Who does not become nostalgic by listening to the song “Coffee House-er Shei Addata Aj Ar Nei”! Just as the news broke that the legendary singer Manna Dey passed away on Thursday morning, everyone, who has a minimum orientation with Bangla music, walked down memory lane to where they spent listening to the timeless songs of Manna Dey. The social networking pages like Facebook, Twitter and others has been immediately filled up with words from Bangalees all over the globe paying tribute to their favourite singer.
However, the millions of fans he created over the course of his career will keep him alive forever.
He sang around 1,200 Bangla songs along with his illustrious career in Bollywood. He recorded 611 songs in Bangla films and sang 356 non-film Bangla songs. He also sang 46 Rabindra Sangeet, 84 Shayam Sangeet, 103 Bengali songs from non-released Bengali films and the rests from a variety of genres.
Along with Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, and Kishore Kumar, he made up what was known as the “famous quartet of singers” who dominated the Hindi film music industry from 1950s to 1970s.
In an interview, the maestro said: “I think I was in a field of music where there were giants. Any song that came to me was of utmost importance to me. If I had sung that any other way I would be replaced by them. So naturally I had to give my best. Every song that I sang I never relented anywhere.”
The celebrated Indian singer Haimanti Shukla, who came to the limelight through giving voice to the Manna Dey’s song
“Amar Bolar Kichhu Chhilona,” wrote in an article published in Hindustan Times: “He didn’t know anything else apart from music. Even after surviving a car accident, he came back to the car and asked us to put on the music to ease his nerves. That showed that his heart and soul lived in music. He preferred singing all the time. He expressed his desire to record songs even at the final stages of his life.”
A number of veteran singers of Bangladesh shared their reactions on the death of the legend with Dhaka Tribune.
Syed Abdul Hadi: “His music had an evergreen quality. Even on Friday’s generation is excited about his work. Moreover, he was always on the lookout to make Bengali music popular among other states in India. People will never forget his extraordinary melodious voice and unique style”
Tapan Chowdhury: “I met him face to face in the late ‘80s in Dhaka when he came here to perform. I remember a journalist asked him: ‘Which is the most favourite song of yours in terms of lyrics and composition?’ He replied: ‘I sing only those songs which I like on the basis of lyrics and composition. All my songs are my favourite.’ It is so true that each and every song of Dey is beautiful. The songs of Manna Dey will remain alive as long as Bangla music will live.”
Lucky Akhond: “He is the biggest singer in the subcontinent. I emphasise on ‘biggest’ in terms of his knowledge, the recognition he achieved and listeners he produced. A legend like him can never die.”
Kumar Bishwajeet: “I consider two maestros as my idols: Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey. The most incredible feature of Dey is each of his songs is enchanting. He is the key source of inspiration to all the singers of ‘Adhunik Bangla Gaan’ genre of our generation. The tremendous contribution he has made to Bangla music has its own legacy. He was not only a great singer he was also a powerful composer.”
Khairul Anam Shakil: “His command on classical music gave his songs a flavour that is so unique. The new generation has many things to learn from Dey.”
Here are some links of his famous Bangla songs:
(Courtesy- Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6avgCCWOeCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nge2hWSQyEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaezx0Npioc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6X6NJYVlV8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAcX7NG6UlM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSvY63Mhcgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQhAvT8sHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s2sXkQlRc0