Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah in Ooh la la from The Dirty Picture

Music man Bappi Lahiri — whose Ooh la la is the latest Bollywood chartbuster — was in town recently to promote the Friday release, The Dirty Picture. t2 reproduces the tete-a-tete. In Bappispeak, of course.

Ooh la la is a rage…

It is my song only recreate by Vishal-Shekhar. You heard Oi Amma from Mawaali? Ooh la la is that only… in sexy package (laughs). It is awesome hit all over the world. Every radio is playing that song. Bahut din baad ek dancing gaana aaya. Ooh la la… tu hai meri fantasy… kya achchha wording hai. Super-duper hit! The song is picturised on Naseeruddin (Shah) and Vidya (Balan). They made the song very hot (laughs). After 10 years, it is first time this song of mine is heavy popular across the world. Vishal-Shekhar and myself work on the song together. They are guni music director… very good nature boys also… full of laugh.

Dirty Picture... already it is a talk of the town. Bombay… Bollywood… Hollywood… it is number one now. Everyone like Ooh la la… it is hot song on everyone’s lips. Vidya Balan… she is awesome. She has done very well and after long time, the Jeetendra-Sridevi music is there in Bollywood. It is a hit music… my music. Thanks to producer Ekta Kapoor and director Milan….hmmm… hmmm…. Luthria, it will be a rocking picture… very hot and hit picture. It is only looking like a full of sex picture, but story is very normal… very emotional.

Why don’t you sing in Bollywood as often as your fans would like you to?

I am laid-back person. I like to relax. I sing in Guru five years ago. Then now, Ooh la la… all good song… very golden melody. Last year, I had superhit picture… Golmaal 3… you have seen? I sing I am a disco dancer… picturised on Mithun second time also.

You will complete 40 years in the music industry in 2012. What changes have you seen in Hindi film music over the years?

Yes, 40 years… bahut time ho gaya. Music mein bahut change ho gaya... ’80s mein I was Disco King. I am still Disco King. Aajkal word sunna chahiye… lyric you can’t hear in today’s song… Munni badnaam hua, Sheila ki jawaani... why it worked? Itna achchha word… sab sunai deta. So what if it is item song? Item song is also song.

Bappi Lahiri at Fame (South City). Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya

What do you have to say about the current crop of music directors in Bollywood?

Everyone doing good work. Vishal-Shekhar my favourite… very good boys. (A.R.) Rahman very talented. Do do Oscar… no joke! I sang Guru… he love and respect me like brother. Let them do some work… aami onek korechhi… time for other music to be heard.

You had told t2 earlier that most new Bollywood songs are copies of your numbers… There is proof… all the time proof. Abhi jo Zandu badnaam hua gaana aaya… woh kya hua? Copy of song from my Phool Bane Angaarey (starts humming: Gori jab se hui jawaan, banna le jaa apne saath). You see how much it is copy? My song never get old… only I have got old with little bit white hair (laughs)… everyone is breaking my songs… taking part by part and making new melody.

Jennifer Lopez latest copying Bappi Lahiri. On the Floor… her song… direct copy of my song from Ghayal… Sochna kya (starts singing out loud). I, of course, inspire for the song from Lambada… but I did not copy directly. Everyone say, ‘Bappida copy’. But I only get inspire. Even Bengali new music is copying from my Udi udi baba and Kolkatar rosogolla.

Are you collaborating with any international musician now?

You will be happy to know that I am number one in Hollywood also. My jazz-fusion album Walking on Love Street is number one on radio in Hollywood… not only Hollywood, but New York, Chicago and Los Angel also. I have recorded in Los Angel and composed also. First time American Idol has sung in album… my album. Boy name is Shaun. Blockbuster singer. I am so happy… wahan bhi FM mein number one aur yahan bhi FM mein number one. Dil se achchha lagta ki Hollywood aur Bollywood dono ko Bappi ek saath sambhala. So, so happy!

I always go international. Samantha Fox ko main leke aaya… Boy George. Michael Jackson told me: ‘Bappi, I want to work with you’. But bad luck ho gaya, death ho gaya. Disco dancer is big hit all over world. Jimmy Jimmy ab Hollywood chala gaya. They have remixed and put it in (You) Don’t mess with the Zohan.

What other projects are you working on?

I have Dard-e-Disco as music director. I have also acted… you will see me as Disco King. There is also favourite of Bengal Rituparna (Sengupta) in the film. She doing good work. Superhit film. Next picture aa raha hai Spaghetti (24x7)… mat socho ki khana hai (laughs out loud)! Mahaakshay is in the picture. You know na Mahaakshay? Mithun’s boy.... He will be superhit blockbuster boy one day… very good actor.

Any recent Bollywood numbers that you’ve liked?

Bengali man Pritam song Pee loon (from Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai). Then Vishal-Shekhar song in Ra.One. Can’t remember name… hmmmm…hmmmm...

Chammak challo?

No, no…! Not that one…. Dildara dildara… very melody.

What do you have to say about the current trend of international artistes singing Bolly numbers?

Akon gaana gaya (Chammak challo)...theek hai. Itna achchha nahin lagaa. Aajkal Hollywood-Bollywood mix ho gaya. Duniya chhota ho gaya. It’s good… very good. Lekin, yeh bhi main pehle kiya… Samantha Fox ko leke aaya …. You know Touch me, touch me in Rock Dancer. Ab toh Kellie (Kylie) Minogue bhi aaya… gaana gaya. Good thing, but abhi bhi mera gaana number one (laughs).