Bappi da avoids grand celebrations as a mark of respect for the Shiv Sena supremo. Born on November 27, 1952, India’s disco king Bappi Lahiri turns 60 tomorrow, and he is quite excited about reaching this important landmark in his life. But the music director has decided to keep his birthday celebrations private because he feels that the city is still mourning the death of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

“I will celebrate with my family, but there won’t be any grand party as a mark of respect to Bal Thackeray who just passed away,” said Bappi da. This year, the Ooh la la composer also enters the 40th year of his Bollywood career.

Bappi da moved to Mumbai at the age of 19 and started his musical journey with the film Nanha Shikari in 1973. He went on to compose some of the biggest hits of the ‘80s and was labelled ‘the disco king’ after the hit soundtrack of Disco Dancer.

The music director sang loads of numbers that went on to reign the charts, including Yaar bina chain kahan re from Saheb, Yaad aa raha hai (Disco Dancer) and Tamma tamma loge (Thanedaar).

In 2000, Lahiri sang for an outside composer for the first time – Vishal-Shekhar’s Mumbai nagariya in Taxi No. 9211 – and then went on to lend his voice to several more tracks including the recent hit Ooh la la from The Dirty Picture.

Bappi da is a singer-composer who is not only loved by the industry and his fans for the music he makes but also for his colourful personality and gold fetish. BollywoodLife wishes Bappi da a very happy birthday! Long live the disco king!