'chalte chalte mere yeh geet... kabhi alvida na kehna..
By: Pallab Ghosh
Radiance News Service
'chalte chalte mere yeh geet yaad rakhna...' from Chalte Chalte (1976) staring Goldie Anand and Simmi Gerawal having music by Bappi Lahiri fondly Bappi Da seems to be the appropriate opening lines while paying him tributes on his demise. He was 69.
From Jalpaiguri, North Bengal to Mumbai, the man created history with his toe-tapping music.
The music industry seems to be facing some curse as we have lost three institutions in less than a fortnight. Lata Mangeshkar, Sandhya Mukherjee, and today Bappi Lahiri. The entire music industry is in a spell of shock. His admirers have taken to social media to express their respects, tributes to the legendary singer.
Bappi Lahiri was admitted to the hospital for a month. He was discharged on Monday but again he was hospitalised after his health deteriorated on Tuesday. The singer-composer was admitted to the hospital with multiple health issues. According to Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the Criticare Hospital, he died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight. The singer recovered from COVID.
Many remember Bappi Lahiri as the Disco King but the fact is he hails from a family of classical musicians - his father Aparesh Lahiri and mother Banshuri Lahiri were eminent singers having their forte in Shyama Sangeet (songs in praise of Goddess Kali). Young Bappi Lahiri began his career with the children's programme on All India Radia where he played tabla. Later, Bappi Lahiri sang and composed numerous hits in the Bengali, and Hindi film industry. Apart from that, he brought out a few private albums during the late 80's.
His mortal remains will be confined to flames on February 17 (tomorrow) at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Mumbai after his som Bappa Lahiri arrive from the United States of America.
It's not easy, to sum up, a gigantic person like Bappi Lahiri in a few words.