BHAPPI LAHIRI... Disco...Disco

Bappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri, born 27 November in 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 with a combination of a tracksuit.

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 Surakksha his singing and music became even more popular.

He was the fittest musician for Mithun Chakraborty's Disco Dance based films. Mithun Chakraborty and Bappi Lahiri both became synonyms of Indian Disco culture since late 70's to early 90's. He also scored music for many Hindi films produced from South India. He is called 'Disco King' around India.

Bappi Lahiri pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavour.

 

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

• Rahi Hu Mein (Wanted: Dead or Alive)
• Bombai Se Aaya Mera Dost (Aap Ki Khatir)
• Mausam Hai Gaane Ka (Surakksha)
• Dil Tha Akela Akela (Surakksha)
• Bambai Se Aaya mera Dost ( Aap ki khatir)
• Yaad Aa Raha Hai (Disco Dancer)
• Super Dancer (Dance Dance)
• Pyar Chahiye Mujhe Jeene Ke Liye (Manokamna)
• Raat Baaki (Namak Halal)
• Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re (Saaheb)
• Tamma Tamma Loge (Thaneedar)
• Pyar Kabhi Kam Nahi Karna (Prem Pratigya)
• Dekha Hai Maine Tumhe Phir Se Palatke (Wardat)
• 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)
• Maana Ho Tum (Toote Khilone)
• Yeh Naina Yeh Kajal (Dil Se Mile Dil)
• Pyar Manga Hai Tumhi Se
• Ke Pag Ghungroo Baandh Meera Nachi Thi

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)

·         AWARDS    

·         Filmfare Awards
1985 - Filmfare Award     Best Music Director for Sharaabi (1984)