"I am very hurt" – Bappi Lahiri on Mohammed Rafi controversy

“It’s a very bad attitude by those who can’t respect their elders. Whoever has written this dialogue is a zero,” said a visibly hurt veteran musician Bappi Lahiri in a Bollywood Hungama exclusive interview with Faridoon Shahryar today.  Bappi Lahiri refused to even listen to the contentious dialogue in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that has enraged a huge number of Mohammed Rafi fans all across the world. Bappi said that stalwarts like Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar (whom he referred to as Maa Sarasvati), janaab Rafi Sahab, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Mukesh ji etc should never be made fun of.

Bappi Lahiri said that he travels all across the world but he believes that the culture of younger generation touching the feet of their elders is a noble action and we should not forget our values. “If we stop respecting out seniors, our elders then we are not Indians,” Bappi ji said.

Giving examples of a wide variety of songs sung by Rafi Sahab, Bappi ji said that many singers tried to imitate the great singer but they can’t even come in anywhere remotely close to what Rafi Sahab achieved. “After a long time I am hurt by a film’s dialogue and I hope it is never repeated.  Rafi Sahab sang the title track of Dostana produced by Yash Johar ji. I composed music for a film called Muqaddar Ka Faisla produced by Yash Johar ji. Rafi Sahab had passed away by then. For a song Yash ji asked me if I could take a singer who can sing like Rafi Sahab and we selected Mohammad Aziz. Today I am very hurt and I am with Rafi sahab’s family. It is very wrong,” said an extremely emotional Bappi ji who was almost on the verge of tears.

Here’s famous musician Bappi Lahiri confessing his feelings about the Mohammed Rafi dialogue that has hurt him so deeply.

Source: Bollywood Masala original article at “I am very hurt” – Bappi Lahiri on Mohammed Rafi controversy