Bappi Lahiri

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Bappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri (born 27 November 1952) is a music director in the Hindi (or Bollywood) film industry. He pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema, and also sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s with films like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi among others. He is very fond of jewelry and is usually found wearing gold ornaments and black glasses.

Biography

Early years

Bappi. D. Lahiri was born in Calcutta, West Bengal into a family with a rich tradition in classical music. His father, Aparesh Lahiri was a famous Bengali singer and his mother, Banshori Lahiri was a musician and a singer who was well-versed in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. He was their only child. At a very early age, he had the ambition to become famous, not only nationally, but internationally. He began to play the tabla at the tender age of three. His relatives from his mother's family include Kishore Kumar and the S. Mukherjee clan. Initially he was trained by his parents, after which he received his first opportunity in a Bengali film, Daadu (1972) at the age of 19.

Career

Hindi films

He came to Mumbai at the young age of 19. The first Hindi film for which he composed music was Nanha Shikari (1973). 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 himself sung a duet with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar called Nothing is Impossible for the same film. The songs of his next film, Chalte Chalte, became a rage. With Ravikant Nagaich's Surakshaa his singing and music became even more popular.

He also scored music for many Hindi films produced from South India.

Style of music

Bappi Lahiri pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavour. Most of his songs would be rendered by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. He launched Vijay Benedict and Sharon Prabhakar into the music industry. He also used Alisha Chinoy and Usha Uthup extensively for his compositions.

Allegations of Plagiarism

Throughout his career Bappi Lahiri has been accused of plagiarizing music produced by other composers without giving them any credit or royalties.[1] Conversely, in one instance, portions of his song "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai" were included in a 2002 single Addictive by American R&B Singer Truth Hurts. Copyright holders Saregama India, Ltd. sued Interscope Records and its parent company, Universal Music Group to the tune of more than $500 million. A Los Angeles federal judge subsequently barred further sales of the CD unless and until Lahiri was listed on the song's credits.[2]

Song History

He disappeared from the Indian film industry in the 1990s. He made a brief comeback in the Prakash Mehra produced 'Dalal' starring Mithun Chakraborty. The song 'Gutur Gutur' from the film was a big hit, though it had its own share of controversies due to its suggestive lyrics. In 2004, he brought out his album 'Bappi Magic - The Asli Baap Mix', featuring popular numbers such as 'Gori Hai Kalaiyan' and 'Jimmy Jimmy'. It attained great popularity. In 2005, he composed the background score for the Jahnu Barua film, 'Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara', thus reaffirming his identity as a very versatile composer. In 2006, he lent his voice to another composer for the first time with the song "Boombai Nagariya" which he sang for Vishal-Shekhar for the movie Taxi Number 9211. Of late, he has once again lent his voice to the title track of the Mani Ratnam film 'Guru', in which the music has been composed by A.R.Rahman. He has also recorded songs for the movie 'Level Crossing' produced by actor Jayaprada. In 2006, he appeared on the popular television show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs' on Zee TV as co-judge with singers Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet. He is currently a judge for the 2007 edition of Zee TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and Sony Entertainment Television's K For Kishore reality show that aims to find the 'heir apparent' to Kishore Kumar. In a September 2007 interview, he said, "I have films like Journey from Bombay to Goa, Jhoom, Khushboo,, Mudrank, Ek Hasina Ek Dewana, Jaane Bhi Do Yaroo, Budda Mil Gaya, Boothnath, and, of course, the show with the Jacksons, in the pipeline".^{[citation needed]} With S. I. Tutul, he provided music for Sarkar Raj (2008).

Personal life

Bappi Lahiri is married and has two children. His wife is Chitrani, daughter Rema and son Bappa. Bappa Lahiri is a music director.

Selected discography

Some of the movies for which he composed successful music are:

• Suraksha,
• Waardat,
• Armaan,
• Chalte Chalte,
• Commando,
• Ilzaam,
• Pyara Dushman,
• Disco Dancer,
• Dance Dance,
• Film Hi Film,
• Saheb,
• Tarzan,
• Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki,
• Wanted,
• Guru,
• Jyoti,
• Namak Halaal,
• Sharaabi-Winner Filmfare Best Music Director Award(1985)
• Aitbaar,
• Zindagi Ek Jua,
• Himatwalla and
• Justice Chaudary
• Complete List of Hindi Films with music by Bappi Lahiri

Bappi Lahiri has also done playback singing for his compositions. Some of the notable songs that he has sung include:

• Rahi Hu Mein (Wanted)
• Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyaraa hai (Wardat)
• Bambai Se Aaya mera Dost ( Aap ki khatir)
• Yaad Aa Raha Hai (Disco Dancer)
• Super Dancer (Dance Dance)
• Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena (Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki)
• Tera Mera Pehla Yaarana (Shart)
• Pyar Chahiye Mujhe Jeene Ke Liye (Manokamna)
• Raat Baaki (Namak Halal)
• Yaar Bina Chain Kaha Re (Saheb)
• Tamma Tamma Loge (Thaneedar)
• Pyar Kabhi Kam Nahi Karna (Prem Pratigya)
• Dekha Hai Maine Tumhe Phir Se Palatke (Suraksha)
• Dil Main Ho Tum
• Je La La (Tarzan)
• Bambai Nagariya (Taxi No 9211)

Before his disco rejuvenation he also gave some of the evergreen music to the industry that include:

• Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna
• Dil Se Mile Dil, Dil Se Mile Dil (Dil Se Mile Dil)
• Muskuraata Hua (Lahu Ke Do Rang)
• Chaar Din Ki Zindagi Hai (Ek Baar Kaho)
• Dheere Dheere Subah Huyi (Haisiyat)
• Maana Ho Tum (Toote Khilone)
• Teri Chhoti Si Bhool (Shikshaa)
• Yeh Naina Yeh Kajal (Dil Se Mile Dil)
• Gaao Mere Man (Apne Paraaye)
• Shyam Rang Ranga Re (Apne Paraaye)
• Pyar Hee Jeene Ki (Armaan)
• Pyar Manga Hai Tumhi Se
• Ke Pag Ghungroo Baandh Meera Nachi Thi
• Ankhon Mein Tum Hoton Pe Tum

It is not that Bappi Lahiri was only a disco freak; he has also produced beautiful Ghazals such as,

• Kisi Nazar ko tera intezaar aaj bhi hai (Aetbaar)
• Aawaz di hia (Aetbaar)

References

Bappi Lahiri wears gold of 2 kg (approx) on his body.

External links

• Bappi Lahiri: The Official Website of the Disco King
• Bappi Lahiri at the Internet Movie Database
• Unofficial fan club of Bappida
• Bappi Lahiri on SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2007
• Documentation of songs Bappi Lahiri copied or used as "inspiration"
• The song Nothing is Impossible from Zakhmee(1975)