Bappi Lahiri

Bappi Lahiri (b. 1953) is one of the most significant music composers of Bollywood.

Bappi Lahiri was born in Calcutta, West Bengal in 1953 into a family with a rich tradition in classical music. His father, Aparesh Lahiri was a famous Bengali singer and his mother, Bansari Lahiri was musician singer who was well-versed in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. He was their only child. At a very early age, he had an 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 oppurtunity in a Bengali film, Daadu (1972) at the age of 19.

He came to Bollywood at the young age of 19. The first film for which he composed the music was Nanha Shikari (1973). The turning point of his career was Shomu Mukherjee's Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975), for which he composed the music and playback sung. 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.

After this he composed trend setting music in Hindi films and got a western touch (Mostly Disco) to Hindi music. He pioneered and popularised disco music in Indian cinema. He took care that the music had an Indian flavour but a western beat. Bappi was also known to be inspired by popular western numbers, and some of his songs were based on popular western hits, including Dil Tha Akela from Suraksha (Hasta Mañana by Abba), Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena from Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki (Billy Jeans), Tera Mera Pehla Yaarana from Shart (Karma Chameleon by Culture Club), Jimmy Jimmy from Disco Dancer (T'es OK, T'es Bath by Ottawan), Hari Om Hari from Pyara Dushman (One Way Ticket by Neil Sedaka)

Some of the movies in which he composed successful music were Suraksha, Waardat, Commando, Pyara Dushman, Disco Dancer, Dance Dance, Film Hi Film, Tarzan, Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki, Wanted, Guru, Sharabi, Himatwalla and Justice Chaudary. His albums were one where most songs would be well composed. He popularised singers such as Alisha Chinoy and Vijay Benedict.

Most of his songs would be rendered by the 2 greats of Bollywood, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosale. After the death of Kishore Kumar, he also used Alisha Chinoy and Vijay Benedict.

After Rahul Dev Burman, he was the most popular music director in Indian Films.

He has sung many of the songs in his albums. He had a melodious voice but pronounced a bit funnily for Indian taste. Even then people used to like the way he sung, probably more out of love.

Some of the memorable songs that he has sung are:

1. Rahi Hu Mein (Wanted) 2. Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyaraa hai (Wardat) 3. Bambai Se Aaya mera Dost ( Aap ki khatir) 4. Yaad Aa Raha Hai (Disco Dancer) 5. Super Dancer (Dance Dance) 6. Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena (Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki)7. Tera Mera Pehla Yaarana (Shart)

He is very fond of jewelry and is usually found wearing gold ornaments and black glares.

He disappeared from the Indian film industry scenario in the 1990s. 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. The song turned out to be an instant hit due to Bappida's singing and the musical arrangement.