Bappi Lahiri, great composer-singer who popularized disco music in India in the 80s and 90s, dies in a Mumbai hospital at 69.
The music composer and singer Bappi Lahiri, who had popularised disco music in India in the 80s and 90s, died at Mumbai’s CritiCare Hospital today, 16 February 2022. He was 69 and this occurred a few days after the outstanding nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshwar died on 6 February 2022.
“Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight,” Dr. Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told PTI.
Bappi Lahiri delivered popular songs in several films of the late 1970s-80s like ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Disco Dancer’, and ‘Sharaabi’. His last Bollywood song titled Bhankas was for the 2020 film ‘Baaghi 3’.
The singer’s last appearance on the screen was with Salman Khan on a reality show Bigg Boss 15, where he was promoting his grandson Swastik’s new song ‘Baccha Party’.
In April last year, the singer had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after testing positive for COVID. He recovered after a few days.
Bappi Lahiri’s Life and Career:
Early life
Alokesh Lahiri (27 November 1952 – 15 February 2022), famously known as Bappi Lahiri, was an Indian singer, composer, politician, and record producer.
Lahiri was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Jalpaiguri. His parents, Aparesh Lahiri and Bansuri Lahiri, both were Bengali singers and musicians in classical music and Shyama Sangeet and he was their only child.
His relatives include singer Kishore Kumar, his maternal uncle.
Lahiri began to play tabla at the age of 3 originally taught by his parents
Lahiri has two children, a son Bappa Lahiri and a daughter Rema Lahiri. His son is married to Taneesha Lahiri with whom he has a son Krishh Lahiri.
His favorite quote is ‘Gold is my God.’
Here are some of his best songs
Career
While known for disco-style songs, he has composed some melodious songs as well, such as the songs from Chalte Chalte and Zakhmee.
Bappi Lahiri was popular in the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s for the film soundtracks composed by him from films such as Naya Kadam, Aangan Ki Kali, Wardat, Disco Dancer, Hathkadi, Namak Halaal, Masterji, Dance Dance, Himmatwala, Justice Chaudhury, Tohfa, Maqsad, Commando, Gang Leader, Sailaab and Sharaabi. He came to Mumbai when he was 19. He got his first great opportunity in a Cinema in West Bengal, Daadu (1974) where he made Lata Mangeshkar sing his composition. The first Hindi film for which he composed music was Nanha Shikari (1973) and his first Hindi composition was Tu Hi Mera Chanda sung by Mukesh.
The turning point of his career was Tahir Husain’s Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975), for which he composed music and doubled as a playback singer. He composed a duet with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar named “Nothing Is Impossible”, for the same film. compositions Jalta Hai Jiya Mera (Kishore Asha duet) and Lata Mangeshkar solos like Abhi Abhi Thi Dushmani and Aao Tumhe Chand from the same film became popular and gave him recognition. The duet Phir Janam Lenge Hum sung by Kishore Lata became famous from the film Phir Janam Lengey Hum. All songs from the film Chalte Chalte (1976), became hits, thus bringing him recognition as a music director at the national level.
He sang a duet with Sulakshana Pandit named Jana Kahan Hai which gave him recognition as a singer. Songs from the films like Aap Ki Khatir, Dil Se Mile Dil, Patita,Lahu Ke Do Rang, Hatya and Ravikant Nagaichs Surakksha 1979 had soft music.
He also composed music for some ghazals, namely “Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai” and “Aawaz Di Hai” for the 1985 film Aitbaar. He also composed melodious songs sung by Kishore Kumar either as duets with Asha Bhosle or Lata Mangeshkar in the films starring Rajesh Khanna in the ’80s in hit films like Naya Kadam, Masterji, Aaj Ka M.L.A Ram Avatar, Bewafai, Maqsad, Suraag, Insaaf Main Karoonga, and Adhikar.
Bappi Lahiri made a record by composing for 12 super-hit silver jubilee movies starring Jetendra as the lead hero in the period 1983-1985. He entered the Guinness Book of World Records for recording over 180 songs for 33 films in 1986.
He popularised the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He had delivered major box office successes in Bengali films like Amar Sangee, Asha O Bhalobasha, Aamar Tumi, Amar Prem, Mandira, Badnam, Raktelekha, Priya, and so on.
He was popular in the 1980s and 1990s with filmi soundtracks such as Wardat, Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Sharaabi, Dance Dance, Commando, Saaheb, Gang Leader, Sailaab. Lahiri joined BJP in 2014. He was declared a BJP candidate from Srerampur (Lok Sabha constituency) in West Bengal for the 2014 Indian general election and lost.
He died aged 69 due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight at Mumbai’s CritiCare Hospital leaving behind a great legacy, deeply mourned and remembered with love by the nation. A few days ago, another great music icon died, Lata Mangeshwar
Two icons of the Indian music industry have left us within days of each other. Here, #BappiLahiri is photographed alongside #LataMangeshkar. May they rest in peace and glory. pic.twitter.com/G7xAxbNtbh
— Filmfare (@filmfare) February 16, 2022