Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri dies in Mumbai at 69

Singer-composer Bappi Lahiri died in a Mumbai hospital on Tuesday night. He was 69. The last rites of the musician will be performed on Thursday, said a family statement.

Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri died in a Mumbai hospital due to multiple health issues. The news of his death was confirmed by hospital doctor. He died on Tuesday night at Mumbai's CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. He was 69. The last rites will be performed on Thursday, said a family statement.

Bappi Lahiri died at the age of 69.

"Bappi Lahiri was suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and recurrent chest infection. He was hospitalised in CritiCare Hospital, Juhu for 29 days with this. He recovered well and was discharged on Feb 15. However, after a day at home, his health again deteriorated and he was brought back to CritiCare hospital in a critical state and succumbed to his illness at about 11.45 pm. He suffered from Covid infection last year. He had OSA for the last 1 year,” Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told ANI.

In a statement, the musician's family said that the last rites will be held on February 17 as they are waiting for Bappi's son Bappa Lahiri to return from Los Angeles. "It’s a deeply sad moment for us. Our beloved Bappi Da has left for heavenly abode last midnight. The cremation will take place on the arrival of Bappa from LA tomorrow mid-morning. We are seeking love and blessings for his soul," the statement read.

He also composed songs for movies such as Himmatwala, Sharaabi, Adventures of Tarzan, Satyamev Jayate, Commando, Aaj Ke Shahenshah, Thanedaar, Numbri Aadmi and Shola Aur Shabnam, among others. The singer-composer's first big Bollywood hit score was for Aamir Khan's father Tahir Hussain's film Zakhmee.

In the 2000s, Bappi Lahiri sang songs such as Ooh La La for The Dirty Picture, Tune Maari Entriyaan for Gunday, Tamma Tamma for Badrinath Ki Dulhania, and more recently, Areey Pyar Kar Le for Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. He last composed the song Bhankas for the 2020 movie Baaghi 3.

Last year, the musician was admitted to Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai after being diagnosed with Covid-19. In September, the singer-composer rubbished reports about his ill health, telling Hindustan Times: “I am shocked to see so many reports stating that I’ve lost my voice. It’s ridiculous and I’m really unhappy."

(With ANI inputs)