Did you know Bappi Lahiri had his look trademarked?
We ushered in Wednesday with the sad news of legendary Indian music composer Bappi Lahiri's untimely demise. At 69, he died at a Mumbai hospital due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). Having worked in over 650 films for five decades, Lahiri was also known for his distinct image: Black sunglasses, gold chains, and multiple bracelets. Did you know he had even trademarked this look?
How Elvis Presley is linked to Lahiri's iconic look
Before we find out about the unique trademark equation, let's dive into the genesis of this look. In a 2019 interview, the Chalte Chalte composer had said it was his admiration for American singer-actor Elvis Presley that led to his look. "Presley had a distinct get-up. Being an ardent follower, I had vowed to create a distinct identity like that once I got established."
Lahiri believed copying him isn't an easy feat
Although Lahiri credited his look to his guru (Presley), he did not wish to be copied himself. This is why he had a trademark registered on his ensemble. "Many people used to copy my signature look at functions earlier. But all this [showing his chains] is the result of decades of hard work. These cannot be replicated easily."
Was he obsessed with gold? No, actually!
Surely, the most bedazzling part of Lahiri's image was his numerous giant gold chains. Given his attachment to the chains, many assumed the artist was obsessed with the metal. But in fact, his association was based on his beliefs. Lahiri had lockets and bracelets of deities of various religions. He wore them as he considered gold to be his "lucky charm."
Lahiri had replaced gold with this metal in late 2010s
Although the Sharaabi composer originally used to don actual gold ornaments (his estimated gold worth is calculated somewhere near Rs. 20L), he switched the metal later. That's right. In 2016, the Gold Man of India had declared he was replacing traditional gold with Lumineux Uno, an alternative precious metal that is a tad bit less expensive. It's created by amalgamating gold, platinum, palladium, silver.
