Alokesh "Bappi" Lahiri was an Indian singer, music composer, dancer, disco musician, actor and record producer. He popularized the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s and 1990s with filmi soundtracks such as "Wardat", "Disco Dancer", "Namak Halaal", "Dance Dance", "Commando", "Saaheb", "Gang Leader", "Sailaab" and "Sharaabi".
Early Life of Bappi Lahiri
Bappi Lahiri was born as Alokesh Lahiri on 27th November 1953 in Kolkata. His father was Aparesh Lahiri, who was a famous Bengali singer and his mother Bansari Lahiri was a scholar in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. Bappi Lahiri began to play the tabla at the age of 3 years. Kishore Kumar and S. Mukherjee are his maternal relatives. Initially Bappi Lahiri was trained by his parents, later he received his first opportunity in a Bengali film, "Daadu" (1972) at the young age of 19 years.
Career of Bappi Lahiri
Bappi Lahiri did his debutant composing in Bollywood with the film "Nanha Shikari" (1973). Tahir Husain`s Hindi film, "Zakhmee" (1975) is considered to be the turning point of his career. Bappi Lahiri composed music for this film and doubled as a playback singer as well. The songs of his next film, "Chalte Chalte" were immensely successful. With Ravikant Nagaich`s "Surakshaa" his singing and music were even more approved by the audience. Bappi Lahiri was the expert at using the disco music in Indian cinema with a traditional blend of Indian flavor. Considered as a pioneer of disco beats, Lahiri made his famous composition in the movie `Disco Dancer` with Mithun Chokroborty in the lead. The title song of the movie `I`m a disco dancer` rocked the whole nation and Lahiri came to be known as the `Disco King.` He launched Vijay Benedict and Sharon Prabhakar on the stage of Bollywood music industry.
In 2004, he brought out his own album titled `Bappi Magic - The Asli Baap Mix`. This album included all the popular numbers such as `Gori Hai Kalaiyan` and `Jimmy Jimmy`. The album attained great popularity. In 2005, Bappi Lahiri composed the background music for the Jahnu Barua film, `Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara`, thus holding back his identity as a versatile composer. In 2006, he offered his voice to another composer for the first time with the song "Boombai Nagariya", here he sang for Vishal-Shekhar for the movie `Taxi No. 9211`. He has also lent his voice to the title track of the Mani Ratnam film `Guru`. A.R. Rahman had composed the music of this film. Bappi Lahiri has also recorded songs for the movie `Level Crossing` that was produced by actor Jayaprada. In 2006, Bappi Lahiri appeared as the judge on the popular television show `Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L`il Champs` on Zee TV along with other singers like Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet. He has also appeared in Television as a judge for the 2007 Zee TV`s `Sa Re Ga Ma Pa` and Sony Entertainment Television`s "K For Kishore" reality show. Bappi Lahiri has also composed songs for several Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. In 2017, he has dubbed for the English film "Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle" and in 2018 for the animated English film "Moana".
Discography of Bappi Lahiri
Bappi Lahiri has composed songs in the following films:
| Year | Film |
| 1973 | Nanha Shikari |
| 1973 | Charitra |
| 1974 | Bazar Band Karo |
| 1974 | Ek Ladki Badnaam Si |
| 1975 | Zakhmee |
| 1976 | Chalte Chalte |
| 1977 | Aap Ki Khatir |
| 1979 | Surakksha |
| 1981 | Wardat |
| 1981 | Jyoti |
| 1982 | Disco Dancer |
| 1982 | Namak Halaal |
| 1983 | Himmatwala |
| 1984 | Sharaabi |
| 1985 | Aitbaar |
| 1985 | Saaheb |
| 1985 | Geraftaar |
| 1987 | Dance Dance |
| 1987 | Satyamev Jayate |
| 1987 | Amar Sangi |
| 1988 | Commando |
| 1988 | Mera Shikar |
| 1989 | Guru |
| 1989 | Aamar Tumi |
| 1989 | Prem Pratigyaa |
| 1989 | Pronomi Tomay |
| 1990 | Ghayal |
| 1990 | Sailaab |
| 1990 | Thanedaar |
| 1992 | Tomar Naam Likhe Debo |
| 1993 | Dalaal |
| 1994 | Neelanjana |
| 1995 | Rock Dancer |
| 1995 | Diya Aur Toofan |
| 1996 | Dil Ke Jharoke Main |
| 1996 | Rangbaaz |
| 1996 | Hum Sab Chor Hain |
| 1997 | Nirnayak |
| 1997 | Dharma Karma |
| 1998 | Military Raaj |
| 1999 | Aaya Toofan |
| 1999 | Benaam |
| 2000 | Justice Chowdhary |
| 2006 | Taxi No. 9211 |
| 2008 | Mudrank |
| 2008 | C Kkompany |
| 2009 | Jai Veeru |
| 2011 | The Dirty Picture |
| 2013 | Gunday |
| 2013 | Himmatwala |
| 2014 | Main Aur Mr. Riight |
| 2017 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania |
| 2018 | 3rd Eye |
| 2018 | Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyaar Ke |
| 2019 | Why Cheat India |
| 2020 | Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan |
| 2020 | Baaghi 3 |