Bappi Lahiri’s music revival has been the biggest phenomenon of Indi-pop art in the current millennium. At the turn of the century, when we all thought Bappi’s disco sound from the 1980s was dead and done, it was resurrected in unexpected ways. Now, we are in the midst of a serious Bappi wave, with as many as five of his 1980s dancefloor confections making it into Hollywood films.
The latest Bappi da song in a Hollywood film is Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba originally rendered by Salma Agha in the 1980 Mithun Chakrabrorty starrer Kasam Paida Karna Wale Ki. The song is now a part of the trailer of the Hindi version of the forthcoming Marvel comics’ blockbuster Guardians Of The Galaxy 2.
Bappi, who is in the US, is on cloud nine. “I’m very excited. I think I’m the first Indian composer who gets to have five songs in five different Hollywood blockbusters. First, there was Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja from Disco Dancer used in the Adam Sandler-starrer Don’t Mess With Zohan. Then, more recently in Lion, they used my song Come Closer. Years before these, the number Kaliyon ka Chaman sung originally by Lata Mangeshkar was used in an American album called Addictive. Later, I contributed a song of mine with rapper M C Hammer in the film Will To Live. And recently, I sang for the Disney film Moana.”
Bappi says he is most excited about the inclusion of his dance track Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba in the trailer of Guardians Of The Galaxy 2.
“Do you know Marvel themselves chose my song for the Hindi trailer and the film’s lead actor Chris Patt loved the song when it was played to him,” says 64-year-old Bappi with the excitement of an 18-year-old.
He refers to stand-up comedian Kenny Sebastian’s viral interview with Chris Patt. When Kenny plays Bappi’s Jhoom Jhoom… Chris comments, “Is it too late to put this music into our film?”
Bappi Da can’t contain his excitement. “I just landed in Los Angeles and heard about Chris Patt’s praise. I am grateful to my fans, to my gurus and my parents who made sure I never took my success for granted. Old is gold, I guess. When people say, ‘Dhun ho toh Bappida jaisi….sadabahaar’ I feel blessed. God has been great. Even now my Tamma Tamma is a hit in Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya. I wish to take Bollywood music to every corner of the world.”
