He is known for his timeless foot-tapping numbers. Songs that have stood the test of time despite the years gone past. Right from a Rambha Ho Ho Ho to Oh La La, Bappi Lahiri has ruled his space for several decades. The golden man has just recovered from Covid 19 and here are a few excerpts from an earlier interview.
Early years
I started playing table from the age of 4 years. Both my parents are great singers and I am an only son. I also have a photo where I am sitting on Lata (Lata Mangeshkar) didi’s lap as a child. She sang for my father who was a brilliant music composer. At the age of 9 years I composed my first Bengali song that my dad sang. Though I was good in school, I was immersed in music always. When I was 18, in a film called Dadu I music directed the three Mangeshkar sisters Usha, Asha and Lata Mangeshkar. After that I told my dad that I want to try my luck in the Hindi film industry.
Mumbai Diaries
I came to Mumbai in 1971 to work with Shomu Mukherjee for Nanha Shikari that had Deb Mukherjee, Joy Mukherjee and Tanuja. The film didn’t do well. I also did the background score for Parveen Babi’s film with Salim Durrani called Charitra. Kishore da gave me a role in Badti ka Naam gaadi as well. But the Santa Claus of my life were Nasir Hussain and Tahir Hussain. Ao Tumhe Chaand pe le jaaye, Jalta Hai jiya etc from Zakhmee became super hits in 1973. Then came Chalte Chalte and Kabhi Alvida Na kehna. Songs that are played till date. All my songs of Namak Halal (1982) were superhits. For the first time ever, Shashi Kapoor recorded with me. His dialogue is part of my song in Raat Baaki. Then I was on a roll!
My Kishore Mama
I used to call the legendary Kishore Kumar, Kishore Mama. He was like a brother to my mother Gauri. He was very pleased when she tied rakhi to him. He was cracking jokes during the recording of the Sridevi- Mithun Chakraborty starrer Guru, saying he will make a film and get lyricist Indeevar as Tarzan. Now Indeevar saab was 4 ft something and we all collapsed laughing. During the conversation he told us that he had laughed very much and that when he is not alive anymore, we all will remember him very fondly. Later, the same night we had to rush to his home to the sad news of his death. We were with his body till his elder son Amit Kumar came for the funeral. He was in the Toronto for a show and it took him that long to reach.
Yaad Aa Raha Hai
My life’s most important song from Disco Dancer was Yaad Aa raha hai and Kishore mama was to sing it. There was a 60 people orchestra waiting for him to record the song but he couldn’t make it. So, I sang the song so that he could dub it later. When he heard the song, he was so pleased to hear my voice that he told the producer K Subhash that he couldn’t sing the song as well as I did. His humility and grace and love towards me was that much. I am always in deep gratitude to him. I was like his own child.
Sridevi was magical
She was the female superstar of the Hindi film industry. It was very sad to hear about her demise. She started her hit cinema career with my songs – Naino me Sapna from Himmatwala, Taki oh Taaki. Etc. About 11 of her films are silver jubilee hits with my music. Some of them are Himmatwala, Mawaali, Tohfa, Maqsad, Waqt ki Awaaz, Justice Choudhry etc. Later with Oh la la in The Dirty Picture, it reminded people of the Sridevi era.
Bappi Lahiri top songs.
Tamma Tamma Again
Bappi Lahiri, Badshah, Anuradha Paudwal
Tune Maari Entriya
Bappi Lahiri, Vishal Dadlani, Kay Kay and Neeti Moha
Ooh La La
Bappi Lahiri, Shreya Ghoshal
Humko Aajkal Hai Intezaar
Anupama Deshpande
Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re
Bappi Lahiri and S Janaki
Pyar Kabhi Kam Nahi Karna
Asha Bhonsle and Bappi Lahiri
Jhoom Jhoom
With Salma Agha
I Am A Disco Dancer
Vijay Benedict and Bappi Lahiri
Yaad Aa Raha Hai
Bappi Lahiri
De De Pyar De
Kishore Kumar
Raat Baaqi Baat Baaqi
Shashi Kapoor, Asha Bhosle, Bappi Lahiri
Naino Mein Sapna
Himmatwala
Amit Kumar, Shreya Ghoshal
Inteha Ho Gai Intezar
Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle
Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost
Bappi Lahiri