B Subhash, Parvati Khan and Bappi Lahiri

Director B Subhash’s association with late music icon Bappi Lahiri dates back to 1982, when the duo scored their first hit together with Disco Dancer. Lahiri was someone the director could rely on because he had a solution for everyone and everything.

Recounting an episode from the ’80s, Subhash says, “We were at Mehboob Studio (Mumbai), and Bappi da had five other recordings that day. A producer came and requested him to finish a song because his film was going on floors the next day onwards. Bappi da smiled and obliged. The recording of a single song needs three to four hours. That day, Bappi da recorded for 24 hours at a stretch.”

Quiz him about how he would want to remember the singer-composer and Subhash shares, “He was a lovely person. In the past 40 years, I had never once seen him lose his temper. He was down-to-earth, sweet and kind.”

The duo collaborated again just a few years back when Lahiri composed the music for Subhash’s daughter’s yet-to-be released directorial, Jhoom. However, he rues not being able to meet him in the past two years: “Artistes don’t like to go all out about their sickness because it affects their profession. So, I didn’t visit him because I presumed that he wouldn’t like people coming to meet him due to his ill-health.”

On a parting note, the director says, “Bappi da did a lot for others, and that will stay back and become a part of his rich legacy.”