The soulful Kabuliwala’s voice that sang Ai mere pyare watan, ai mere bichde chaman, tujh pe dil kurbaan... has been stilled.
Manna Dey, an artiste who crossed genres — Hindi and Bangla movie music, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Shyama Sangeet, light music and classical — died of multiple organ failure in the wee hours of Thursday at a private hospital here. He was 94.
Prabodh Chandra Dey or Manna Dey as he was called, was born on May 1, 1919, in Kolkata. He learnt music at an early age from his uncle Krishna Chandra Dey, who was an accomplished singer. Dey studied at Scottish Church School and College and graduated from Vidyasagar College. He took music lessons from Ustad Dabir Khan, Ustad Aman Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan. But, he never stopped learning. One could not call on him in the morning as he would be busy with his riyaz.
His duet Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum (film Chori Chori) and Pyaar hua iqrar hua (Sri 420) with Lata Mangeshkar and the qawwali Na toh karwan ki talash hai na toh hamsafar ki talash hai (film Barsaat Ki Raat) are sung by every person familiar with the melodious ’70s.
From the classic, Kaun aya mere mann ke dware from ‘Dekh Kabira Roya’ and Pucho na kaise from ‘Meri Surat’, to his last recorded song in Hindi films for Umar in 2006 composed by Shamir Tandon - Duniyawaalo kee nahee kuchh bhee khabar - which he sang with Kavita Krishnamoorthy and Sonu Nigam, it has been a long and successful journey. He was presented the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Dey was awarded the Padma Bhushan Award in 2005, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2007 and the Banga-Vibhushan by the Government of West Bengal in 2011.
His peak as a playback singer was from 1953 to 1969. From Ae bhai zara dekh ke chalo from ‘Mera Naam Joker’ to his duet in ‘Bobby’, Na mangu sona chandi, his songs will be remembered forever.
When Balraj Sahni danced to Ye shokhiyaan ye baankpan, jo tujh me hai kahi nahi... the others danced too. He had sung Sur na saje, kya gaoon main 57 years ago. Today, the notes of music have indeed dimmed, for the man who gave them life has left us.