Bappi Lahiri has been lying low ever since he battled Coronavirus in April. Admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital as a precautionary measure after he tested positive, the veteran singer-composer was discharged soon after. However, five months since his recovery from the virus, health issues are plaguing him. It is heard that of late, Lahiri, 68, refrains from talking, leading to speculation that he has lost his voice.

The singer has been confined to a wheelchair, and a lift has been installed at his Juhu bungalow for his easy mobility. A source reveals, “Visitors who met Bappi da after his discharge have found him uncharacteristically low. Recently, he has not been talking. This has left many wondering whether he will be able to return to singing.”

Son Bappa, who flew down from Los Angeles to attend to his ailing dad in April, has been in Mumbai since. He assuages concerns about Lahiri’s voice, explaining that he was seeking treatment for a lung ailment when he was diagnosed with the virus. “He has been advised not to talk as part of the recovery. That’s why onlookers wonder if he has lost his voice. But his spirits remain high. He is planning to record a Durga Puja song with Bengali actor Rituparna Sengupta. He also composed the song, Ganpati Bappa Morya, rendered by Anuradha Juju.”

Bappa admits that his father’s existing medical issues, coupled with the Covid-19 diagnosis, have taken a toll on his health. “The virus has slowed him down; he gets tired easily, but there is no cause for alarm. He is on the road to recovery.”

Lahiri, who appeared as a celebrity guest on Indian Idol 12, has been moving around in a wheelchair. Bappa attributes it to the knee replacement surgery that he had undergone earlier in the year. “He has been advised the procedure for the other knee as well, but we are in no hurry. Gone are the days when dad would be travelling, recording and doing shows. We are viewing this as a break for him.”

(From left) Bappi Lahiri, Shaan, Anuradha Palakurthi and Bappa Lahiri

Mumbai-based Bappi Lahiri, Bappa, Shaan join Boston singer Anuradha to create a song for Corona warriors
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 12, 2020)

Bappi Lahiri has joined the ever-growing list of artistes coming together to pay tribute to Corona warriors. The veteran composer and son Bappa have roped in Shaan, lyricist Sameer Anjaan and Boston-based singer Anuradha Palakurthi to create the song, Saath do.

Bappa, who is stationed in Los Angeles, says he wanted to compose a number that highlighted the theme of unity even as we are staying in self-isolation amidst the Coronavirus crisis. A quick phone call to Anjaan and several brainstorming sessions later, the duo gave shape to the song. "My father, who is presenting the song, wanted me to do the vocals after he heard my composition. But, I wanted Shaan and Anuradha to render it," says Bappa.

Over the next few days, Shaan and Palakurthi, separated by continents but united through the endeavour, recorded their portions at their home studios. "Despite being stationed in different countries, we have all come together for the track. Now, I will request celebrities to feature in the video," adds Bappa of the song that will drop online later this week.

Rupali Ganguly on one of the most successful shows of her career and returning to TV with a tribute to Indian housewives
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2020)

For Rupali Ganguly, who rose to fame as Monisha in the sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and is returning to the small screen after seven years, life has come a full circle. The actress informs that her comeback show, Anupama, is directed by Rajan Shahi, who was also behind one of her earliest shows, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, back in 2002. “Rajan started my career and is restarting it,” she remarks.

The actress says that she took a break to look after her family and child and was initially sceptical about the new show. “My last day at work was May 31, 2013. The one-month Sarabhai vs Sarabhai shoot in-between was an eye-opener as I realised my child needed me more than anything else, and I needed him,” she shares.

In Anupama, Rupali plays a housewife who feels neglected and says it is a tribute from her to women who dedicate themselves to their families. It also marks a reunion for her and Sudhanshu Pandey. “We hosted the sangeet ceremony of our friend Bappa Lahiri a while ago,” she informs, calling her co-star a ladies’ man. “All my friends from my building want to come to the set to meet Sudhanshu,” she laughs.

Rupali goes on to say that she couldn’t be more grateful for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, one of the most successful shows of her career. “It has been a monster, growing every day. Recently, a six-year-old girl walked up to me and called me ‘Monisha beta’,” she chuckles.

The second season ended on a cliff-hanger last year. Is Part 3 on the cards? “All of us want it to come back. I made a Sarabhai Whatsapp group for the team and we are in touch. I guess Aatish (Kapadia, writer-director-producer-cast member) bhai and J D (Majethia, producer-cast member) bhai are looking for the right time.”

Clocking in 25 years in the industry today, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta on why he has always paid close attention to the soundtracks in his offerings
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; June 17, 2019)

Director Sanjay Gupta has never favoured the conventional, especially when it came to creating music. Delivering a crackling soundtrack in the gory Kaante and Zinda, he stood out from the melodic landscape that then defined the industry. In an interview with mid-day, he talks of staying in sync with the taste of the "MTV generation" and having faith in his choices.

What role do you think music plays in film-making?
Unlike today, when musicians simply record songs and send us [filmmakers] the demos, we would sit down with composers and take them through scripts and situations. Almost all great filmmakers have had an ear for music because music has a longer shelf-life than films. You may forget characters, but you won't forget good songs. Unlike my peers then, I enjoyed the process of creating a soundtrack. Often, I'd call my composers home for drinks and dinner, and then work on the soundtrack. It was like a party; you had to enjoy the process for it to [reflect on screen]. I'm also going to go back to that scale of music creation for my next, Mumbai Saga.

Which of your compositions were most dear to you? 
When I turned producer with Kaante, I got the freedom that I required to create a soundtrack as desired. I took that film to big producers who turned me down stating that the film had protagonists aged 40+, had no humour or music. For them, a successful song implied something that was sung by one of the Khans, not an action star like Sanjay Dutt. But I knew I was going to create something special. Every day after work, Anand Raj Anand would come over to my home. We would discuss situations and he would come up with creations. We created two CD versions, one a club version, for which we upped the song's tempo, and another lounge version, for which we dropped it.
Similarly, for Dus Kahaniyaan, we created three CD versions. One of them included poems written by Gulzar, and recited by the cast. I took him [Gulzar] through the situations of the film and told him to write as he pleased. Then, cast members Naseer [Naseeruddin Shah] Shabana ji [Azmi], and Nana Patekar, among others, recited them against a soothing ambient score created by Bappa Lahiri.

Can you describe the making of the soundtrack of Zinda, which went on to be a best-seller?
That was a challenge because the film has a black and white palette. I commissioned a track to Strings and told them I needed a track that connects with the MTV generation. They made Yeh Hai Meri Kahani. Throughout the making of the film, no one in my crew was confident of the song. But I was. The video, where you had the cast jam together, also went a long way in enhancing the track. Zinda ended up becoming one among the best soundtracks of my careers.

Almost two decades after he crooned Apun Bola, Shah Rukh Khan returns behind the mic to lend voice to Kolkata Knight Riders' new anthem composed by Bappi Lahiri
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 7, 2019)

Every time Shah Rukh Khan's boys in purple head out to the cricket pitch, they are accompanied by the fans' energetic chant of 'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re'. With a little over a month to go before the Indian Premiere League 2019 kicks off, it has been learnt that Khan has created a new anthem for his cricket team, Kolkata Knight Riders. Interestingly, the song also marks the superstar's return behind the mic over 18 years after he sang the hit number, Apun Bola, from Josh (2000).

Music composer Bappi Lahiri, who created the score, tells mid-day, "The new song is titled Everybody Just Run, Run, Run, and is similar to Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re in spirit. It's a solo number that has been sung by Shah Rukh, and arranged by my son Bappa and me."

In his trademark style of self-deprecating humour, the superstar has often joked about his singing skills. Besides the Josh number, he has - in his 27-year-long career - stepped inside the recording studio only once to recite the Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) poem.

Lahiri says that Khan was initially hesitant about putting his vocal cords to the test again. "Though he was shy and didn't want to sing it initially, I insisted that he did. We had recorded the number in September last year, but Shah Rukh wanted to release it later. We rehearsed the number for a few days before he took to the mic. I am happy with the way it has shaped up; he has sung like a pro. I hope when Shah Rukh sings it this year, it becomes as much of a rage as Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re did."

Son and grandson collaborate with veteran composer on his new project that also marks his reunion with B Subhash after 13 years
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 27, 2018)

Filmmaker B Subhash and composer Bappi Lahiri’s association dates back to 1982 and the Mithun Chakraborty starrer Taqdeer Ka Badshah. The duo had followed it up with the runaway hit Disco Dancer the same year. Their last project together was Classic Dance of Love in 2005.

Thirteen years on, Subhash and Bappi are staging a comeback with the former’s upcoming directorial, Disco Dancing Star, which marks the first collaboration of three generations of the Lahiris. While the patriarch has scored the film’s soundtrack, his son Bappa has arranged the music and grandson Swastik (Bappi’s daughter Rema’s son) has given playback.

“Subhash ji and I have always made a strong impact on the audience. Our chartbuster, 'Jimmy Jimmy', from Disco Dancer was dubbed in 45 languages. This time it’s even more special as my grandson has sung for the first time in a film. He had crooned a song on football earlier which was much appreciated. Swastik is only seven years old but has been trained in London and by his mother. He has a wonderful voice and I am really proud of him,” the grandfather beams, adding that he is confident that the songs from the new film will become chartbusters too. “I have been working for 48 years now and I know what the audience likes,” he states.

Subhash is quick to clarify that Disco Dancing Star is not a remake or a sequel of Disco Dancer. “It is in the same genre and is the journey of a young boy as he climbs the ladder of success. Since the story begins in the lead’s childhood, Bappi da suggested we use his grandson’s voice for the song,” informs Subhash.

Meanwhile, Swastik has also performed under the aegis of his grandfather at concerts, the most recent being in Pune where they sang “I am A Disco Dancer” together. “He is a big fan of Elvis Presley and Michal Jackson and sings English songs really well. All credit for his talent goes to Rema,” Bappida raves, adding that he won’t be recreating any of his old songs for Subhash’s project.

Swastik admits he is a huge fan of his grandfather and would like to follow in his footsteps. “I love the song that I have sung for Subhash ji and want to be a famous singer like my grandfather. I have heard his songs and love all of them. I would like to sing more songs in the future,” the young singer signs off.

Bappa Lahiri on Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma poking fun at his father’s composition in Karan Johar’s ADHM
Upala KBR (DNA; November 9, 2016)

The controversy around a casual comment made on Md Rafi’s singing style in the recently released Ae Dil Hai Mushkil hasn’t even died down, and already, another controversy has raised its head.

This one was more apparent, though not as direct. Remember that scene in ADHM where Ranbir and Anushka play a guessing game? One of the songs is a Bappi Lahiri composition, Taki O Taki (with RK mouthing the lines thus: Tacky O Tacky) from Himmatwala.

Bappi’s son, music composer Bappa Lahiri tells us about how the reference has hurt him and his father, who is currently in the USA doing shows.

Bappa says, “I have seen ADHM and was pretty upset when I saw how dad’s song was parodied. I don’t know why Karan’s trying to make fun of such golden melodies. When I told my father about it, he was very upset, too.

Karan has made fun of films like Maqsad, too which also had good songs. We all have grown up on the songs of the ’80s. In fact, today’s generation gets their references from the music of those times and we are making fun of those songs now?”

Bappa continues, “Ooh La La was a super hit and a remix of an 80s hit. Dad’s I Am A Disco Dancer is popular even now. Taki O Taki was a superhit song and was remixed and used in the Himmatwala (2013) remake.”

Bappa adds, “Anyway, I have to admit that dad doesn’t care about it so much. ADHM was so bad that it hardly matters now. The only saving grace was that it showed more than 20 old songs on the iPod and then, they made fun of some. It was so confusing. Karan’s father Yashji and my dad have worked together in Muqaddar Ka Faisla, so why is Karan making fun of my dad’s music? Instead of ridiculing the 80s music as kids, we should be proud of what our fathers have done. It’s terrible when kids make fun of their father’s generation. Maybe a few dance steps were funny, but you can’t rip apart the music. I was born when Mawaali released and became a big hit. The director Bappaiah used to call me Mawaali affectionately from then. I have grown up on that. These are hit films made by huge directors and I find it very upsetting when people make fun of them...”

Jeetu Speak: What the original Himmatwala has to say...
Jeetendra says, “I have seen the film and I don’t find anything wrong in it. Let’s all develop a sense of humour, please. It was meant in good fun and we should take it like that. Both Karan and Ranbir are children of dear friends of mine and they are both like my bachchas, too. I can never be upset with them. If I think it’s objectionable, humko sada hua bolenge and I don’t like to be called that (laughs). Can somebody please tell me the meaning of Taaki? I myself don’t know still... I was so busy shooting the song that I had no time to find out the meaning of the word. We used to shoot lengthy songs in two days in Chennai those days and life was very hectic back then.”