Bappi Lahiri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bappi Lahiri
Lahiri in 2017
Born	Alokesh Lahiri (1952-11-27)27 November 1952 Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India
Died	15 February 2022(2022-02-15) (aged 69) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Education	Chetla Boys' School
Occupation	Singer composer record producer
Years active	1972–2022
Musical career
Instruments	Vocals tabla piano drums guitar saxophone bongos Dholak
Labels	BL Sound Saregama Venus Records & Tapes T-Series Tips Industries Universal Music Group Abbey Road Studios Planet LA Records

Bappi Lahiri (born Alokesh Lahiri; 27 November 1952 – 15 February 2022) was a famous Indian singer, music maker (composer), and record producer. He became very popular in the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for bringing disco music to Indian films using electronic sounds (synthesizers). He also sang many of his own songs.

His music was a big hit in Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, and Kannada films. People continued to enjoy his music even in the 21st century. In 1986, he set a Guinness World Record for recording over 180 songs in just one year!

Early Life and Inspiration

Alokesh Lahiri was born in Kolkata, India. His parents, Aparesh and Bansuri Lahiri, were both talented singers and musicians. They performed classical music and other traditional songs. Bappi was their only child.

He started playing the tabla (an Indian drum) when he was only three years old. His parents taught him music. Later, a famous singer named Lata Mangeshkar suggested he learn from a tabla master, Samta Prasad.

From a young age, Bappi admired the American singer Elvis Presley. Elvis inspired Bappi's unique style. Bappi decided that when he became successful, he would create his own special look. He later became famous for wearing many gold chains and gold jewelry, which he believed brought him good luck.

Music Career Highlights

Bappi Lahiri moved to Mumbai at age 19 to start his music career. His first chance to compose music was for a Bengali film called Daadu (1974). The legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar sang his song in that film.

His first Hindi film as a composer was Nanha Shikari (1973). A big moment in his career came with the Hindi film Zakhmee (1975). For this film, he not only composed music but also sang some songs himself. His songs from Chalte Chalte (1976) were all hits, making him a well-known music director across India.

Lahiri (right), with Babbar Subhash and Parvati Khan during the recording of "Jimmy Jimmy" for Disco Dancer (1981).

Bappi Lahiri composed many popular songs for films starring actors like Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna in the 1980s. He set a record by composing for 12 super-hit films starring Jeetendra between 1983 and 1985.

In 1986, he officially entered the Guinness Book of World Records. This was for recording more than 180 songs for 33 films in a single year!

Lahiri at the recording of a song in 2005

Besides his famous disco music, Bappi Lahiri was known for his unique fashion sense. He always wore gold chains, golden decorations, velvet jackets, and sunglasses.

In 2012, his album World Peace, Love & Harmony was considered for a Grammy Award nomination. He was also chosen to be a jury member for the Grammy Awards, which is a very big honor in music.

Lahiri performing in 2016

In 2016, Bappi Lahiri lent his voice to an animated character. He voiced Tamatoa in the Hindi version of Disney's film Moana. He also composed and sang the Hindi song "Shona" (meaning Gold) for the movie. This was his first time dubbing for an animated character.

He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. In 2021, he appeared as a guest judge on popular TV music shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Indian Idol.

Political Journey

Bappi Lahiri also had an interest in politics. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014. He ran for election in 2014 from the Srerampur area but did not win.

Other Work

Acting Roles

Dubbing Roles

Death

Bappi Lahiri passed away in Mumbai on 15 February 2022, at the age of 69. He died due to a sleep-related breathing problem called obstructive sleep apnea.

Many important people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed their sadness and condolences. Famous actors and singers like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Vishal Dadlani also shared their grief.

Discography Overview

Bappi Lahiri became famous in the late 1970s, 80s, and early 90s for the music he composed for films. Some of his well-known soundtracks include Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Himmatwala, and Sharaabi.

He was known for his disco-style songs. He mixed Indian music with international sounds and created energetic, upbeat rhythms. While many of his songs were for dancing, he also composed several beautiful, melodious songs for films like Chalte Chalte and Zakhmee.

Awards and Honours

Special Honours

• In 2017, he received the Banga Bhushan Civilian Honour from the Government of West Bengal.

Legacy

Bappi Lahiri's music continues to be loved. One of his disco songs, "Zindagi Meri Dance Dance," was originally not used in the film Dance Dance. However, it was later rediscovered and became a huge hit in the 2017 film Daddy.

The filmmakers wanted the song to sound like a true 80s Bappi Lahiri track. A Norwegian producer helped update the song for modern sound systems. But they kept many of the original parts, including the voices and electronic sounds. This showed how timeless and popular Bappi Lahiri's music remains.

Images for kids

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  Lahiri in 1995