The Hindi film industry woke up this morning to the shocking news of the demise of Bappi Lahiri, who made the nation dance to his disco tunes. He breathed his last a little before midnight yesterday (15th February) at Criti Care Hospital in Bombay. Although the film industry was aware that Bappi-da was not keeping good health, nobody expected the end to come so soon. He had multiple health issues but died due to obstructive sleep apnea. He was 69 years old and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
The music composer and singer had been admitted to the hospital for a month but was discharged on 14th February. His health deteriorated on 15th and he had to be rushed to the hospital again. He passed away soon thereafter. His funeral will be held tomorrow (17th) after the arrival of his musician son, Bappa, from Los Angeles.
Bappi Lahiri’s last public appearance was on television reality show Bigg Boss 15, where he had come to promote the new song — Bachcha party — of his grandson, Swastik. People who had seen the show would recall that Bappi-da looked extremely unwell on the show but managed to put on a brave front, complete with his trademark smile and occasional bursts of laughter, for the cameras. In April last year, the music director and singer had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital for COVID-19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed deep grief over the demise. In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “Shri Bappi Lahiri ji’s music was all encompassing, beautifully expressing diverse emotions. People across generations could relate to his works. His lively nature will be missed by everyone. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.” President Ram Nath Kovind said, “Shri Bappi Lahiri was a matchless singer-composer. His songs found popularity not only in India but abroad. His diverse range included youthful as well as soulful melodies. His memorable songs will continue to delight listeners for long time. Condolences to his family and fans.”
Bappi-da, as he was respectfully called, popularised disco songs in the 1980s and 1990s. His songs used to be a rage in the discotheques and, in a manner of speaking, he introduced the culture of dancing to Hindi film tunes in clubs and discotheques. Although he is known as the disco king, Bappi-da also composed music for a number of melodious, romantic and emotional songs.
Bappi Lahiri had a trademark style of wearing a lot of gold. At any given time, he had a number of gold chains and rings on himself. In fact, people used to often joke that his dressing up was incomplete without at least a hundred tolas of gold jewellery on himself.
Among Bappi-da’s well-known and landmark films are Disco Dancer, Himmatwala, Tohfa, Sharaabi, Namak Halaal, Aag Hi Aag, Aaj Ka Arjun, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Dalaal, Chalte Chalte, Saaheb and many others.
Some of his super-hit songs include I am a disco dancer (Disco Dancer), Jimmy Jimmy (Disco Dancer), Auva auva, koi yahan aha nache nache (Disco Dancer), Naino mein sapna (Himmatwala), Taki O taki O taki taki taki re (Himmatwala), Ek aankh maarun toh (Tohfa), Pyar ka tohfa tera, bana hai jeevan mera (Tohfa), Kaliyon ka chaman (Jyoti; he sued American musician Dr. Dre for copying this song for his album, ‘Addictive’, and won the case in 2003), Maana ho tum behadd haseen (Toote Khilone), Bambai se aaya mera dost (Aap Ki Khatir), O la la O la la (sung by him, not composed by him; The Dirty Picture), Rambha ho ho ho ho ho Sambha ho ho ho ho ho (Armaan), Pyar maanga hai tumhi se (College Girl), Gutur gutar (Dalaal), Main aaya tere liye (Ilzaam), Pag ghunghroo baandh (Namak Halaal), Raat baaki baat baaki (Namak Halaal), Aaj rapat jaaye toh humein na uthaiyo (Namak Halaal), Jawani jaaneman (Namak Halaal), Main tera tota, tu meri maina (Paap Ki Duniya), Yaar bina chain kahan re (Saaheb), Humko aaj kal hai (Sailaab), De de pyaar de (Sharaabi), Mujhe naulakha manga de re (Sharaabi), Inteha ho gayi intezar ki (Sharaabi), Thodi si jo pee lee hai (Sharaabi), Jahan chaar yaar mil jaaye (Sharaabi) and Tamma tamma loge (Thanedaar). Bhankas from Baaghi 3 was one of the last songs rendered by him.
A prolific music director, Bappi Lahiri had scored music in hundreds of films. For K.C. Bokadia alone, he composed the music for 22 films, some of which were also directed by producer Bokadia himself. He was also the favourite music director of producer-director B. Subhash. Mehul Kumar fondly remembers that Bappi Lahiri had composed the music for his very first film as director, a Hindi-Gujarati bilingual — Phir Janam Lenge Hum (Hindi) and Janam Janam Na Sathi (Gujarati).
Bappi-da also made a name for himself on the international music scene. He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 on a BJP ticket but lost.
Yaad aa raha hai tera pyaar / Kahan hum kahan tum / Huye tum kahan gum / Aa bhi jaa aa bhi jaa ek baar… these words of the super-hit song from Disco Dancer, composed by Bappi-da, will haunt us for years to come as we will miss the melodies of the composer-singer as much as we will, his love, warmth and congeniality. But another hit song of his from Chalte Chalte — Chalte chalte, mere yeh geet yaad rakhna / Kabhi alvida na kehna, kabhi alvida na kehna… should give us solace that the legend’s music compositions and renditions would keep him alive forever.