Alokesh Lahiri

Alokesh "Bappi" Lahiri was born into a musical Bengali Brahmin family in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and was trained in tabla from childhood, mentored by his maternal uncle Kishore Kumar. Moving to Bombay in the early 1970s, he broke into Bollywood scoring hits for Chalte Chalte (1976) and Aap Ki Khatir.

Lahiri revolutionized Indian film music by synthesizing Western disco beats, synthesizers, and electronic rhythms with Indian melodies. His score for Disco Dancer (1982) starring Mithun Chakraborty became a phenomenal international sensation, with tracks like "I Am a Disco Dancer" and "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" topping charts not only across South Asia but throughout the Soviet Union, China, and Eastern Europe. Known affectionately for his flamboyant style, velvet tracksuits, and heavy gold jewelry, he composed music for over 500 films across multiple languages.