SINGER-COMPOSER Bappi Lahiri, famous for his disco beats in Hindi films of the 70s and 80s and also some soulful crooning, has died following multiple health issues. He was 69. Lahiri died on Tuesday night at the CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. “Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight,” Dr Deepak Namjoshi, Director of the hospital, told PTI on Wednesday. The singer-composer, a familiar figure for many with his trademark gold chains that he wore for luck and his sunglasses, was known for his songs in films such as “Chalte Chalte”, “Disco Dancer”, and “Sharaabi”. Lahiri, who also ventured into politics when he joined the BJP in 2014, is survived by his wife Chitrani and two children -- daughter Rema, also a singer, and composer Bappa Lahiri.

 

He contested from the Lok Sabha seat of Srerampur in West Bengal but lost to Kalyan Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress. In September last year, Bappi Lahiri, who is believed to have ushered in the golden age of disco music in India, dismissed reports that he had lost his voice and said such rumours were disheartening. His last rites will be held on Thursday at Juhu’s Pawan Hans crematorium on his musician-son Bappa Lahiri’s arrival from Los Angeles, US, Lahiri’s son-in-law Govind Bansal told PTI. “It’s a deeply sad moment for us. Our beloved Bappi Da has left for heavenly abode last midnight… We are seeking love and blessings for his soul,” the family said in a statement. For many fans and colleagues, it is too early to bid ‘alvida’ to the music composer who scored the memorable “Chalte chalte mere geet yaad rakhna”, penned by Amit Khanna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who mourned his death, saying Lahiri’s lively nature will be missed by everyone. “Shri Bappi Lahiri Ji’s music was all encompassing, beautifully expressing diverse emotions. People across generations could relate to his works. His lively nature will be missed by everyone. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister tweeted with a picture. The musician, whose career spans over five decades, last worked on “Ganpati Bappa Morya” in September 2021. He gave the music to the devotional song, voiced by the US-based Indian singer Anuradha Juju Palakurthi. Palakurthi said she had lost a mentor.

 

“Working with Bappi da was like seeing a magician at work - he could bring out tunes in a jiffy - both intricate and easy, classical and light, western and eastern,” Palakurthi said. Born Alokesh Lahir in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal in 1952 into a family of musicians, Lahiri’s inclination towards music started when he was just three and started learning the table. Iconic singer Kishore Kumar, who sang popular songs for him like “Pag Ghunghroo” and “Chalte Chalte”, was his maternal uncle. Lahiri is credited as a pioneer of synthesised disco music in Indian cinema during 70s to 90s with songs such as “I am a disco dancer”, “Pag ghunghroo”, “Intehan ho gayi”, and “Laal Dupatte Wali”. For every foot-tapping, dancing track, there were softer melodies like songs of “Chalte Chalte” (1976) and ghazals like “Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai” and “Aawaz Di Hai” for the 1985 film “Aitbaar”. He also gave music to films in Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Gujarati. His last Bollywood song titled ‘Bhankas’ was for the 2020 film “Baaghi 3”.