The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A melodious morning with Manna Dey

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A melodious morning with Manna Dey

Staff Reporter

Rado City programme gives Bangaloreans a slice of the singer's life Rado City programme gives Bangaloreans a slice of the veteran singer's life

VOICE OF A LEGEND: Manna Dey speaks to Radio City RJ Vasanthi during the programme on Monday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Veteran singer Manna Dey enlivened Monday morning for many Bangaloreans when he shared his rich experiences in a programme on Radio City.

He told them that people wondered how he could produce a different voice for certain songs. He spoke about his association with Raj Kapoor, particularly when he was asked to sing, "Aae bhai, zara dekh ke chalo... " for the film "Mera Naam Joker". Raj Kapoor was not happy the way it was going, and showed Dey how he should sing the song. When Manna Dey produced the right phonetic presentation of "Aye bhai", Raj Kapoor gave him the go-ahead. But he interrupted to point out how the singer should improve the rendering of other parts, such as "Aage bhi, peeche bhi". Manna Dey eventually sang the song to everyone's satisfaction.

The song is one of the most exquisite compositions of Shankar-Jaikishen and it was the genius of Manna Dey that made it sound so simple and fluent.

He recalled the highs and lows of his musical journey. The host of the programme did not forget to tell him: "We, Bangaloreans, love you."

Manna Dey was able to sing any type of song with felicity — from Qawwalis to romantic duets, and fast numbers to patriotic songs.

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