PERFECT PARTNERSHIPS

DEVESH SHARMA EXPLORES BAPPI LAHIRI’S COLLABORATIONS WITH SINGERS SUCH AS KISHORE KUMAR, LATA MANGESHKAR, ASHA BHOSLE AND YESUDAS

- DEVESH SHARMA

Bappi Lahiri formed formidable partnerships with different singers. He was related to legendary Kishore Kumar, who was his maternal uncle. In fact, Bappi da made his acting debut in Kishore’s Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974). Bappi played a character called Bhopu in the madcap comedy. It’s said Kishore Kumar’s last song, Guru guru, was recorded by Bappi just a day before Kishore died. Bappi was reportedly hugely upset by his uncle’s death and even thought of quitting films. However, better sense prevailed and he went back to composing. Bappi benefited a lot from Kishore’s versatility, especially when it came to rendering the numbers of South remakes like Himmatwala (1983), Maqsad (1984), Bewafai (1985) and many more. Sharaabi (1984) remains their most talked about album, where Kishore sang a ghazal like Intehan ho gayi intezar ki on one hand a comedy song like Jahan char yaar on the other.

KISHORE KUMAR HITS BY BAPPI LAHIRI

Jalta hai jiya mera bheegi bheegi raaton mein

Movie: Zakhmee (1975) Lyrics: Gauhar Kanpuri Co-singer: Asha Bhosle

Chalte chalte

Movie: Chalte Chalte (1976) Lyrics: Amit Khanna

Ye naina ye kajal

Movie: Dil Se Mile Dil Lyrics: Amit Khanna

Chahiye thoda pyar

Movie: Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979) Lyrics: Faruk Kaiser

Haan pehli baar

Movie: Aur Kaun? (1979)

Lyrics: Amit Khanna

Ke pag ghungroo