Bappi Lahiri Understood That I Dance Hatke: Mithun Chakraborty, Star Of Disco Dancer

Mithun Chakraborty recently remembered late Bappi Lahiri and said that he understood his dancing

The Bappi Lahiri-Mithun Chakraborty binary became iconic because the composer understood the actor's unique moves and rhythm, Mr Chakraborty said. Bappi Lahiri, who died this week at 69, and Mithun Chakraborty gave Indian cinema some of its most unforgettable dance numbers, iconic not just for Bappi Da's funky disco beats but also for Mithun Chakraborty's street style breakdance routines. Mithun Chakraborty danced to Bappi Lahiri's tunes in songs like I Am A Disco Dancer, Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki and Zindagi Meri Dance Dance. Speaking to news agency PTI, Mr Chakraborty explained why their collaborations were so successful.

"The best part was that Bappi da understood my dancing. I brought something new-- disco dancing, which was a departure from others. Bappi da understood that I dance 'hatke' (different) and so he started giving music accordingly. It became like 1+1=2, hum jud gaye (we connected). When we became one, we gave legendary hits," Mithun Chakraborty told PTI.

Bappi Lahiri and Mithun Chakraborty became a dream team with 1979 film Suraksha with the song Gunmaster G9 - also the code of the master spy played by Mr Chakraborty - standing out on the soundtrack. 1982's Disco Dancer became the most iconic of their many collaborations which also included Dance Dance and Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki.

Bappi Lahiri was famously called the Disco King, an epithet he had earned many times over. However, he was equally capable of producing soulful ballads like Chalte Chalte from the movie of the same name and romantic duets like Aaj Rapat Jaye from Namak Halaal. "He should not be confined to just disco, he was a genius. He gave hit songs for every hero, every heroine, every producer. Nobody can forget him, he is a legend and I am sure his soul would be in heaven. I will miss him forever," Mithun Chakraborty said to PTI.