As I write these lines – to be frank at heart and outspoken – I am
not mourning the death of Manna Dey. I am a little bereft of words and
expressions and recall the lines of one of his immortal songs phool gendua na maro from the movie Dooj Ka Chand 1964… that caught my attention at a very
early age when I did not understand a bit of classical music – not that I do it
even today. Being very young, I could not understand the nuances of the ragas,
yet Manna Dey’s tonal expressions left an indelible mark on me. I would say, my
journey with Manna Dey sahab’s meticulous music and unique style had begun.
As news spread over the legendary singer’s demise, both social and
entertainment media were flooded with the music of this genius. From the news
channels to the broadcasters also, Manna Dey’s songs were all across. For a
moment, I thought the golden era of music had revisited us once again. And
songs such as Puchho Na Kaise Maine Rain
Bitai (Meri Surat, Teri Ankhen 1963), Aye Mere Pyare Watan from Kabuliwala
(1961), Laga Chunari Mein Daag from
Dil Hi Toh Hai (1963), Sur Na Saje
from Basant Bahar (1956), Ae Meri Zohra
Jabeen from Waqt (1965), refreshed our taste of listening to good music,
which has recently eluded us.
My memories of listening to his songs from the HMV collections of
Manna Dey’s classical music, in the small Philips tape recorder – which we
still have, but seldom play – sent me back to the time, when during concerts as
part of the Durga Puja celebrations – or any other social get together, we
would specifically request the artistes on stage to sing laga chunari mein daag or lapak
jhapak tu aa re badarwa or Coffee
Houser Sei Adda Ta. And the audience would go crazy. I still remember, none
would dare to disturb anybody else. The silence was broken with the soulful
rendition of the songs, but the artistes never forgot to seek forgiveness from
the audience, before attempting such immortal songs.
Such was his magnanimity, that in a career spanning over five
decades, Manna Dey’s songs could never be challenged by other legendary singers
like Mohd Rafi, or Kishore Kumar. His training in classical music from his
uncle, the famous Krishna Chandra Dey helped him at ease with various ragas, so
much so that renowned music directors of the time, from Sachin Dev Barman to
Vasant Desai, Anil Biswas, Shakar Jaikishan to Salil Choudhury and later R D
Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal had made their choice for Manna Dey for complicated
classical songs based on different ragas.
Even in songs that proved his versatility through his renditions
of Ek chatoor nar (Padosan) or Masti bhari hai sama (Parvarish), or for
that matter Dil Ki Girah (Raat Aur
Din), his grief that reflected in Aye
Mere Payere Watan once again proved beyond doubt, that he could embellish
some of the most difficult songs with ease.
Very few singers could take the credit of singing duets with
singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh,
Mahendra Kapoor, Talat Mahmood, Amit Kumar, Shailendra Singh, Krishna Kalle,
Shardha Rajan Iyengar, Aarthi Mukherjee, Chandrani Mukherjee, Anuradha Pudwal,
Hemlata, Minu Purushottom, Bhupinder Singh, K.J.Yesudas, Suresh Wadkar, Kavita
Krishnamoorty Subramaniam, Alka Yagnik, Antara Chowdhury, Preeti Sagar, Dilraj
Kaur, Yunus Fazmi, Jaspal Singh, Anwar, Manhar Udhas, Joginder and Mubarak
Begum.
Manna Dey was one of them. He sang with singers of every
generation in Indian films from 1940-2005. He worked with more than 102 music
directors in Hindi film industry from working with Krishna Chandra Dey in
Tamanna in 1942 to music composer Shamir Tandon in 2006, giving his voice to
over 3500 songs.
While his contributions to the world of Hindi Film Music, is
beyond any words, Bengal and other parts of the country too had their
share from this musical wizard. A person who has oft said that he never
considered himself a singer, the world of music can surely vouch for this
singer who had it all – the range, the voice, the soul, and most importantly
the humility. He loved his music and loved musicians. His versatility was his
strength and he was able to capture the essence of any song – whether
classical, fusion, bhajans or folk.
Some of his songs in Bengali such as Baje Go Beena; Shundori Go, Duhai, Duhai;
Obhimane Chole Jeona; Ami Jamini, Tumi Soshi He; Sobai to Sukhi Hote Chaye; Oi
Kule Aami, Aar Oi Kule Tumi; Ami Jey Jolsha Ghorey; and the immortal Coffee Houser Sei Adda Ta; including many others, have been sung
innumerable times and on different occasions by professional artistes, at
musical programs, and at different musical social gatherings. And these songs
remain forever young and fresh.
Whether it was Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Shyama Sangeet,
Geeti Natya or non-film songs, Manna Dey had sung all genres of songs and
created his own unique identity.
Multiple National Award winner, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke
awardee Manna Dey Sahab, died on October 24, 2013 in Bengaluru, following a renal failure
and respiratory illness. He was 94.
As I conclude, I recall my interactions with one of the leading
classical singers of the country, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, who had the honour
of presenting the life time achievement award to Manna Dey on August 2012 at
his residence. Like all others, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty was in awe of Manna Dey’s
singing and recounted how humble and childlike a person he was. His music showed his simplicity and love
towards humankind, Panditji had said about the legendary singer.
I also recall these lines
from the movie Anand – Zindagi, kaisi hai
paheli, haae/kabhi to hasaaye/kabhi ye rulaaye … and goes on to say… Jinhone sajaae yahaan mele/sukh-dukh sang-sang
jhele/vahi chunakar khaamoshi/yun chale jaae akele kahaan/zindagi… and
Manna Dey’s soulful humming sings in the background.
The musical adda of Coffee
House may be gone, but the timelessness that has evolved in this house over
coffee and music of Manna Dey will continue to enthrall us and our future
generation. For, good music never dies. And that is exactly the reason, why I
wouldn’t mourn. I nevertheless feel a pain in some corner of my heart that this
stylish singer will not be seen around.
The silence over the
coffee table is a reminder that good music needs to be nurtured and cultivated.
This is what Manna Dey did all his life and the responsibility will be to carry
on this legacy with sincerity and commitment.
Manna Dey sahab, as I
borrow these lines from your song – Jodi
kagoje lekho nam, kagoj chhire jabe/pathore lekho nam, pathor khoye
jabe/hridaye lekho nam se nam roye jabe… (if you write on paper, the paper
will tear/if you write on rock, the rock will decay/if you write the name on
the heart, the name will be etched forever), I must say, you have imprinted
your name in our hearts, and that will remain forever.
Farewell to this musical
wizard, Manna Dey (May 1, 1919 – October 24, 2013).
