RIP Bappi Lahiri: Music the singer-composer stole and copied from other artists
The sudden demise of the legendary musician, Bappi Lahiri, has left many in shock. Bappi Da, as fondly known as, is credited for being the pioneer of disco music in India. He has delivered many hits in Bengali and Hindi and ruled over the chartbusters mainly in the 1980s and 1990s. Bappi Da has composed over 5,000 songs in 500 films. However, he has also reportedly copied and stolen many compositions from other artists. Here's a list of some of them:
Nazrein lar gayeian/YouTube screengrab
The song is from the 1996 film Bal Bramhachari, featuring Karishma Kapoor, Deepak Tijori and Simran. Composed for the film by Lahiri and sung by Kavita Krishnamurti, it is said to have been copied from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Punjabi song Main yaar yaar kehna. The song released in 1995.
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Hari Om Hari/YouTube screengrab
The song Hari Om Hari still rings fresh in our ears. The song is from the playlist of the movie, Pyaara Dushman, which stars Amjad Khan, Rakesh Roshan, Vinod Mehra, Vidya Sinha, Yogeeta Bali and Sarika. The film's music is composed by Lahiri and the song is sung by Usha Uthup. The song is reportedly copied from a single of Eruption's 1979 album, called One way ticket.
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Zoo Zoo Zoobie Zoobi Zoobi song/YouTube screengrab
The song, Zoo Zoo Zoobi Zoobi Zoobi from the musical drama Dance Dance, featuring Mithun Chakraborty, is said to have been stolen from the 1985 song, Brother Louie, by Modern Talking.
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Koi Yahan Nache Nache/YouTube screengrab
The song, Koi Yahan Nache Nache from the film Disco Dancer went on to become an evergreen number. The song from the 1982 film of Mithun Chakraborty and Kim, is sung by Lahiri himself alongside Usha Uthup. The song is said to be copied from The Buggles' 1979 album, Video Killed The Radio Star.
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Inteha Ho Gayi/YouTube screengrab
Inteha Ho Gai is one of the chartbuster hits by Bappi Lahiri. The song was composed by him for the 1984 film Sharaabi and is sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. The Hindi hit song is reportedly copied from the 1978 song The Runner by The Three Degrees.
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Chori Chori Yoon Jab/YouTube screengrab
The song Chori Chori Yoon Jab from the movie Paap Ki Duniya of 1988 is sung by Lahiri's maternal uncle Kishore Kumar. The music is said to have been copied from the song Walk Like an Egyptian from the album Different Light by The Bangles.
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Tujhse Milna Milkar/YouTube screengrab
The romantic song Tujhse Milna Milkar from the film Amanaat, which released in 1994, is sung by Amit Kumar and Alka Yagnik. It is inspired by an Arabic song Ana Lâarbi by the musician Cheb Khaled. The song from his album Khaled was released in 1993.
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Sochna Kya Jo Bhi Hoga/YouTube screengrab
The song Sochna Kya Jo Bhi Hoga is from the 1990 film Ghayal, featuring Sunny Deol and Meenakshi Seshadri. It is sung by Kumar Sanu and Asha Bhosle for the music, composed by Lahiri. The song seems to draw its inspiration from the Portuguese song Lambada of 1988 by the artist Kaoma.
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Tamma Tamma Loge/YouTube screengrab
The song Tamma Tamma Loge by Lahiri always gets you onto the dance floor to shake a leg. The song from the 1990 movie, Thanedaar has also been recreated for Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan's movie, Badrinath ki Dulhania. The original song, sung by Bappi Lahiri and Anuradha Paudwal is said to have been copied from Mory Kanté' French song Tama Tama from the album Tama.
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Dil Mera Todo Na/YouTube screengrab
Dil Mera Todo Na is another song by Lahiri for the movie Dance Dance that is said to have been stolen from the album Don't Break My Heart of UB40.
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Duniya Mein Tere Siva/YouTube screengrab
The song, Duniya Mein Tere Siva from the 1990 film, Aandhiyan is sung by Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan. Composed by Bappi Lahiri, the song is said to have been picked up from an Urdu song, Bas aik tere siwa koi nahi hai mera of the 1984 movie, Doorian.
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Whole Day Whole Night/YouTube screengrab
This is another hit number of Bappi Da. The song Whole Day Whole Night from the film Yodha of 1991 is sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. It is said to be copied from The Lion - Federico's Calypso Band's Portuguese song Mary Ann. The song is from their album The Merrymen of 1950.
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Jimmi Jimmi Jimmi Aaja Aaja/YouTube screengrab
This song Jimmi Jimmi Jimmi Aaja Aaja never fails to bring a smile to your face. The song from the film Disco Dancer of Mithun Chakraborty is composed and sung by Lahiri. However, it is reportedly copied from the French song T'es Ok, T'es Bath, T'es in from the artist Ottawan's album Le Bal of 1980.
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Tod Do Deewar/YouTube screengrab
The song Tod Do Deewar from the 1997 film, Nirnayak by Lahiri is said to have been picked from the song Another Brick In The Wall. The song is from Pink Floyd's album The Wall. The album was out in 1979.
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Tarkeeb
The 1984 film Tarkeeb had a hit song by Lahiri. Titled, O jaani dekhe toh, it is sung by Asha Bhonsle and Lahiri. The song is said to have been stolen from the English album Let's All Chant. The song is the title song from the album by the artist Michael Zager.
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Dil toh dil hai/YouTube screengrab
The beautiful song Dil toh dil hai from the 1992 movie Zindagi Ek Juaa features the hit jodi Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. The song, composed by Lahiri, is sung by Kumar Sanu and Asha Bhonsle. It is reportedly copied from the title song of the English album Scoundrel Days of 1986.