Bappi Lahiri to sing, dance for next track

Bappi Lahiri’s cup of joy runs over with yet another triumph, this one for Shoojit Sircar’s film. In a telephonic conversation from Los Angeles, Bappida reveals his latest project.

He says, “You will be happy to know that the unit of Shoojit’s Runningshaadi.com is flying down over here to LA to shoot a song with me. It’s called Pyar Ka Test and it’s an original, not a re-mix.”

The music composer, who will also feature in the song’s video, says proudly, “I’ve faced the camera a number of times. It feels good to be performing my own song for a film. Director Amit Roy insisted that I compose the song and perform it in the film myself. Since this is a Shoojit Sircar production and I like his cinema, I couldn’t say no.”

Bappida is saddened by present day musical trends. “I belong to the golden era of Hindi film music when Kishore Kumar, Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were the ruling voices. My first composition in the film Nanha Shikari was sung by the great Mukesh.  Even today my songs  like  Kabhialvida  Na Kehna,  Bambai  Se Aaya Mera Dost and Jawani Jaan-e-man are played everywhere.”

Times, sighs Bappida, are changing. “Nowadays film music has no longevity. We hear a song for maybe two weeks. And we don’t know who has sung or composed it. Earlier music composers and singers were brand names. It’s sad that we no longer respect our musical heritage.”