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surtaal
Sat 12 May, 2007 20:48

Re: Manna Dey - The Living Legend
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#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#An Interview..#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#TABLE id=table4 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#TBODY#ed_cl##ed_op#TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TD class=Heading#ed_cl##ed_op#H1#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl#Manna Dey at his best#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/H1#ed_cl##ed_op#/TD#ed_cl##ed_op#/TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TD#ed_cl##ed_op#P class=para align=left#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl#Dr Mandar V Bichu#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#/TD#ed_cl##ed_op#/TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TD class=ArticleBody#ed_cl##ed_op#P class=para align=left#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Verdana color=#000000 size=2#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#On Friday, the select audience of music lovers and media people at the Cinemasangeet dot com-MMI-organised luncheon were in for a real treat as the legendary singer Manna Dey regaled them with an amazing array of anecdotes, shedding light not only on his own career but also offering a rare personalised glimpse into the historic golden era of Hindi film music. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#The octogenarian (who performed in a Signature Events concert later that evening) was in top form as he remembered every minute detail, mimicked personalities at will and even broke into songs in mid-sentence!#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Hates interviews#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#To get Manna Da to talk in this intimate fashion takes some doing for the man simply abhors interviews and interviewers. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#"I simply detest people who ask questions without knowing anything about the subject" - is his frank explanation.  #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#I still remember how he had tried to wriggle out of an interview 12 years ago giving me 10 different excuses before agreeing for a short chat. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#But then that chat had extended into a three hour-session at the end of which I had even managed to make him sing one-on-one! #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#While making him agree to do this live public interview session, I reminded him of that encounter, which brought a mischievous smile to his face. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#The moment I saw it, I was sure the great man was ready for the challenge! #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#The history behind Manna#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#He started off with a tale about his unusual name Manna and said, "Prabodhchandra was the real name given to me by my father Purnachandra Dey but I never liked it. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#My uncle and Guru - K.C. Dey, (the great blind singer of Bengal) always used to call me by the nickname - Manna. Somehow I liked that name and changed it officially when I reached college!"#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Recounting his early memories of film-industry, Manna Da said, "Composer Shankar Rao Vyas gave me my first film-song in the 1943-film Ramrajya. Actually the producer wanted my uncle to sing that song but he refused and instead suggested my name. In the film, the song was picturised on an old sage Valmiki. In fact, as a twenty-something young guy I mostly ended up singing for white haired old men!"#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl# #ed_op#BR#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#First real break#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#"#ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#In the 1940s, the playback singers were not given credits on records and that's why many of my earlier songs never received any attention. In those days, I worked as an assistant to music directors like S.D.Burman and Khemchand Prakash and even composed music for many mythological films at the ripe old age of 25. So embarrassed was I to be associated with that music that I used to flatly deny any role in composing such serious, pious songs! Finally in 1950-film Mashal, I got my real break as playback singer when my song Upar Gagan Vishal became a hit. "#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#A tough fight#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Manna Da candidly accepted the fact that he had to always fight for second place as the top spot in those days was reserved for the great Mohammed Rafi. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Without rancour, he remembered how the producers openly pressurised composers to choose other singers over him. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Thus in Basant Bahar, (where he sang superb songs like Sur Na Saje and Bhay Bhanjana), the hero Bharat Bhushan's brother Shashi Bhushan wanted Rafi and in Chori Chori (where he rendered classics like Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi and Aaja Sanam) producer A.V. Mayyappan wanted Mukesh as their main singers. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Dey said he remains indebted to composers Shankar- Jaikishan for recognising his talent.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#No regrets#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#He said he didn't rue the missed opportunity of becoming superstar Raj Kapoor's regular playback singer. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#According to him, Mukesh shared a great personal friendship with Kapoor and the undercurrent of pathos in that singer's voice suited RK's screen image better. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Remembering Raj Kapoor's great sense of music, Manna Da recounted how the thespian first made the singer sing the Malhar raga and then made composers Shankar- Jaikishan compose a brilliant comedy - classical number Lapak Jhapak for Boot Polish. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Such was Kapoor's musical passion that he even joined Manna Da in the song, lending some comic vocal gimmickry.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=5#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#The bond with Mehmood#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/STRONG#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Manna Da fondly remembered his musical bond with comedian Mehmood. He recalled how Pancham (R.D.Burman) had first used his (Manna Da's) voice for Mehmood in the Pati Patni comic number Allah Jaane Main Hoon Kaun, which later became a popular trend. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#He also recounted how the comedian used to coax and cajole him to add more masala (spice) to his songs.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT size=4#ed_cl#Concluding the session, when he lightheartedly described how he absolutely hated finally getting the Filmfare award for an 'ordinary' song like Aye Bhai Zara Dekhke Chalo instead of earlier, better deserving numbers like Nirbal Se Ladai Balwan Ki, Kaun Aaya Mere Man Ke Dware, Poochho Na Kaise and Kasme Vaade Pyar Wafa, the smilingly made observation was subtly tinged with a lingering regret of a great singer who never really got his due!#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/TD#ed_cl##ed_op#/TR#ed_cl##ed_op#/TBODY#ed_cl##ed_op#/TABLE#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#