Ruchika M. Khanna
NOT to miss the chunky gold chains or heavy Bengali accent. Bappi da, the man who brought disco to Bollywood, is happy churning out political tunes these days.
Taking his foray into politics rather seriously, Bappi Lahiri's political tunes in his latest album, Ghungta, are taking him places. Having wooed the electorate in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, Bappi da claims that his political tunes helped swing votes in favour of the Congress candidates.
Mujhko Tu Neta Bana De
has a humorous lilt to it with the musician praying to the Almighty to make everybody a neta so that they can serve the masses. Bappi da says that this song speaks of the common man's dreams for a better life. "The political arena is the biggest stage, and people are hooked to all its high drama. The video has been so created that people can relate to it ," he says.Ask him of about his hit number and he breaks into the song, Janta Ki Maang Soniaji. The album from the Universal Music's stable has eight tracks, including Ghungta Tha and Dilli Mein Dhunda.
Talking of the projects in hand, Bappi da, who had the nation swaying to the lilting tunes of Sharaabi in the 80s, says that he is doing projects with K.C . Bokadia and Harsh Kohli, besides Mithun Chakravorthy.
Bappi took to music at a very young age. He had his first music recital at the age of four and received his first major award around that time in Calcutta. Making his foray into the world of film music in 1969 with Bengali Film, Dadu, Bapp da rose to win international acclaim and had the likes of pop-king Michael Jackson personally inviting him for his first live performance in Mumbai in 1996.
Bappi Da has done more than 500 shows all over the world.
He won his first Filmfare Award for Sharaabi in 1987 and has got more than 300 other awards in the last 25 years, including a National Award and The Golden Lotus Award for producing the Best Feature Film, Lal Darja. He also presented a film based on Rock-Dancing, Rock Dancer, for which he invited Samantha Fox to do a dance number opposite Govinda.
A pioneer in introducing fusion music in Hindi films with the Namak Halaal song Pagh Ghunghroo Baandh Meera Naachi Re, Bappi's never stuck to a particular style.
" I believe in leading the brat pack. So each time you get a different music score from me," he adds.
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