Before the antim-yaatra----Alvidaa Bappi-Da !

“Inside the bungalow No media live coverage allowed, No photographs or videos allowed” . When as a close family well-wisher ( since over past three decades) I reached Lahiri House ( ‘Late’ Bappi-da’s landmark Juhu bungalow) at around 8.30 am in the morning on Thursday February 17th the atmosphere inside the main hall was emotionally disturbing - Chaitanya Padukone

Mainly the family members including wife Chitrani, daughter Rema, son Bappa, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandson Swastik ( Rego) were present. In the living room, there were a few close relatives and family well-wishers.

Which included actress Rupa Ganguly (film-maker Anil Ganguly’s daughter), Megha ( Moushumi Chatterjee’s daughter), Sandip Soparkar, Samrat Mukherji , singer Parvati Khan. Everyone ( including me) had tears flowing from their eyes---it was immensely difficult to reconcile that the global music-icon Bappi-da was no more.

The mortal remains (body) was removed from the cold glass coffin and was placed on a sheet on the floor.

The holy customary rites and rituals preceding the ‘antim yaatra’ were being performed by a Bengali Priest Pandit-ji. All thru, bereaved wife Chitrani, daughter Rema were emotionally very shattered and were continuously sobbing and weeping.

All this while, a large number of prestigious awards, trophies, citations and chartbuster-hit Gold Discs displayed on the large wall seemed to watching in revered shocked silence.

Then the mortal remains of the departed was then taken to a large flower and garland adorned truck on a elevated platform, and the vehicle had huge portraits of the great sngeetkaar all around as they proceeded on the ‘final journey.

At the Juhu-Santacruz Hindu crematorium after all the traditional ceremonies and chantings, the funeral pyre was lit by Dada’s mourning son Bappa who was moved to tears all the time.

This was covered by both the electronic and digital media. The mourning celebs who attended the last rites included Shakti Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Nasirr Khan, Rupali Ganguly, Sharbani Mukherjee, singers Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun, Abhijeet, Shaan, Udit Narayan, Parvati Khan, music baron Bhushan Kumar, Sudesh Bhosle, film-maker B. Subhash and actor-producer Mukherjee brothers.

It was overall a deeply disturbing experience and we are confident that globally popular genius super-talented composer-singer Bappi Lahiri’s rich legacy of chartbusting disco, folk and melodious songs.

It now remains to be seen. Will there be a junction (chowk ) or a road (marg) dedicated to Bappi-da ? Or will there be a memorabilia museum or a memorial music-school or a park-garden in his name ? Or will there be an annual music award instituted in his immortal name.

‘Kabhi alvida na kehna’ was his mantra. But he bid an untimely Alvida to millions of his loyal fans and film-music lovers. Bappi-da –Yaaad aa raha hai—Aapka Pyaar.!!
******************************************************************

‘Late’ legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had seen a three-year old chubby Alokesh ( that’s Bappi’s real name) play the tabla with prodigious prowess. The venue was Eden Gardens and the year 1955.

After watching little Bappi play the tabla with such dexterity , Lata-Didi had predicted, “Don’t be surprised when he makes the world dance to his rhythms,”. Aparesh Lahiri –little Bappi’s father –a Bengali composer was thrilled with this great compliment coming from the supremo singer Lata Didi.