- Justice Chowdhary
- Mudrank
- C Kcompany
- Chandni Chowk to China
- Jai Veeru
- The Dirty Picture
- gun day
- Jolly L.L.B.
- Himmatwala
- Main Aur Mr. Right
- Badrinath Ki Dulhania
- 3rd Eye
- Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyaar Ke
- Why Cheat India
- Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
- Baaghi 3
In late 2016, he voiced the character Tamatoa in the Hindi-dubbed version of the 3D computer-animated cartoon Moana. By the way, this was his first dubbing for an animated character performed by the composer. Also during this time span, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.
Bappi Lahiri: details of the artist's personal life
It is known that he was in an official relationship with a woman named Chitrani. The couple raised two children - Bapp and Rema Lahiri. In his speech on the chat show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, the composer spoke about the love story with his wife, whom he took as his wife when she was 18 and he was 23 years old.
The love story of Chitrani and Bappi is linked to the musical work Pyar Manga Hai. The musician went to record the track at the Famous Studio in Tardeo, and Chitrana went with him. The text contained the words "pyar manga hai tumhi se, na inkaar karo, paas baitho zara aaj tum, ikraar karo". As it turned out, a charming girl inspired the musician to write the composition. He confessed his love to her.
She impressed him with her voice and appearance. Even then, the musician decided that the girl would become his wife. By the way, they had known each other for a very long time. Their parents were family friends. Childhood friendship managed to develop into something more serious.
“As Chitrani said, we were friends. I met her a long time ago when we were both very young. But every time I met her, I was inspired…”, – said the artist in one of his interviews.
Interesting facts about Bappi Lahiri
- He was called the "King of Disco".
- Kishore Kumar was Bappi Lahiri's maternal uncle (Kishore Kumar is an Indian singer and actor - note Salve Music). By the way, the composer made his film debut with his uncle.
- Bappi is suing American rapper Dr Dre after he copied the tune Kaliyon Ka Chaman for Addictive. Dr Dre later mentioned Bappi Lahiri.
- The musician joined the Bhartiya Janata Party in 2014.
- Once Michael Jackson asked the artist to give him a gold pendant. He refused, and later said: "Michael has everything, but I have only this."
The last years of life and death of Bappi Lahiri
He released his latest musical composition in September 2021. He composed the music for the religious song Ganpati Bappa Morya and shared it on his social media.
On February 15, 2022, he passed away. The artist died at the age of 69 in Mumbai. Note that a few days before that, the composer returned from the clinic, where he was treated for about a month.
The day after he was discharged, he became ill. Relatives immediately called an ambulance. Alas, at night he had a respiratory arrest caused by obstructive sleep apnea (a breathing disorder in which a sleeping person stops breathing for short periods).
