Singer-composer Bappi Lahiri dies in Mumbai at 69

Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri died in a Mumbai hospital following multiple health issues, reported news agency PTI.

The news of his death was confirmed by physicians. He died on Tuesday night at Mumbai's CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. He was 69.

"Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight," Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told PTI.

Fondly known as Bappi da, he was as much known for his hit numbers as he was for his fascination for gold.

Bappi Lahiri composed songs for movies such as Disco Dancer, Himmatwala, Sharaabi, Adventures of Tarzan, Dance Dance, 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 last decade, 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.

Speaking to Hindustan Times in a 2020 interview, he had talked about the trend of recreating old classics, and said, “The trend started with recreation of my old song Tamma Tamma in Badrinath Ki Dulhania. I don’t want to comment on it. Public’s choice is the top most choice. Public is my everything."

Last year, the musician was admitted to Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

In September, the singer-composer had 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."