Alokesh "Bappi" Lahiri is an Indian singer, composer, politician, disco musician and record producer. He popularized the use of synthesizeddisco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions. He has composed some songs for Prosenjit Chatterjee. He and Prosenjit had delivered major box office successes like Amar Sangi, Asha O Bhalobasha, Amar Tumi, Mandira, Badnam, Raktelekha and so. He was popular in the 1980s and 1990s with filmi soundtracks such as Wardat, Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Dance Dance, Commando, Saaheb, Gang Leader, Sailaab, and Sharaabi. Lahiri joined BJP in 2014. He was declared a BJP candidate from Srirampur in West Bengal for the 2014 Indian general election and lost.
Early life
Lahiri was born into a Hindu Brahmin family in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. His parents Aparesh Lahiri and Bansuri Lahiri, both from Jalpaiguri, were famous Bengali singers and musicians in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. He is their only child. His relatives include singer Kishore Kumar, his maternal uncle. Lahiri began to play tabla at the age of 3. Initially, he was trained by his parents. Lahiri has 2 children, a son Bappa Lahiri and a daughter Rema Lahiri. His son is married to Sannaya Gandhi with whom he has a son Azam John Lahiri. His favorite quote is 'Gold is my God.'
Career
Notorious for his uptempo and danceable tracks. Bappi would recreate and sometimes sample popular sounds from the foreign market on his soundtracks. Though he was known for disco-style songs he has also composed some melodious songs as well, such as the songs from Chalte Chalte and Zakhmee. Portions of Lahiri's song "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai" were included in the 2002 song "Addictive" by American R&B singer Truth Hurts. Copyright holders Saregama India, Ltd. sued Interscope Records and its parent company, Universal Music Group for more than $500 million. A Los Angelesfederal judge subsequently barred further sales of the CD unless and until Lahiri was listed on the song's credits. , 2012 In late 2016, Lahiri voiced the character of Tamatoa in the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney's 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film Moana; he also composed and sang "Shona", the Hindi version of "Shiny". This was his first time dubbing for an animated character, and he also appeared in Ramratan song "Yeh Hai Dance Bar". He won Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at 63rd Filmfare Awards.
