Credited with pioneering a new genre by infusing Indian classical music in a pop framework, Manna Dey epitomised the golden period of Hindi cinema with his inimitable style and memorable songs like Puchho Na Kaise, Aye Meri Zoharajabi and Laga Chunri Mein Daag.
Mukesh, and Kishore Kumar, Dey was the last member of the famous quartet of singers who dominated the Hindi music industry from 1950s to 1970s.
Kishore Kumar or the soaked-in-romance style of Mohammed Rafi, there were a few things Manna Dey could do which his contemporaries could not aspire to. Music directors Shankar-Jaikishen, indeed Mohammed Rafi too, felt he was the best choice when it came to songs with classical leanings.
Dey, who had made Bangalore his home for the past few years, started his career in playback singing with the film “Tamanna” in 1943. The musical score was set by his uncle Krishna Chandra Dey and he had to sing a duet with Suraiya. The song Sur Na Saje Kiya Gaon Mein was an instant hit.
In 1950, Mashal was the second film where Dey got the opportunity to sing a solo Upar Gagan Vishal, a melody created by Sachin Dev Burman.
In 1952, Dey sang both for a Bengali and a Marathi film of the same name and storyline, Amar Bhupali, and established himself as a booming Bengali playback singer that in years to come took him to greater heights.
His Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua from “Shree 420” (1955) was used in an advertisement campaign to promote contraceptives some 40 years after it became a chartbuster.
If this song was an ode to love young and fearless, his number in “Waqt” was all about love that has withstood the test of tide and time.
Similarly, he lent his voice to the ever soothing “Tu Pyar Ka Sagar Hai,” a song from Seema, which the faithful play in praise of the Almighty. His voice had the haunting quality of a companion left behind. Interestingly, he sang more than 50 songs with Rafi and 100 songs each with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.
His versatile voice charmed fans of Bollywood cinema for more than 60 years. Here are some reactions on Twitter:
Actor Amitabh Bachchan: “Manna Dey, stalwart of the music world, passes away. Flooded with memories and his songs. In particular his rendition of Madhushala.”
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt: “Manna Dey passes away. His voice shall linger forever RIP.”
Actor Shabana Azmi: “Manna 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 RIP”
Singer Shaan: “From Rock n roll to pure classical to melancholy to slapstick... no one like Manna Da! Long live Manna Dey!”
Singer Shreya Ghoshal: “Rest in peace Manna Dey saab.. You and your voice are immortal.. Your songs will continue to inspire millions forever.”