Bappi Lahiri is no more amidst us

By Jyothi Venkatesh

It is sad that Alokesh Lahiri, better known as the flamboyant gold studded music director Bappi Lahiri, is no more amidst us. Bappi 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 at the age of 69 due to OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) shortly before midnight,” Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told the media.

The singer-composer is survived by his wife Chitrani Lahiri, son Bappa and his daughter and singer Rema Lahiri Bansal. Bappida had announced he would direct a movie, Ek Adhura Sangeet, produced by Manju Bharti and Mukesh J Bharti. As a tribute to the departed soul, who used to host a grand star studded birthday party with the choicest scotch flowing in till the wee hours of the morning every year on November 27 at his bungalow we reproduce this no holds barred frank interview with BAPPI LAHIRI by JYOTHI VENKATESH which appeared 43 years ago in 1979.

Why do you go around proclaiming that you are a better singer than even Kishore Kumar? Is it because your Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost topped the hit parade?

Singing isn’t a profession for me. It was Kishore Kumar who literally compelled me to sing a song for his own film Badhti Ka Naam Daadi. It was Kishoreda who gave me a break as a singer. How can I even dream of proclaiming that I am a better singer than Kishoreda? I am a hit music director today only because of the blessings of both Kishoreda and Latadidi. Every song of mine sung by Kishoreda has become a hit. Take for example Pyar Maanga Hai (College Girl) Chalte Chalte (Chalte Chalte), Jalta Hai Jiya Mera (Zakhmee) and Dil Se Miley Dil (Dil Se Miley Dil)

You are also reported to have gone on record that Lata Mangeshkar has become a buddhi and hence lost her melodious voice. Is it the reason why you assign all your female playbacks to your sister Chandrani Mukherji, who is referred to as the poor producer’s Lata?

Someone is trying to hamper my career in films as a successful music director. Someone wants to throw me out of the industry. I do not want to reveal his name. He belongs to the world of music too. He wants to spoil the impression that the people have about me by spreading false propaganda by putting words in my mouth which I had never uttered in the first place. Coming to the second part of your allegation, I always make it a point to use Lata didi’s voice as far as possible because I get satisfaction only when my song as a composer is recorded in the voice of Lata didi. Even though she is such a great singer, she makes me feel that I am the boss in the recording theatre. I have yet to see a more humble playback singer. Imagine where she is today and where I am. I employ Chandrani’s voice not in order to prove to the world that I can do without Lata didi but because the producers, especially like the Rajshris for whom I am doing as many as six films, cannot afford to have Lata.

Do you compose keeping in mind the banner? Or are you least bothered about the banner and the director?

If I were particular about the banner and the director, do you think I would have given a hit number like Mana Ho Tum for Toote Khilone which is directed by a newcomer like Koonkie or for that matter Dil Se Dil Miley directed by Bhisham Kohli? In a big film like O. P. Ralhan’s Paapi, my music just fell flat. You can never predict the taste of the audience, you see.

Since Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost has clicked, do you compel every producer of yours to include at least one song by you in every film for which you compose the music?

This is a white lie again spread by my detractors. It is my producers who compel me to sing. For your information, I do not even charge for the songs that I sing. Not a single paisa though some of my songs have become big hits like Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost (Aap Ki Khatir) and Bandhan Se in Tootte Khilone. In Rajshri’s Mano Kaamna starring Shabana Azmi and Navin Nischol, I do not even sing a single song. I do sing in Ramsay’s Aur Kaun and Rajshri’s Shiksha directed by S. Ramanathan and Ek Baar Kaho. There are six films of Rajshri under production with me as the music director. I do not sing in them though I could have easily persuaded them to let me sing my songs since I do not charge for my songs.

You revel in churning out copies of popular English tunes instead of trying hard to compose on your own?

Yes. I plead guilty to copying but if copying songs was made guilty punishable by throwing the guy who copies in jail, there will be thousands of music composers who will be languishing in jail today and I will be the last. (Laughs)

Success has gone to your head and hence you have started quoting astronomical prices to your producers. Do you think you are on par with the veterans in the field like Kalyanji-Anandji, Lakshmikant Pyarelal and R.D. Burman?

Success hasn’t gone to my head but I cannot let any producer take me for granted. If the producer can afford to pay in lakhs to the leading man and the leading lady, why shouldn’t he pay me a decent remuneration as a music director? Especially when he knows that he can easily mint money thanks to the copyright on the records and the royalty from the sale of the records? Do you know for instance that I was hardly paid a few thousands for my score in Toote Khilone and Dil Se Miley Dil, whereas the producers have earned in lakhs thanks to the royalty the sales of the records has procured? I am not a fool to let someone take away the booty.

Can you elaborate?

If the producer cannot pay me the sum which I quote them, I insist that they let me take a part of the amount that they get as royalty from the sale of the records. However, if the banner is a big one, I do not insist even on that because I have yet to establish myself with big banners.

You seem to be more popular only with the small-time filmmakers and medium budget filmmakers like the Rajshris and the big banners do not dare to approach you because of your reputation to act big and play hard to get?

I am doing Prakash Mehra’s Namak Halaal starring Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi and Ehsaas being produced by G.P. Sippy. I am also doing Lahu Ke Do Rang, apart from Amit Khanna’s Naya Johny starring Dev Anand and Tina Munim. I am eager to work for big banners. I may be working for B.R. Chopra and Pramod Chakravorty too.

You monopolize the Mehboob Recording theatre thus depriving the smaller music directors of their chance to record their songs there?

Why do you not blame Lakshmikant -Pyarelal, who monopolize the Famous Recording Studio and Kalyanji -Anandji, who monopolize the Film Centre Studios? Since the day I recorded my song at the Mehboob (it happened to be the day the theater was inaugurated) I have continued to record my songs there. Is it a crime? It is my home away from home.