Here's why Bappi Lahiri's work in 'Namak Halaal' was special
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Veteran music composer and playback singer Bappi Lahiri passed away at only 69 on Tuesday. The Disco King of Bollywood began working in the industry in 1973 with Nanha Shikari and never had to look back. Be it melody, disco, or classical numbers, Lahiri produced them all, and with success. Among these, Namak Halaal (1982) was one of his most special works. Here's why.
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This is how 'Aaj Rapat Jaye Toh' was created
Lahiri was roped in for Namak Halaal by legendary director Prakash Mehra. When Mehra and lyricist Anjaan (Lalji Pandey) visited Lahiri at his studio in Mumbai, it was raining. Seeing this, the filmmaker urged Bappi da to make a song on that rain, and in no time, Aaj Rapat Jaye Toh was born. Who can forget Amitabh Bachchan-Smita Patil's iconic rain dance on this?
Feat
'Pag Ghunghroo Bandh': When Kishore Kumar got angry with Lahiri
Another interesting tale is associated with the classic dance number, Pag Ghunghroo Bandh. The song is 12 minutes long, which was unheard of in Indian movies. Its length had even puzzled the singer: the great Kishore Kumar. "When mama [Kumar] saw the song, he got angry at me, asking what is this?" Lahiri had revealed in a 2019 Film Companion interview.
Story
'Do you think I'm Tansen?' Kishore Kumar had asked Lahiri
In Pag Ghunghroo, Lahiri had, for the first time, incorporated Sargam with disco beats. This had also taken Kumar by surprise. "Do you think I'm Tansen?" the Chalte Chalte crooner had asked Lahiri then. But the latter had been reassuring, saying "You can sing it. Only Kishore Kumar can sing it." Apart from being a collaborator, Kumar was Lahiri's maternal uncle.
Other films
Special mention: When Lahiri got Kumar, Bachchan to sing together!
Speaking of the combination of Lahiri, Kumar, and Bachchan, one cannot miss out on Jaha Char Yaar from the 1984 film Sharaabi. As per Lahiri, it was Mehra's idea to have Big B sing in this track. Working on it, the composer managed to pull off the unimaginable: He got Kumar to sing the mukhra with Bachchan himself voicing the rap portion.