Noted Indian singer and composer Bappi Lahiri has passed away. He breathed his last in Mumbai hospital. His original name was Alokesh Lahiri, but everyone used to call him Bappi Da. He was around 70 years old.
Apart from being an excellent music composer, Bappi Lahiri is a wonderful singer too.
According to the information coming in the media, Bappi Lahiri’s health had suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday night. After which he was admitted to the hospital in Mumbai. Doctors tried their best to save him, but his health kept deteriorating.
It is worth noting that Bappi Lahiri was living very ill for some time. He had been coming to the hospital for a long time. Let me tell you, last year he also came under the grip of Corona. At the beginning of the new year, the music world has suffered two major jolts. First Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar and now Bappi Lahiri passed away.
Bappi Lahiri Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alokesh Aparesh Lahiri |
| Stage Name | Bappi Lahiri |
| Nickname | Bappi Da, Disco King |
| Date of Birth | November 27, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India (some sources say Kolkata) |
| Date of Death | February 15, 2022 |
| Place of Death | Criticare Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Age at Death | 69 years |
| Cause of Death | Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and post-COVID-19 complications |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Height | Approximately 5’5″ (165 cm) |
| Weight | Around 80 kg (in later years, estimated) |
| Hair Color | Black (later grey) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Father | Aparesh Lahiri (renowned Bengali singer and composer) |
| Mother | Bansari Lahiri (classical musician and Shyama Sangeet singer) |
| Siblings | Only child |
| Maternal Uncle | Kishore Kumar (legendary Indian playback singer) |
| Maternal Relatives | S. Mukherjee family (Bollywood’s Mukherjee-Samarth clan) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Chitrani Lahiri (married January 24, 1977) |
| Children | Two—son Bappa Lahiri, daughter Rema Lahiri |
| Son | Bappa Lahiri (music director in Bollywood) |
| Daughter | Rema Lahiri (singer) |
| Grandchildren | Rego (son of Rema) |
| Religion | Hindu (Bengali Brahmin, Sandilya gotra) |
| Hometown | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Early Residence | Siliguri, West Bengal |
| Final Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Education | Informal musical training from parents; no formal degree |
| Musical Training | Tabla at age 3, later piano, drums, guitar, saxophone, bongos, dholak |
| Tabla Guru | Samta Prasad (on Lata Mangeshkar’s advice) |
| Profession | Singer, music composer, record producer, actor, politician |
| Career Start | Early 1970s (age 19) |
| First Film (Composer) | Daadu (Bengali, 1974) |
| First Hindi Film (Composer) | Nanha Shikari (1973) |
| First Hindi Song | “Tu Hi Mera Chanda” (sung by Mukesh, Nanha Shikari) |
| Breakthrough Film | Zakhmee (1975)—composed and sang |
| Signature Style | Synthesized disco music with Indian flavors |
| Famous For | Pioneering disco in Indian cinema |
| Peak Popularity | Late 1970s, 1980s, early 1990s |
| Notable Films | Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Sharaabi, Chalte Chalte, Himmatwala |
| Hit Songs | “I Am a Disco Dancer,” “Jimmy Jimmy,” “Yaad Aa Raha Hai,” “Raat Baaki,” “Ooh La La” |
| Languages Worked In | Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Oriya, Gujarati |
| Total Films Composed | Over 500 |
| Total Songs | Over 5,000 |
| Guinness World Record | Recorded 180+ songs for 33 films in 1986 |
| Collaborators | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Usha Uthup, Alisha Chinai |
| Launched Singers | Vijay Benedict, Sharon Prabhakar |
| Filmfare Award | Best Music Director for Sharaabi (1984) |
| Lifetime Achievement | Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (63rd Filmfare Awards, 2018) |
| Grammy Involvement | Jury member (2012); album World Peace, Love & Harmony considered for nomination |
| International Fame | “Jimmy Jimmy” popular in Russia; “Thoda Resham Lagta Hai” sampled in “Addictive” by Truth Hurts (2002) |
| Legal Battle | Won $500M lawsuit against Universal Music for uncredited use of his song (2002) |
| Hollywood Voice Role | Tamatoa in Hindi-dubbed Moana (2016); sang “Shona” (Hindi “Shiny”) |
| TV Judging | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs (2006), Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge (2007), K For Kishore (2007) |
| IPL Contribution | Composed music for Kolkata Knight Riders (2008) |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Political Joining | January 31, 2014 (with Rajnath Singh) |
| Election Contested | 2014 Lok Sabha from Srerampur, West Bengal |
| Election Result | Lost to Kalyan Banerjee (All India Trinamool Congress) |
| Signature Look | Gold chains, rings, velvety cardigans, dark sunglasses |
| Gold Obsession | Wore over 2 kg of gold worth ₹1 crore+; considered it lucky |
| Style Inspiration | Elvis Presley (gold jewelry and flamboyance) |
| Early Talent | Played tabla at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, at age 4 |
| Childhood Ambition | Wanted global fame from a young age |
| First Hit Duet | “Nothing Is Impossible” with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar (Zakhmee) |
| Disco Era Partner | Mithun Chakraborty—synonymous with disco hits like Disco Dancer |
| Silver Jubilee Record | Composed for 12 super-hit films with Jeetendra (1983-1985) |
| Ghazal Compositions | “Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar” and “Aawaz Di Hai” (Aitbaar, 1985) |
| 2000s Comeback | “Gutur Gutur” (Dalal, 1993), Bappi Magic – The Asli Baap Mix (2004) |
| Collaboration with A.R. Rahman | Sang title track for Guru (2007) |
| Michael Jackson Meet | Met at Jackson’s 1996 Mumbai concert; Jackson loved “Jimmy Jimmy” |
| Samantha Fox Collaboration | Introduced her to Bollywood in Rock Dancer (1995) with Govinda |
| First Asian Pop Achievement | Featured in Europe’s International Dance Chart with Habiba (1988) |
| Platinum Discs | Over 100 for his film scores |
| Health Struggles | Hospitalized for 29 days in 2022 before passing |
| Final Work | Active until 2020; career spanned nearly 50 years |
| Fan Base | Loved across generations for disco anthems |
| Legacy | Known as India’s Disco King; revolutionized Bollywood music |
| Posthumous Tributes | PM Narendra Modi: “His lively nature will be missed by everyone” (2022) |
| Funeral | Cremated with state honors in Mumbai (February 16, 2022) |
| Family’s Musical Legacy | Wife, son, and daughter all involved in music |
| Notable Albums | World Peace, Love & Harmony (2012), Bappi Magic (2004) |
| Controversies | Accused of plagiarism (e.g., “Jimmy Jimmy” from “T’es Ok” by Ottawan) |
| Defense Against Criticism | Claimed he brought freshness to Indian music |
| Favorite Song (Own) | “Disco Dancer” tracks—called them “historical” |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | $3-5 million at death (2022) |
| Income Sources | Music composition, playback singing, live performances, royalties |
| Cultural Impact | Made disco a household name in India |
| Fashion Influence | Inspired a generation with his gold-laden look |
| Childhood Prodigy | Composed songs by age 11 |
| Early Mumbai Move | Relocated at 19 to chase Bollywood dreams |
| Memorable Quote | “I was the first Indian composer to win the China Gold Award for Disco Dancer” (interview) |
| Fan Sentiment | “Bappi Da’s music still gets us dancing!” (common sentiment, 2025) |
| Industry Peers | Worked with Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan |
| Last Public Appearance | Limited due to health; active online until 2021 |
| Signature Instrument | Tabla—his first love |
| Why He Shines | Turned Bollywood into a disco paradise with a golden touch |
Bappi Lahiri was born in 1952 in Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal. His family has been associated with classical music. His father, Aparesh Lahiri was a famous Bengali singer, his mother Bansari Lahiri was also a musician. At the age of 19, he started working as a music director. The credit of bringing pop music to Indian music goes to Bappi Lahiri.