On a musical high

It is always a delight to talk to Bappi Lahiri, who for the record, is many things - film and non-film composer and singer, actor, producer, and even story writer. Last but not the least, he is a performer. At 66, he is still going strong, foraying enthusiastically into newer avenues through which he connects with GenY.

He has almost completed 50 years in films as his debut film in Bengali, Dadu, was released in 1969. After Dadu, the man decided to make his career in Hindi films and came to Mumbai. Soon, he bagged his first assignment, Nanha Shikari. In 1973, he did one more film, Charitra. Bappi shot to prominence with Zakhmee (1975). Within weeks came the audio of his next film, Chalte Chalte, with its smash-hit and now cult song, 'Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna'.

Slow & steady

Bappi's ascent came in steps. He largely did small films, but nearly all of them A-grade, and brought in the disco sound in Surakksha (1979). More disco hits came from 1980. Finally, big time arrived in 1982, with the Haathkadi anthem, 'Disco Station', Namak Halaal led by the evergreen 'Ke Pag Ghunghroo', and 'Disco Dancer'. And then came the trendsetting Himmatwala in 1983.

The 1980s and 1990s saw Bappi Lahiri in prolific form, making music that ranged from awesome to awful with the biggest stars and film-makers. Recognising changing tastes in the millennium, the composer changed tracks, focusing on non-film and international work, and even turning into a professional singer. And now is the season when his shows continue to be in big demand globally and a season in which lifetime achievement awards are cascading in.

"The last three years, in particular, have been very good," he exults. Seven of his songs have received international acclaim, ironical considering his tendency to rework so many Western hits in Hindi films, a fact he now concedes smilingly! His 'Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba' has been used in Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, 'Come Closer' from the same film in Lion, and he composed the original song 'Shona' for
Moana.

"It started with them reworking my 'Kaliyon Ka Chaman' from Jyoti in the 2002 album 'Addictive'. Then, 'Jimmy Jimmy' from Disco Dancer was used in You Don't Mess With The Zohan in 2008. In 2011, I composed the soundtrack of Will To Live, with Asha Bhosle, Sunidhi Chauhan and MC Hammer. I have also introduced Samantha Fox, Boy George & Apache Indian to Hindi cinema!"

2017, he says, was no less special. "My hit songs were recreated in Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Ittefaq and Naam Shabana, and all became hits. Now, I have sung for everyone from Dev Anand to Varun Dhawan and Ranveer Singh! And in 2018, I have already received three lifetime awards!"

He preens that he has worked with five pairs of two generations: Dev and son Suneil Anand, Sunil and Sanjay Dutt, Dharmendra and Sunny Deol, Jeetendra and Tusshar, and Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.

What thrills Bappi the most is the fact that at his concerts the world over, the audience cannot tire of his original compositions. "They want my disco numbers and go crazy over 'Kisi Nazar Ko Tera' and 'Pyaar Kabhi Kam Nahin Karna'," he says. "The public calls me versatile. I am here because of my fans' blessings and love," he says. "And I am doing something new all the time. I plan to work with Snoop Dogg now."

So, what does he think of this recreation trend? "Today's lyrics and music have little attraction. While our timeless songs are being reworked and become huge hits, today's original songs can never be mixed in the future! On the other hand, I am proud that the kids of today sing and even dance to my originals like 'Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy'."

But, was he not criticised for his disco music when he first made those songs? "I was criticised for bringing in Western music and beats," he agrees. "But it was a new style then. But I even merged Bengali folk with disco, as in 'De De Pyaar De'. And I didn't just do dance numbers. I composed many classical songs too. Even in Sharaabi, there was the soulful 'Inteha Ho Gayi Intezaar Ki'."

The disco man

He agrees that his name is synonymous with disco, but he points out to his training under his musician father Aparesh Lahiri and others. "I am trained in Indian classical music and have also learnt the tabla and the piano," he reminds us. Bappi considers Lata Mangeshkar as his "Maa Saraswati" and cherishes the way Kishore Kumar and she made so many of his songs evergreen.

He recalls his first song with Mohammed Rafi also with special affection. "Those were the days of live recordings," he remembers. "There I was, standing between Rafi-saab and Kishore-da for the song 'Nothing Is Impossible', and Rafi-saab sensed my tension. He gently took me aside and said, 'Don't get scared. We are the Rafi and the Kishore today, but your time will come too when people will call you the Bappi.' Such words can never be erased from the heart."

And then Bappi reveals the amazing secret of his seeming fetish for adorning himself with so much gold and his trademark glares. "I was coming out of a show in Australia when a man stepped out of a car and asked me, 'Are you Elvis Presley's cousin?' I told him who I was, and also that I was inspired by him and modelled my ornaments and glares on him, as I considered him my idol and mentor."