'Not saffron suits but scarves'
Bappi Lahiri, the newest BJP recruit, has already planned his wardrobe for the campaign trail. He posed for Mirror in Kolkata just before rallying for Narendra Modi. The singer-composer also talked about political ambitions, Bappi wannabes and those pesky heart attack rumours.
Why did you decide to switch sides from Congress to the BJP?
Ten years ago, I had campaigned for the Congress and Sonia Gandhi. But they did not give me power while the BJP has offered me a Lok Sabha ticket. Lata didi (Mangeshkar) has sung for Modiji (Narendra Modi), Salman flew kites with him recently and Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) is shooting a Gujarat tourism campaign. Toh Bappida kyun nahin?
For 42 years, through 500-odd films and innumerable shows, I've entertained people. I'm still composing for half-a-dozen films and have just pulled off a fourth successful concert in the US. I'm not a retired person looking for a career in politics. For me politics is an opportunity to serve the country. If I become an MP I'll work for both Bollywood and Tollywood, specially for the old and out of work technicians. This is not an idle promise, Bappi Lahiri will keep his word.
You'll be contesting the elections from Kolkata, won't that antagonise Mamata Banerjee, who you are close to?
I may stand from Bengal, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. I have a huge fan following all over India and across the world, it won't make any difference. I respect Mamata didi and the TMC. My joining the BJP is not going to upset our equation.
Have you composed a song for the BJP yet?
Yes I have, and they loved it. It goes like this, Atalji ko pranam, Modiji ko pranam, Rajnathji ke sapne honge sakaar, Modiji karenge Bharat mein chamatkar.
When you're campaigning will you sing Oo la la too?
I'm not an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitji or Salman Khan. My magic lies in my music. If the janta wants me to sing Bambai se aaya mera dost, Chalte chalte, Oo la la or Tune mari entriayan, I'll sing a line or two. Janta ke liye jaan haazir hai. But ideally I'd like to host cultural shows with the local and folk artistes from Bengal, Rajasthan, MP and Gujarat.
Will you start wearing saffron suits now?
The suits will probably be white but I will wear saffron scarves with my sunglasses and gold chains. Bappi Lahiri has an image that the public wants to see.
It's an image that is often mocked on TV and radio shows and at award nights. Doesn't that rankle you?
Wearing four chains and dark glasses doesn't make one a Bappi Lahiri. Main to asli sona pehta hoon,my glares are Louis Vuitton that cost Rs 1.50 lakh jabki unka sab kuch nakli hai. If the lotus blooms and I become an MP, I'll get myself a lotus medallion.
I've no problem with anyone imitating me, but I don't like it when they ridicule my mother tongue. If I am elected I will pose this question in Parliament. By laughing at my accent they are insulting Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and our President Pranab Mukherjee who're Bengalis too. If my Hindi was so bad would composers still want me to sing? Bappi clones have disappeared after a year or two, but the original is churning out superhits even after four decades.
Will you give away a gold chain while campaigning?
I did it once at Siliguri's Kanchanjunga stadium during a Tsunami charity mission with Baichung Bhutia, Sania Mirza and a few other celebs. The chain was auctioned for Rs 2.5 lakh. I don't mind giving away my jewellery unless it's a bhagwan wala chain. When Michael Jackson was in India he found my Ganpati pendant fantastic. I thought about giving it to him, then thought he had everything. Why should I give him my God who protects me from harm?
So then how did the recent rumours about your death crop up?
Pata nahin if it was motivated by professional rivalry or political jealousy. I can understand if I'd been ill or hospitalised. But I had just returned from a concert in the US and flooded with calls from fans. I assured them I was very much alive.
Why did you decide to switch sides from Congress to the BJP?
Ten years ago, I had campaigned for the Congress and Sonia Gandhi. But they did not give me power while the BJP has offered me a Lok Sabha ticket. Lata didi (Mangeshkar) has sung for Modiji (Narendra Modi), Salman flew kites with him recently and Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) is shooting a Gujarat tourism campaign. Toh Bappida kyun nahin?
For 42 years, through 500-odd films and innumerable shows, I've entertained people. I'm still composing for half-a-dozen films and have just pulled off a fourth successful concert in the US. I'm not a retired person looking for a career in politics. For me politics is an opportunity to serve the country. If I become an MP I'll work for both Bollywood and Tollywood, specially for the old and out of work technicians. This is not an idle promise, Bappi Lahiri will keep his word.
You'll be contesting the elections from Kolkata, won't that antagonise Mamata Banerjee, who you are close to?
I may stand from Bengal, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. I have a huge fan following all over India and across the world, it won't make any difference. I respect Mamata didi and the TMC. My joining the BJP is not going to upset our equation.
Have you composed a song for the BJP yet?
Yes I have, and they loved it. It goes like this, Atalji ko pranam, Modiji ko pranam, Rajnathji ke sapne honge sakaar, Modiji karenge Bharat mein chamatkar.
When you're campaigning will you sing Oo la la too?
I'm not an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitji or Salman Khan. My magic lies in my music. If the janta wants me to sing Bambai se aaya mera dost, Chalte chalte, Oo la la or Tune mari entriayan, I'll sing a line or two. Janta ke liye jaan haazir hai. But ideally I'd like to host cultural shows with the local and folk artistes from Bengal, Rajasthan, MP and Gujarat.
Will you start wearing saffron suits now?
The suits will probably be white but I will wear saffron scarves with my sunglasses and gold chains. Bappi Lahiri has an image that the public wants to see.
It's an image that is often mocked on TV and radio shows and at award nights. Doesn't that rankle you?
Wearing four chains and dark glasses doesn't make one a Bappi Lahiri. Main to asli sona pehta hoon,my glares are Louis Vuitton that cost Rs 1.50 lakh jabki unka sab kuch nakli hai. If the lotus blooms and I become an MP, I'll get myself a lotus medallion.
I've no problem with anyone imitating me, but I don't like it when they ridicule my mother tongue. If I am elected I will pose this question in Parliament. By laughing at my accent they are insulting Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and our President Pranab Mukherjee who're Bengalis too. If my Hindi was so bad would composers still want me to sing? Bappi clones have disappeared after a year or two, but the original is churning out superhits even after four decades.
Will you give away a gold chain while campaigning?
I did it once at Siliguri's Kanchanjunga stadium during a Tsunami charity mission with Baichung Bhutia, Sania Mirza and a few other celebs. The chain was auctioned for Rs 2.5 lakh. I don't mind giving away my jewellery unless it's a bhagwan wala chain. When Michael Jackson was in India he found my Ganpati pendant fantastic. I thought about giving it to him, then thought he had everything. Why should I give him my God who protects me from harm?
So then how did the recent rumours about your death crop up?
Pata nahin if it was motivated by professional rivalry or political jealousy. I can understand if I'd been ill or hospitalised. But I had just returned from a concert in the US and flooded with calls from fans. I assured them I was very much alive.
0 comments:
Post a Comment