Legendary singer Manna Dey passed away at a ripe age of 94, in Bangalore, Oct. 24, due to severe health problems. The news has many, young and old, in Bollywood, and the nation, mourning.<\/p>\n
Dey was a versatile playback singer, who lent his voice to innumerable hits of the yesteryears of Indian cinema. Whether it was Hindi or any other language \u2014Bengali, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Magadh or Malayalam, to name a few \u2014 Dey had mastered them all.<\/p>\n
He debuted in the film Tamanna<\/em> in 1942, and has recorded more than 3,500 songs since then in a singing career spanning six decades.<\/p>\n India\u2019s government honored him with a Padmashri<\/em> in 1971, a Padmabhushan<\/em> in 2005 and he also received the Dadasaheb Phalke<\/em> award in 2007.<\/p>\n Born, May 1, 1919, Manna Dey\u2019s original name was Prabodh Chandra Dey. He moved to Mumbai in 1942, accompanying Krishna Chandra Dey, where he started working as an assistant music director, first under Krishna Chandra Dey, and then under Sachin Dev Burman.<\/p>\n Later, he assisted other music composers and then started to work independently. He continued to take music lessons in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Aman Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan during that time.<\/p>\n Dey established a class of his own by singing classical-based film songs and also songs that were a fusion of Indian classical and Pop music. He also performed classical music concerts. His tryst with Western music produced many unforgettable melodies.<\/p>\n Manna Dey came to Bollywood during the golden era of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar, but soon carved a niche for himself. He began singing ghazals<\/em> in Hindi films from 1953 and became a music composer with Khemchand Prakash for Shri Ganesh Janma<\/em> and Viswamitra<\/em> \u00a0in 1951.<\/p>\n Among his many innumerable hits in his vast career, some of our favorites are, \u201cMasti Bhara Hai Samaa<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Parvarish<\/em>; \u201cPyar Hua Ikrar Hua\u201d \u2013 Shree 420;<\/em> \u201cAye Meri Zohra Jabeen\u201d \u2013 Waqt;<\/em> \u201cZindagi, Kaisi Hai Paheli\u201d \u2013 Anand;<\/em> \u201cYeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chodhenge\u201d \u2013 Sholay; \u201cEk Chatur Naar\u201d \u2013 Padosan; \u201cYeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi\u201d<\/em> and \u201cAaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum\u201d \u2013 Chori Chori;\u00a0 \u201cAye Mere Pyare Watan\u201d \u2013 Kabuliwala; \u201cLaaga Chunari Mein Daag\u201d \u2013 Dil Hi To Hai<\/em>; and \u201cMadiralay Jaane ko Ghar Se\u201d \u2013<\/em> a rendition of Harivansh Rai Bachchan\u2019s Madhushala<\/em>.<\/p>\n Manna Dey performed live concerts in many countries, some here in the Bay Area as well. We happened to be at one of these concerts a few years back. He came with just one other musician on the tabla,<\/em> while he played the harmonium,<\/em> and also sang at the same time. There was no pre-defined list and he simply sang what the audience requested. The rich husky voice still lingers as I write this tribute.<\/p>\n Tweets from celebrities, and fans flooded Twitter as a nation mourned the loss. \u201cManna Dey, stalwart of the music world, passes away. Flooded with memories and his songs. In particular his rendition of Madhushala<\/em>,\u201d tweeted Amitabh Bachchan, expressing his grief. \u201cManna Dey had a unique voice. He will live on through his songs Ai Meri Zohra Jabeen\/Dil Ka Haal Suney Dilwala\/Poocho Na Kaise Maine<\/em> RIP,\u201d tweeted Shabana Azmi.<\/p>\n Dey is survived by his two daughters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Legendary singer Manna Dey passed away at a ripe age of 94, in Bangalore, Oct. 24, due to severe health problems. The news has many, young and old, in Bollywood, and the nation, mourning. Dey was a versatile playback singer, who lent his voice to innumerable hits of the yesteryears of Indian cinema. Whether it…<\/p>\n