Friday 14 November 2014

Bappi Lahiri: Wardat (1980)

Wardat

Those of you who have heard Bappi Lahiri's 'Surakksha' soundtrack will likely have an inkling as to what to expect from its sequel. The 1979 original represented Bappi's first wholehearted foray into the disco genre, and a year later he had already pretty much turned it all up to eleven.

Bombastic, over the top, anthemic, camp, bonkers; I've long since run out of adjectives to describe his musical antics. And the visuals often match; check out 'Dekha Hai Maine Tujhko Palatke', 'Din Ho Ya Raat' or 'Na Mai Hun Tera' (my favourite) if you have no idea what I'm on about.

Derivative is another word you see a lot in connection with Bappi. On 'Wardat' [review] [2] he even nicks from his (UK based) compatriot Biddu; after an intro that brings Ennio Morricone and Edda Dell'Orso to mind, 'Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai' sounds very much like something Nazia Hasan could have sung on 'Qurbani'.

So do I like it? Well it is kind of fun, but not as good as its predecessor. Still, you'll probably want to have it.

Track listing:
1. Bappi Lahiri & Chorus: Dekha Hai Maine Tujhko Palatke
2. Mohd. Rafi & Usha Mangeshkar: Sara Jahan Chhod Ke Tujhe
3. Usha Uthup & Bappi Lahiri: Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai
4. Bappi Lahiri, Annette & Chorus: Din Ho Ya Raat
5. Shailendra Singh & Chorus: Jalim Duniya Hum Pey
6. Usha Uthup & Bappi Lahiri: Na Mai Hun Tera

8 comments:

  1. One of my favorite Bappi soundtracks. I grew up listening to this LP, although mine had this cover.

    As a kid I used to think Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai was a solo. My little ears thought Bappi and Usha sounded the same!

    Thanks for sharing, PC.

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  2. I've always hated Bollywood with even a hint of Disco in it.

    This one is way different. I actually really, really love it. Thank you.

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  3. Never seen that cover, symaster. Later issue I suppose?

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  4. I believe so, or maybe just an alternate cover, release year and catalog number are the same.

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