12 Silver Jubilee films to 12-min long song Pag Ghunghroo, 12 lesser-known facts about Bappi Lahiri
India Today
A pall of gloom has descended over India as news of Bappi Lahiri's untimely demise takes over. While we sift through the iconic songs the Disco King has given us, here's a look at 12 lesser-known facts about him.
Bappi Lahiri is no more! The legendary singer-composer passed away at 69 in Mumbai on February 15. And for several generations, it is truly the end of an era of golden music in Indian cinema. But, the ever-smiling Bappi Lahiri leaves behind a musical legacy that's just pure gold! Here's a look at 15 lesser-known facts about India's Disco King.
1. Born as Alokesh, Bappi Lahiri adapted this name for his career in Hindi music. His father, Aparesh Lahiri, was a famous Bengali singer and his mother, Bansari Lahiri, was a musician and a singer, who was well-versed in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. His parents trained him in every aspect of music. He began to play the tabla at the tender age of 3.
2. Bappi Lahiri's awards list is endless. The Disco King of India has been awarded over 100 Platinum Discs and Golden Discs for his musical scores in over 500 films in various Indian languages.
3. Bappi Lahiri had shared his love for music with his entire family. His wife, Chitrani, comes from a family of singers, his daughter Rema is also a singer, and his son Bappa Lahiri has inherited his father’s keen sense of music and joined the Hindi film industry as a music director.
4. Bappi Lahiri was known as the Gold Man of India. Bappi has his own unmatched personal style. He was the perfect blend of East and West, and his wardrobe ranges from the traditional Indian kurta and sherwani to western sweatshirts and blazers. He was fond of wearing pieces of gold jewellery that represented significant symbols in his life. Bappi Lahiri was famous for his trademark gold ornaments and sunglasses.
5. Bappi Lahiri was related to Kishore Kumar. Kishore was Bappi's maternal uncle and he lovingly called him 'mama'. They worked together in many films, like Chalte Chalte, Sharabi, Tohfa, Mohabbat, and more. Kishore's last song, I Want To Hit Somebody from the film Waqt ki Awaz, starring Mithun Chakraborty, was also composed by Bappi Lahiri.
6. Bappi Lahiri brought Hollywood rock sensation, Samantha Fox, to India. This was for the film Rock Dancer with Govinda. She was seen in the song titled Traffic Jam in the 90s. Apart from crooning the song, Bappi Lahiri also made Samantha Fox dance in the hit number with Govinda.
