{"id":6431,"date":"2022-02-16T00:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T18:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=6431"},"modified":"2024-05-01T19:09:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T13:39:03","slug":"manna-dey-a-story-of-amazing-versatility-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/manna-dey-a-story-of-amazing-versatility-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Manna Dey: A Story of Amazing Versatility – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"manna

Manna Dey<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018I am a singer and my entire life has been dedicated to music alone. To me music is God\u2014the sole source of inspiration and knowledge. I live for music. However, in my childhood music never appealed to me as I spent a large part of my childhood playing games, wrestling with my friends and picking up fights. The musical ambience of our ancestral house was instrumental in effecting the turnaround from a mischief monger to a music maker. It inculcated the desire in me to excel in music\u2019. (Manna Dey in his autobiography)<\/em><\/p>\n

Not surprisingly then, Manna Dey decided to undertake an arduous and extensive musical training from his expert uncle Krishna Chandra Dey (KC Dey, fondly called Babu Kaka) to become a singer and master the art of song making.<\/p>\n

Born in Calcutta on May 1, 1919, to parents Purna Chandra and Mahamaya, Manna Dey (Prabodh Chandra Dey) was brought up in the Dey\u2019s joint family that lived in the ancestral house built by his grandfather around the close of the nineteenth century. Manna Dey\u2019s father completed college education and worked for Chartered Bank, his older uncle Hem Chandra pursued engineering and the younger uncle Krishna Chandra followed his passion and became a singer\/composer.<\/p>\n

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Father Purna Chandra Dey and mother Mahamaya (Pic: Chandrakantha)<\/p><\/div>\n

Early Childhood<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A cursory review of the published literature does not show any explicit mention of Manna Dey being a child prodigy. His genetic legacy and the musical ambiance in which he grew up might have planted a \u2018musical parag\u2019 in his psyche that later enabled him to blossom into a great musical artist.<\/p>\n

However, his early childhood days shenanigans were in stark contrast to the expectations of a future artist. He was part of a notorious gang playing pranks on neighbours, involved in deliberate brawls, and stealing from confectioners. Flying kites (falling from compound wall and getting a thorough thrashing from an infuriated uncle), playing football and cricket consumed most of the leisure time. At this time music did not appeal to him. In fact, his older uncle Hem Chandra wanted him to become a barrister and steer clear of music as a vocation, even though the younger uncle KC Dey had become a famous singer\/composer.<\/p>\n

Natural Musician<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>

A young Manna Dey (Pic courtesy: Sounak Gupta Collections)<\/p><\/div>\n

Manna Dey\u2019s inborn talent for music was amply conspicuous very early in his childhood. Despite his apparent lack of interest, music must have been in his blood as loitering near the uncle and other Ustads\u2019 music room, he would pick up at once a rather complex combination of notes and sing it out loud to the amazement of the Ustads. The musical notes and scales, as well as rhythmic beats on tabla came to him naturally.<\/p>\n

Since his uncle KC Dey was blind, Manna Dey\u2019s assignments were to help him with not just the routine chores and errands but also to get his music book and read aloud the words of a particular song, or note down the tune of his compositions and jotting down the musical notes. Most of his Babu Kaka\u2019s memorable songs were composed in this manner. These musical sessions that he sat through served as the stepping stone for Manna Dey\u2019s growth as a singer.<\/p>\n

Learning music<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Manna Dey kept learning from his uncle KC Dey, his first teacher, the \u201cmusical alphabet\u201d and the basic grammar of music. He also started learning to play musical instruments \u2013 tanpura and harmonium.<\/p>\n

\"Manna

Manna Dey with his uncle KC Dey<\/p><\/div>\n

Learning music was never a chore with a patient, sympathetic and enterprising teacher like KC Dey, an expert with a vast knowledge of the art. Exposure to ragas and rhythms formed the basis of his learning.<\/p>\n

Manna Dey learned very early on that attention to the intonation (accuracy of pitch\/the melodic pattern of utterance) and articulation of words was key to enhancing the meaning of lyrics and emotive power of performance. A song is born from a perfect synchronization of melody, rhythm and lyrics.<\/p>\n

Manna Dey\u2019s introduction to \u2018English numbers\u2019 in college was a real revelation for him. He appreciated the ingenious tunes, beat and lyrics of Western numbers; he called it love at first hearing.<\/p>\n

Manna Dey recalls that a fateful event, inter-collegiate singing competition, constituted the turning point in his life. Thanks to the rigorous training from his uncle, Manna Dey won the singing competition in all nine categories: dhrupad, dhamar, khayal, bhajan, kirtan, baul, bhatiyali, tappa<\/em> and ghazal<\/em>. He managed a second place in the categories of modern songs and thumri. However, he was determined to win all categories in the following years by mastering the needed techniques, and he did achieve the goal by winning the next three years.<\/p>\n

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Mehmood, Mohd Rafi, Anandji, Kalyanji, Manna Dey and IS Johar at the recording of Yeh do deewane dil ke<\/em>, for Johar Mehmood in Goa<\/em> (Pic courtesy: Twitter)<\/p><\/div>\n

Singers\u2019 Singer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

How good a singer was Manna Dey? Well, Mohammad Rafi once mentioned to a group of journalists, \u201cYou listen to my songs. I listen to Manna Dey songs only.\u201d\u00a0 Is there a better endorsement of Manna Dey\u2019s proficiency as a singer?<\/p>\n

\"Manna

Manna Dey and SD Burman<\/p><\/div>\n

During his active years as a singer Manna Dey had been synonymous with music and melody. He excelled across a variety of genres \u2013 film songs, ghazals, bhajans, classical and pop \u2013 he regaled generations of listeners with his romantic ballads, zany rock and roll numbers, playful qawwalis and intricate raga-based songs. Even as an accomplished singer, as part of his daily routine, Manna Dey religiously followed the music practice regimen of morning and evening sessions, 2-3 hours each. The morning session starting off with classical ragas, focusing on individual notes. Beginning with bass, gradually moving on to baritone and close with tenor. Then reverse the order.<\/p>\n

\u2018Seven musical notes in the scale stimulate and transform my very being, transporting me to those mysterious realms of bliss that are impossible to describe in mere words. Could I call it nirvana?\u2019 Manna Dey said. The evening sessions also included light classical genre.<\/p>\n

The Journey Begins<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Tamanna\"

Poster of Tamanna<\/em>. Music direction by KC Dey<\/p><\/div>\n

In Mumbai, 1942 KC Dey was signed up to compose music for the film Tamanna<\/em>. Manna Dey was his uncle\u2019s second assistant at a salary of Rs.150\/month for a job that entailed noting down the music of the song, helping singers to pick up the tunes, arranging the music and composing the background score. The film needed a duet by the romantic lead, but the KC Dey could not find the suitable male singer for the number.<\/p>\n

\u2018All right, then,\u2019 he announced. \u2018Manna is to be the male singer for this film. Now get me a suitable female singer whose voice will go well with his.\u2019<\/p>\n

Manna Dey could not believe his ears as he was about to become a professional playback singer. After a frantic search a beautiful girl, Suraiya, arrived at the studio who KC Dey thought (after the test) to be fit to perform the duet. Manna Dey very seriously took the responsibility of training her. The duet was recorded after the second trial. Thus, was born the first song, a duet with Suraiya, 1942 Tamanna<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Following this, in 1943 he sang four songs in the film Ramrajya<\/em>, establishing him as playback singer. The producers of Ramrajya<\/em>, Bhatt brothers, wanted KC Dey to sing the songs that would be lip-synched by the lead actor Jha as Valmiki. KC Dey politely declined and suggested to try his nephew Manna as he was capable of reproducing the bass appropriate for Valmiki\u2019s voice. Manna Dey sang for both Hindi and Marathi versions of songs for the film, composed by Shankar Rao Vyas.<\/p>\n

First song of Manna Dey<\/strong>
\nJago jago jago aayee usha<\/em><\/strong> (Tamanna<\/em>, 1942) KC Dey \/ Manna Dey & Suraiya <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Ajab vidhi ka lekh<\/em><\/strong> (Ramrajya<\/em>, 1943) Shankar Rao Vyas \/ Manna Dey<\/span><\/p>\n