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The 80s was an outstanding era.
Bappi Lahiri
I've always been a football fanatic.
Only god can defeat or destroy.
I'm Indian and proudly so.
I don't sing for awards, I sing for rewards!
Abroad in Hollywood, I am called Bling Bling Bappi.
People love me.
Everyone abroad knows me because of the songs 'Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja' and 'I Am A Disco Dancer', both from 'Disco Dancer'.
Lata Mangeshkar is an old friend. I knew her through my father Aparesh Lahiri who was a music director in Calcutta.
My father, Aparesh Lahiri, was a musician too, and at a very young age, I was geared up for a career in music.
Remixed songs in a way are helping the legendary songs revive their charm and reach out to the newer generations.
I want Bappa to be amongst the best music composers. My father was a great singer and I also did quite well and now my son would take forward the legacy, as music is in our blood.
Mentoring is an interesting job.
My favourite composers are Vishal Shekhar, AR Rahman, Shankar Ehsaan-Loy.
I was about 17 when I began my career.
So many distinguished members of our film fraternity like Lalita Pawar, A K Hangal and OP Nayyar faced financial hardships before they passed away. We need to look after the old and vulnerable entertainers.
I respect and believe in all religions.
My father Apresh Lahiri and mother Bansari Lahiri were great composers of their time.
My parents, Aparesh and Bansari Lahiri were very famous singers from Kolkata.
I am a disco king.
My favourites are Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. They are the four legends. I have worked with them in hundreds of songs.
I owe 40 per cent of my success to films from the south like 'Himmatwala', 'Toofan', 'Mawaali', 'Maqsad', Tamil and Telegu films such as 'Big Boss', 'Apurva Shar', 'Gangleader', etc. I salute the south for contributing immensely to my success.
I have done 33 films in one year, for which I hold a Guinness Book World record. Plus I've done songs for all languages from Hindi to Malayalam, Punjabi to Telugu, and Kannada to Oriya.
These gold chains and pendants I've been collecting from 1975. None of them are new and mostly - Hare Krishna Hare Rama, Ganpati, Satyanarayan, Hanuman - all god-related pendants.
Everybody has dreams.
In Hollywood, famous singer Elvis Presley used to wear gold chains. I was a huge follower of Presley. I used to think, if I become successful someday, then I will build a different image of mine. By the grace of God, I could do it with gold.
'Naino Main Sapna', 'Taaki O Taaki' in 'Himmatwala' was my baby.
Chennai is a lucky charm for me and I hold the city very close to my heart.
Our poor kids are very talented.
From Amitabh Bachchan to Ranveer Singh, I have sung for different generations of actors.
After 1999, I thought that I needed a break. As a senior composer, I didn't like the trend of three music directors working on a single film. But after a few quiet years, I was back for good.
I don't have words for her. I only know there will be not another Lata Mangeshkar.
There is a lot of talent in our slums.
At the age of 11, I started composing and my first composition was sung by my father.
I've been lucky. Massy songs like 'Bambai se aaya mera dost' from one of my earliest films and 'Tu ne maari entry' have been specially successful for me. I am blessed.
If you come to my house in Kolkata, it is full of gold and platinum discs.
Way back before 1980, prior to 'Disco Dancer' breaking into the collective consciousness of filmgoers, I had come to Chennai to compose for a film called 'Suraksha.'
I'm not an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitji or Salman Khan. My magic lies in my music.
I was the first Indian music composer to win the China Gold Award for 'Jimmy Jimmy' from 'Disco Dancer.' Adam Sandler repeated the song in his film 'Zohan.' 'Disco Dancer' is historical, as are 'Sharaabi' and 'Namak Halal.'
I miss the 1980s era.
There is only one Kishore Kumar, he was exceptional. No one can ever be like him.
The first film I gave music for was a Bengali film called 'Dadu.'
Throughout my career I've never worried about who will be singing my song on the screen.
For me politics is an opportunity to serve the country.
People laugh at me, and that's fine. I laugh at myself, too.
Bappi Lahiri has a voice that alone is loud and musical enough to sway people.
My style of songs will never get old because the music is very catchy.
I have always got gold from my family.
I love Punjabi Folk.
Congress is a culture and I would love to be part of it.