For GenZ, Bappi Lahiri will always be the man who said Arey Pyaar Kar Le
Bappi Da
Veteran singer-music director Bappi Lahiri is the one music personality whose music made many of us groove like none other. But unfortunately, a few days after the passing of music legend Lata Mangeshkar, another iconic musician, Bappi Lahiri, is gone. Bappi Lahiri died in Mumbai on February 15.
Long before DJ Chetas could do his quick remixes, Hollywood could do their crisp EDM tracks and we could create instant Reels, many of us found a disco dancer within us through Bappi Da's music. Bappi Lahiri's party numbers revolutionised the music of late 70s-era Bollywood all the way through the 80s and well into the 90s. They even stayed on with GenZ, through original tracks... and remakes, of course!
Bappi Da's dhinchak music was on the top of the mind for every partygoer, as each and every song went on to become iconic stressbusters and party starters. Bappi Da was the one who introduced India to Disco and his peppy tracks made waves with all, no matter who was listening to them.
Bappi Da's music was so popular that many of his hit songs were remade for the younger generation. After all, the GenZ doesn't get weird white costumes and 1990s ka disco lights, right?
So, here is how some of Bappi Da's most iconic songs were remade for GenZ, and will stay forever in their hearts.
1. TAMMA TAMMA LOGE
Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya starring Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan saw the actors dance on a popular track called Tamma Tamma Again, which is a recreated version of the 90s hit track Tamma Tamma Loge. The original song starred Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit and was originally sung by Bappi Lahiri and Anuradha Paudwal in the 1989 movie Thanedaar. It features the young lead stars and has some killer rap by Badshah.
The new track transports someone back to the 90s because of its power-packed and foot-tapping number and a complementary retro feel. But the freshness of the disco feel and the dance moves keep it relevant for GenZ.
Here's the remake:
2. YAAR BINA CHAIN KAHA RE
Bappi Da, Pyaar Kabhi Kam Nahin Hoga #KingOfHearts #MusicOfGold pic.twitter.com/m9tGqBYKeM
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) February 16, 2022
Sung by S Janaki and Bappi Lahiri, this song is a classic from the 1985 movie Saaheb and is a quintessential mid-80s number featuring Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh, which was recreated by Ayushmann Khurrana in the movie Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan.
The song fit perfectly when many years later, a movie called Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan on a same-sex love story, was created to convey an important message to parents and families across the country. The movie that was loved by audiences, found this song to be a cherry on top. The disco track has the same energy, as Bappi Da’s voice has been retained in this number.
3. DIL MEIN HO TUM
Bappi Lahiri’s hit composition Dil Mein Ho Tum from Satyamev Jayate (1987) returned as a revamped version in Soumik Sen’s Cheat India in 2018. The romantic ballad, sung by Armaan Malik, showed the blossoming romance between the characters played by Emraan Hashmi and Shreya Dhanwanthary. The Hindi original was actually a Bengali track, Chirodini Tumi Je Aamar.
#Chirodini has been my absolute favourite song since childhood & I’m humbled to have sung this re-visited version of that legendary track by #KishoreKumar sir & #BappiLahiri da ???♥️Featuring @S_Dhan13 @EmraanHashmi in the music video, it’s sure to give you all the feels! ? pic.twitter.com/ovatKb8m3d
— ARMAAN MALIK (@ArmaanMalik22) December 26, 2018
Here's the remake:
4. BHANKAS
Baaghi 3 makers teased the audience with a rehashed version of Bappi Lahiri's popular track Ek Aankh Maru Toh from the 1984 movie Tohfa. The song titled Bhankas was Bappi Lahiri's last work as a singer. The lyrics of the song were by Shabbir Ahmed, it was composed by Tanishk Bagchi, while Bappi Lahiri co-sung the song with Dev Negi, Jonita Gandhi.
This is how it turned out:
5. NAINO ME SAPNA
Who doesn't remember the original song that was so immensely popular? The music and the dance were an epic reminder of the brilliance of the music composers. But when the song was remade for the new Himmatwala (2013), it was not taken as nicely as the original one.
Yes, the matkas and the colourful props made it a great replica, but the blah chemistry between Ajay Devgn and Tamannaah was a major dampener.
6. KALIYON KA CHAMAN
This classic song picturised on Aruna Irani was a beautiful dance song, but has been remixed and recreated by singers numerous times. Though the original stands on its own and is a testimony to Bappi Lahiri's musical genius, many years later, the song was remade and resurfaced like this:
Rapper Cardi B also drove netizens crazy when she announced her new single, Up, and in her video message, the remixed version of the Hindi song Kaliyon Ka Chaman, was played in the background. It was a proud moment for Bappi Da, who knew that he had created timeless music when this news came across.
Bappi Da also once sued American musician Dr Dre for copying Kaliyon Ka Chaman for his album Addictive and won at last in 2003, as credits were later given to him.
Remakes and remixes, while many in Bollywood and generally frowned upon, are a way for the younger generations to connect with music from the earlier times. Bappi Da too will perhaps stay on in the minds of the new generations thanks to the foot-tapping remixes of his originals.
Which one is your favourite Bappi Lahiri song?