MUMBAI: Music composer Bappi Lahri is all set to receive Big Apple Music Awards’ ‘Living Legend of Music Industry’ award for 2012.
The composer/ singer is justifiably ecstatic on receiving the prestigious award. “I shall be going to New York to receive the award on 2 December right after my birthday. I am excited to receive the prestigious award that is ranked only a little below the Grammys,” says the bejeweled Bappi Da.
The award honours professionals from the music industry ‘who are dedicated to improving the quality of life and the cultural condition for Central Asian, Caucasian and Middle Eastern music and its makers both inside and outside the United States’.
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After 40 years in the music industry, he has achieved much, having virtually transformed the industry with his memorable tunes and infectious grooves.
With his trademark gold chains and dark shades, Bappi Da is justifiably associated with disco sound that he introduced to the music industry, and often unjustly derided for ‘lowering’ the standards of popular music.
From his first break in Bollywood with ‘Nanha Shikari’ (1973) to his reign as the ‘Disco King’ of Bollywood during the 80’s to his comeback as the ‘Disco King’ (again) in the 21st century, Bappi Da has given the Indian music much character, flair, fun and good music complete with mirror balls and snazzy dance steps. As the composer nears his 60th year he has no intention of slowing down.
His album ‘Walking on Love Street’ (2011) has been submitted for the Grammys and his new album ‘Love Peace Harmony’ is due for release on his birthday on 27 November.
As much as he is proud of his bling sound and look, Bappi Da likes to point out that musical talent and contribution goes well beyond the flashy thumping grooves of the disco era.
“My repertoire is much wider than the 80’s disco songs of which I am proud of. It’s true I started the disco era with ‘Suraksha’ then ‘Disco Dancer’ but I had done romantic numbers before like ‘Chalte Chalte’ in the 70’s and a number of romantic songs with Kishore Kumar. Those were melodic songs unlike the beat heavy disco songs,” he says.
What many may not know is that Bappi Da has also a composed 12 minute song for ‘Namak Halal’. He was also the first composer to record the song (‘Tamma Tamma Loge’ from ‘Thanedar’) in digital format.
Though high brow critics may scoff at his music and the imagery connected with it (Mithun Chakraborty for one), his songs have a lot of staying power and its ‘fast beats’, infectious melodies and simple sing-a-long tunes have been remixed thousands of times and have been staple of innumerable hip discotheques and cheap roadside bars. Though often derided for plagiarism, Bappi’s tunes have conversely been sampled and used by international artists like Dr Dre.
“A remix of my song ‘Kaliyon Ka Chaman’ hit the Billboard No 3 and my songs like ‘ Ramba Ho-Ho-Ho’and ‘Hari Om Hari’ are still being played 25 years on. The only new genre of music that has entered the Bollywood ‘musicscape’ are Bhangra and Hip-Hop,” he says.
Every decade or generation has its heroes who push the industry forward but very few have maintained their relevance over decades like Bappi Da has done for four decades. To top it, he ‘revived’ the disco sound (which actually never went away) with a reprise of his 80’s hit ‘I am a Disco Dancer’ for Golmaal 3 (2011) and followed it up with the bigger ‘Ooh La La, Ooh La’ off 2011’s box office hit ‘The Dirty Picture’. And he is still cranking up hits like current floor burner ‘Dard-E-Disco’ from the upcoming film of the same name, where he stars in too. He has another movie project lined up- ‘Deewana Main Deewana’ – which stars Govinda and Priyanka Chopra.
After working in 465 films with 50 of them reaching Golden Jubilee status; and 100 Platinum and Gold records, Bappi Da is not too worried about changing tastes and styles.
“I have given hits over the years and today there are very talented music composers- Pritam, Sajid-Wajid, SEL… the list goes on. But one can’t predict the shelf life of today’s hit songs. What definitely is missing on these compositions is lyrics with depth,” he said.
