About Bappi Lahiri

Bappi Lahiri, who brought life to disco music in India in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s, passed away in the early hours of February 16th due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition he had been suffering from since 2021. After recovering from Covid-19 last year, Lahiri was grappling with multiple health issues.

Early life of Bappi Lahiri

Born into a Bengali classical musicians family in Jalpaiguri to Aparesh Lahari and Bansuri Lahari, Bappi learned to play Tabla at the age of 3. Bappi Lahiri was often called a child prodigy. He started his music career at the age of 3 and soon went on to become one of the most popular singers-composers in the country. Lahari started his movie career in Bengali with the film, Daadu that was released in 1972. After delivering blockbuster films in Bengali, Bappi ventured into the Bollywood cinema in 1973 with Nanha Shikari.

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Bappi Lahiri’s Career

Hirav Shah says, “In his long-lasting and illustrious career, Lahiri had worked with iconic singers like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Alisha Chinai, and Usha Uthup.

He continued working through the 1990s when he provided music for the Prakash Mehra produced ‘Dalal’ which starred Mithun Chakraborty. Being a relative to iconic singer Kishore Kumar, Lahiri Kishore Kumar has also collaborated several times as professionals throughout their career. One of Lahiri’s most memorable songs with Kishore Kumar is Pag Ghunghroo Bandh from the classic movie Namak Halaal. He is best known for frequent collaborations with ‘Disco Dancer’ Mithun Chakraborty. His major works in films include Wardat, Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Dance Dance, Commando, Saheb, Gang Leader, Sailaab and Sharaabi.

Bappi Lahiri’s most famous songs as a music director

Veteran Bollywood Astrologer cum Business Transformation Expert Hirav Shah says, “Bappi Lahiri’s demise is a huge loss to the film industry. He was still active in the Indian music arena and has churned out blockbuster songs and movies like

  • Ooh La La,
  • Bumbai Nagariya in the recent past.
  • Disco Dancer,
  • Sharaabi,
  • Namak Halaal,
  • Dance Dance,
  • Commando,
  • Sailaab,
  • Saheb,

among others are few of Bappi Da’s amazing works in Bollywood.

He even scored music for tens of Tollywood movies that have Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Mohan Babu in the lead roles.”

Bappi Lahiri’s Signature style


Arthurm84, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gold Chain and Glass

Hirav Shah recalls that the veteran singer-composer was famous for his trademark gold chains that he wore for luck and his sunglasses. Shah says that Bappi Da was the pioneer in popularizing the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema.

Apart from composing soundtracks, Lahiri has also sung for a few of his own compositions. While Nanha Shikari (1973) is his first movie as a singer, the last Bollywood song was ‘Bhankas’ for the 2020 film ‘Baaghi 3’.

Death of Bappi Lahiri

Reportedly, Bappi Lahiri breathed his last at the CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. He was 69. Soon after Bappi passed away, the CritiCare hospital released a pass note that reads, “Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday, and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. Shortly before midnight, he died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)”.

Speaking about OSA, Hirav Shah tells us that it is a sleep-related breathing disorder that results in a person’s breathing being cut off and starting again while asleep.

Hirav Shah’s Tribute To Legendary Composer’ Disco King’ Bappi Lahiri

Hirav Shah feels it as a personal loss as he says it has been devastating that the country lost Lata Mangeshkar and now Bappi Lahiri within a span of two weeks.

Hirav Shah also says that Bappi Lahiri wanted to make a difference in the country’s social condition by venturing into politics. He also contested for the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate from the Srerampur constituency in 2014.

RIP Disco King! Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna Tha

Hirav Shah

Featured Image Credit
Arthurm84, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons