Happy Birthday Bappi Lahiri: Five hit albums in Telugu to celebrate his work

Today is the birthday of music composer Bappi Lahiri, who has worked predominantly in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. It is to be noted that prolific singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, K S Chithra, S Janaki, and P Suseela have sung for Bappi Lahiri in many of his compositions. He has scored music for more than 14 films in Telugu, three movies Tamil and three in Kannada. Some of his notable films in Telugu are Simhasanam, Sankharavam, State Rowdy, Gang Leader, Rowdy Alludu, Rowdy Inspector and Nippu Ravva. He is known for churning out both melodies as well as peppy numbers.

Today, on his 67th birthday, here’re the five hit music albums in Telugu to celebrate his work.

In Tollywood, his first project as a music composer was the film Simhasanam, directed by Krishna in 1986, that featured Superstar Ghattamaneni Krishna, Jaya Prada, Radha, Mandakini and Amjad Khan in the lead. The disquisitional music and noteworthy background score drove the movie throughout. He composed six songs for the film, Akasamlo Oka Tara, Gumma Gumma, Idhi Kalayani Nenanukona, Swagatham, Vahavaee Yavvanam, and Vayyaramantha sung by Raj Sitaram and P Suseela. Bankrolled by Krishna under Padmalaya Studios, Simhasanam has been considered the first 70 mm Stereophonic sound movie in Telugu cinema.

Bappi Lahiri has scored music for the Chiranjeevi starrer State Rowdy, and it went on to become a huge hit. This is an action-entertainer, and he had composed five songs for the film. Written and directed by B Gopal, the film has Chiranjeevi, Radha and Bhanupriya in the lead. State Rowdy’s music is precisely what we had come to expect from composer Bappi Lahiri. A massy introduction number for the lead actor Chiru, a romantic track Chukkala Pallakilo, two peppy numbers Radha Radha Madilona and Tadhigana Thom and so on. The album has stuck to the same formula that Bappi Lahiri has used. It is refreshing, or surprising, and is worth a listen.

The music for the Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti starrer was composed by Bappi Lahiri. It went to become a huge success. The most commendable aspect about the movie was its music and the overpowering score by Bappi Lahiri which pulled off the audacious film. His numbers Papa Rita, Paala Bugga, Bhadrachalam, Vaana Vaana Velluvaye, Vayasu Vayasu and Panisaasasa from this flick are all-time favourites of the listeners. Bappi Lahiri has maintained his place in the industry with his ability to give the audience precisely what they like, and the title song of Gang Leader is a winner.

Rowdy Alludu featured Chiranjeevi, Divya Bharti and Shobhana in the lead and the film’s songs had received a massive response. Bappi Lahiri offered another entertaining album for this K Raghavendra Rao directed-film. There are six tracks - Love Me My Hero, Kori Kori Kalutundhi, Amalapuram Bullodu, Chiluka Kshemama, Prema Geema Tassadiyya and Thadinaka Tappadika, all of them were sung by SP Balu and KS Chitra. The action-comedy has also Kota Srinivasa Rao, Captain Raju, Brahmanandam, Allu Rama Lingaiah, Kaikala Satyanarayana and JV Somayajulu in significant roles.

The music of Rowdy Inspector was composed by Bappi Lahiri. The album consists of six songs and lyrics were penned by Bhuvanachandra. All the numbers on this album shine for their own reason. Bappi Lahiri had done a splendid job in packing a punch with brilliant tracks. He had delivered the variety that will appeal to the masses and music lovers. Directed by B Gopal, the film starred Nandamuri Balakrishna and Vijayashanti in the lead roles.