Bappi Lahiri Biography: Legendary singer-composer Bappi Lahiri fondly known as Bappi da breathed his last at a Mumbai hospital on Tuesday night (15 February 2022). He was 69. Take a look at the father of disco’s endearing moments, about his early life, family, career, awards, legacy, and more.
Bappi Lahiri Biography: Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri, who was born as Alokesh Lahiri and is fondly known as Bappi da died in Mumbai hospital on Tuesday night (15 February 2022) at the age of 69. He popularised disco music in the Hindi film industry in the 1980s and 90s.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi uploaded a picture with him on Twitter, shared his condolence, and 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.”
Table of Contents
Bappi Lahiri: Key Facts
| Born | 27 November 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Jalpaiguri, West Bengal |
| Birth Name | Alokesh Lahiri |
| Nickname | Bappi Daa, Disco King of India |
| Died | 15 February 2022 (aged 69) |
| Place of Death | Criti Care Hospital, Mumbai, India |
| Parents | Father: Aparesh LahiriMother: Bansari Lahiri |
| Spouse(s) | Chitrani Lahiri |
| Children | Son: Bappa LahiriDaughter: Rema Lahiri |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Composer, Actor, Record Producer, Politician |
| Instruments | Vocals, tabla, piano, drum, guitar, saxophone, bongos, dholak |
| Labels | BL Sound, Saregama, Venus Records & Tapes, T-Series, Tips Industries, Universal Music Group, Abbey Road Studios, Planet LA Records |
Bappi Lahiri: Early Life, Family, Marriage, Children
The “Disco King” of India, Bappi Lahiri was well known for his signature dark glasses, opulent jewelry, and white jumpsuits. He was born on 27 November 1952 into a Bengali Brahmin family in Jalpaiguri. His parents were Aparesh Lahiri, and Bansari Lahiri. Both were Bengali singers and musicians in classical music and Shyama Sangeet.
His birth name was Alokesh Lahiri. He was their only child. At the age of three, he began to play tabla. He was trained by his parents first. He was married to Chitrani Lahiri and the couple has two children, a son, Bappa Lahiri, and a daughter, Rema Lahiri.
His daughter, Rema Lahiri is an excellent singer, son Bappa Lahiri has inherited his father’s keen sense of music. He joined the Hindi film industry as a music director.
He was also popular for disco-electronic music. At a very young age, he had the ambition to become famous, not only nationally, but also internationally.
Bappi Lahiri Biography: Career
He became popular in the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s for the film soundtracks composed by him from films including 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
As a music director, he began his career at the young age of 19. He received his first opportunity in a Bengali film named Daadu (1972). The first Hindi film for which he composed music was Nanha Shikari (1973). Tahir Husain’s Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975) was the turning point in his career. For this film, he composed music and doubled as a playback singer. This film brought fame to him and brought forth a new era in the Hindi film industry. He rose from strength to strength. His music for subsequent films Chalte Chalte and Surakshaa were tremendously popular. He gained stardom and became the youngest music director of his time who received intense success in such a short duration.
In India, Bappi da was the pioneer of disco beats, and his refreshing, vibrant, and rhythmic music had made the entire nation dance for decades. He was recognised as the sole originator of the disco beat in India and so, widely known as the “Disco King”.
He was the most popular music director in the 1980s and one of his most famous compositions for films such as Disco Dancer has left a lasting imprint in the minds of all music lovers. He was a complete entertainer, a superstar with various talents as a singer, music director, and percussionist.
He worked with the singing legends of the Hindi music industry.
He sang duets with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. He also worked with renowned singers including Late Lata Mangeshkar, and Asha Bhosle. A duet was composed by him with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar’s “Nothing is Impossible”. Kishore and Asha Bhosle duet Jalta Hai Jiya Mera was also composed by him. Late Mangeshlar solos like Abhi Abhi Thi Dushmani and Aao Tumhe Chand became popular and gave him recognition. He received recognition at a national level from the songs of the film Chalte Chalte (1976).
He composed music for gazals also like “Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai” and “Aawaz Di Hai” for the 1985 film Aitbaar.For several other films, he composed melodious songs which were sung by Kishore Kumar, either as duets with Asha Ji or Lata Ji in the films starring Rajesh Khanna in the 80s like Naya Kadam, Masterji, Aaj Ka M.L.A Ram Avatar, Bewafai, Maqsad, Suraag, Insaaf Main Karoonga, and Adhikar.
After receiving success for the film Himmatwala, he regularly composed duets sung by Kishore Ji for films like Justice Chowdhary, Jaani Dost, Mawali, Haisiyat, Tohfa, Balidaan, Qaidi, Hoshiyaar, Sinhasan, Suhaagan, Majaal, Tamasha, Sone Pe Suhaga, and Dharm Adhikari. He made a record by composing for 12 super-hit silver jubilee movies from1983-85. His name entered the Guinness Book of World Records for recording over 180 songs for 33 films in 1986.
Throughout the 1990s, Bappi da reigned over the Hindi music industry. He provided music for the Prakash Mehra produced ‘Dala’ starring Mithun Chakraborty. The song ‘Gutur Gutur’ from the film was a super hit. In the 2000s, his popularity remained in the masses as strong as ever. His album ‘Bappi Magic – The Asli Baap Mix’ featured popular numbers like ”Gori Hai Kalaiyan’ and ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ was released in 2004 to great fanfare and attained great success. He also composed the background score for the Janhu Barua film, ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara’. Portions of Lahiri’s song “Thoda Resham Lagta Hai” were included in the 2002 song “Addictive” by American R&B singer Truth Hurts.
In 2006, he lent his voice to another composer for the first time with the song ‘Bombai Nagariya’. He sang this for Vishal-Shekhar for the movie Taxi Number 9211. It also gained intense success. He also lent his voice for the title track of the Mani Ratnam film ‘Guru’. The music was composed by A.R Rahman and also became a big hit.
He also appeared in Televisions
After conquering the world of big-screen Hindi films, he appeared on the popular television show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs’ in 2006 on Zee TV as co-judge with singers Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet. He was also one of the celebrated judges for Zee TV’s ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007’. He also judged the ‘K for Kishore’ reality show for Sony Entertainment Television. All these shows gained him a tremendous amount of popularity.
He dubbed for animated Character
Not only this, Bappi Lahiri voiced the character of Tamatoa in late 2016 in the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney’s 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film Moana. He also composed and sang “Shona” (Gold), the Hindi version of “Shiny”. He dubbed for the animated character for the first time and also appeared in Ramratan’s song “Yeh Hai Dance Bar”. Bappi da won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.
With his album My Love, he transcends the barriers between the East and West and made history once more.
Bappi Lahiri: Political Career
On 31 January 2014, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha election. In 2014, he was made a BJP candidate from Serampur (Lok Sabha constituency) but he lost to Kalyan Banerjee of All India Trinamool Congress.
Bappi Lahiri: Awards
He won three awards:
Filmfare Award in 2018 – Lifetime Achievement Award
Filmfare Award in 1985 – Best Music Director for Sharaabi
Mirchi Music Awards 2018 – Lifetime Achievement Award