Bappi Lahiri - A legend, end of an era

By -

Bappi Lahiri (Alokesh Lahiri) passed away today at the age of 69. A legend, known for his versatility in composition, marks end of an era to songs that we grew, loved, danced and still continue to show up at the top of our favorites

Here is my pick to the top 20 (not in any particular order)

  1. Chalte Chalte - mesmerizing song, a flowing, melodious composition demonstrating Bappi's range, excellent lyrics and equally well sung by Kishore. Amongst the best in Hindi
  2. Inteha ho gayi - My goodness, how do I describe this epic song (not sure if it shows up in other's top song list), but has mesmerized me for long in the way it is rendered, composed. Kishore and Bappida create magic in this song, with its varying pace
  3. I am a Disco Dancer - the defining song that everyone would have heard, swooned to. Vijay Benedict's rarely heard/fresh voice and the interesting lyrics, easy to remember and the mix makes this a song to hum for ages
  4. Ke pag ghungaroo baandh - One of the versatile, creative songs ever heard, composed and sung in Hindi, a classic from Namak Halaal, equally made memorable by Amitabh's acting/comic skills. Listen to the range of instruments used in the song, along with a classical mix and spoken lines, and the constant switching of tones/tunes
  5. Jahan Chaar Yaar - Amongst the best for  whacky lyrics, and one of my personal favorite for the way it was sung by Amitabh and Kishore, and its composition
  6. Manzilen apni jagah hai - What a rendition by Kishore! My goodness, one can feel the pain, sorrow. One of the best compositions and an award winning singing
  7. Maana ho tum - Yesudas and Bappida, what a rare combination, but a song to remember for ages. The flowing lyrics, pitch changes and a singing with slight malayalee accent is mesmerizing to hear
  8. Yaad aa raha hai - Bappi's voice to his composition, is a song to remember/hum for ages
  9. Jimmy Jimmy - a song from the cult movie Disco Dancer, that is still remembered and hummed everywhere, esp. internationally (in erstwhile Soviet Union)
  10. Tamma tamma loge - Iconic song, with its iconic steps :) 
  11. Yaar bina chain kahan re - a fun, peppy song
  12. Kisi nazar ko tera intezar - Bhupinder's vocals with Asha in a Bappida compoistion, what a unique combination that makes the song memorable, along with well worded lyrics
  13. Thodisi jo pee lee hai - interesting lyrics, a composition with difference, and a singing only Kishoreda can do justice
  14. Humko aajkal hai intezaar - Madhuri's dance to Bappida's composition, was a craze those days
  15. Zoobi zoobi - Peppy number from Dance Dance
  16. Dil Mein Ho Tum - Bappida at his best on vocals
  17. Aaj rapat jaaye - a catchy, playful rain song made memorable by Asha's and Kishore's singing
  18. Haan pahli baar - Kishoreda and Bappida together, once again
  19. Pyaar manga hai tumhi se - Kishore at his best, what a combination on Bappi's score
  20. Raat baaki baat baaki  - beautifully belted out by Asha Bhonsle,  to a catchy tune, takes one back to golden hued lights and props

Others worth mentioning:

  • Rambo ho - Usha Uthup's defining song 
  • Hari OM Hari - Usha Uthup, at her best on Bappida's signature tunes
  • De de pyar de - from Sharaabi
  • Koi Yahan Naache - Another hummable gem from Disco Dancer, don’t miss the signature tunes from Bappi on a low lyrical content
  • Jawani jaaneman from Namak Halal - beautifully belted out by Asha Bhonsle
  • Jhoom jhoom baba - catchy number by Salma Agha
  • Chahiye thoda pyaar
  • Haan pehli baar
  • Pyaar mein kabhi kabhi
  • Ooh la la - Bappida for new gen
  • Muskurata hua mera yaar - lovely singing and tune
  • Bambai se aaya mera dost - unlike Bappida's composition, but with unmistakable vocals

I don’t prefer, though being hits, the songs he composed for Jeetendra during the Tohfa and Himmatwala days, cant blame his composition, got to do with the genre.

RIP, Bappida!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tiger Safari at Tadoba: Once in a lifetime experience

By -
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is one of the best places to spot the majestic big cats in their natural habitat. Located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, India, the reserve covers an area of 625 square kilometers and is home to around 115+ tigers, as well as leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, gaur, sambar, nilgai, and many other wildlife species. The national park is divided into 3 forest ranges: Tadoba North Range, Moharli Range and Kolsa South Range. Each of these ranges has core zones and buffer zones. The buffer zone is the area surrounding or adjoining the Core Zone where conservation takes place along with some limited human activity. We visited Tadoba in April 2024, which is considered the peak season for tiger sightings. The weather was hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40+ degrees Celsius during the day. The forest was mostly brown and yellow, with patches of green here and there. The water sources were scarce and the animals were forced to come out of their hi...
Read more

Seychelles: An exhilarating week of beaches and trails

By -
Blessed with a spectacular topography, Seychelles is home to unique flora and fauna. The island is the only place where you can get your hands on the ‘forbidden fruit’ – the Coco de Mer which is the largest and heaviest fruit in the world. Seychelles is also one of very few destinations where you can get up close to wild, giant tortoises. The islands of Seychelles are perfectly spaced from one another, allowing you to hop your way easily. Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are less than an hour away by ferry ride, and travelers can avail of the Inter-Island Ferry Service.  You can also visit Cousin, Curieuse, St. Pierre Islands by signing up for private boat trips, as well the Saint Anne Marine National Park (from Mahe). Explore the stunning, secluded beaches, go bird watching, swim around spectacular reefs and say hello to giant tortoises; the range of activities you can try out is excellent.  We chose to travel during last week of Apr-May Before Travel International Travel Insu...
Read more

All Hearts Tour by Shreya Ghoshal: A Long Evening of Music

By -
Getting Ready The All Hearts Tour by Shreya Ghoshal, on 30th November at LB Stadium in Hyderabad was a concert to look forward to. Our first experience of a Shreya Ghoshal concert, we took a less tiring approach to travelling by metro to the concert, avoiding the traffic induced pressure, anxieties and long waits. Travel by metro was a breeze. For the concert scheduled to start at 7 PM, we reached the stadium around 6:15 PM. The stadium was a short walk from the “Assembly” metro station. At the stadium, quickly headed to the ticket counters to gather the wrist band for entry into the designated viewing areas. A gold class ticket with seating that cost Rs.2,300/ticket, was too far from the stage, though the viewing area was within the grounds and not the stadium seating (which was silver). The stadium facilities were inadequate, with temporary outdoor toilets and a limited selection of overpriced snacks (a small popcorn bowl for Rs. 200).  Concert The concert started around 40 minut...
Read more