May 13, 2018 – The world is too small? or Is it?

Manna Dey – Chale Jaa Rahein Hai….:1942 – 1946

Manna Dey, a.k.a. Prabodh Chandra Dey, (1 May, 1919 – 24 October, 2013) is considered as one of the most versatile and a highly talented playback singers of Hindi Film Music. In his school days, he was getting trained to become a wrestler. He even reached the finals of the All Bengal Wrestling Competition. But destiny has scripted a different career path for him. in 1942, he tagged along to Bombay with his paternal uncle, K C Dey and opened up gate way to a very long career of playback singing. He has given voice to 4000+songs in Hindi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Punjabi, Assamese, Oriya, Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi, Kannad, Malayali, Sindhi etc. He has been associated with more than 102 music directors in Hindi films and had had sung duets with most of his contemporary singers.

It is said that his career got a real boost with Upar Gagan Vishal (Masahal, 1950). It got the further momentum to reach the escape velocity, by his two duets in Do Bigha Zameen (1953) under the baton of Salil Chaudhary. In the intervening years he had had excellent songs with Shankar Jaikishan (Aawaraa, 1951) too. He has recorded as many as 758 songs in the period off 1953 to 1969 – more than half of his entire Hind Film songs in an active career that spanned from 1942 to 1992.

There would be no dearth of his very poplar, as well as highly-quality-merited songs to run a long series of annual articles to commemorate his memory. However, in the spirit of bringing up of one page the songs that have faded up in the deep recess of memories, we will take up Manna Dey’s less heard or simply lost in the memory songs.

We begin our journey of remembering Manna Dey’s songs that have faded away from our memories with his maiden (duet) song from Tamanna (1942).

Jaago Aayee Usha Panchhi Boley – Tamanna (1942) – with Suraiya – K C Dey – S K Kalia

Suraiya, barely 13 years old in 1942 had already a hit song – Panchhi Jaa Pichche Raha Bachpan Mera (Sahrda, 1942) in her record book. Their simultaneous rendering of line @ 00.40 in the present song, blends Suraiya’s very adolescent voice with that of Manna Dey in very low octaves.

Gayi, Tu Gayi, Tyagmayi, Tu Gayi, Teri Amar Bhavna Amar Rahi – Ram Rajya (1943) – Sahnkar Rao Vyas – Ramesh Gupta

It is said that Prakash Bhatt, producer, and Shankar Rao vyas, music director, of the film, Ram Rajya, had come to K C Dey to sing the songs for the film. K C Dey did not sing for others, so the songs went to Manna Dey.

The film has two more solos of Manna Dey – Ajab Vidhi Ka Lekh Kisi Se Padha Na Jaye and Dur Dur Nagariya Teri.

Bhula Bhatka Path Hara Man Sharan Tumhari Aaya, Kah Do He Gopal – Jwar Bhata (1944) – With Parul Ghosh – Anil Biswas – Narendra Sharma

“Jwar Bhata’ is the maiden film of Dilip Kumar. Manna Dey also gets into the orbit of the-then known music directors, like Anil Biswas, but is yet to get to sing for the main lead actors.

O Prem Diwani Sambhal Sambhal Kar Chalna – Kadamabari (1944) – Anil Biswas – Narendra Sharama

Anil Biswas seems to have commenced experimenting with Manna Dey’s voic, in line with his strategic intent to evolve a totally different modern style of music as compared to the theatrical style of the Vintage Era.

Kyun Jaane Apne Banten Hain Begaane -1 & 2 – Meena 1944 – with unidentified female singer – Hari Prasanna Das – Pandit Phani

The songs has very distinct Manna Dey’s now-well-known own singing style.

Ye Rang Birangi Dor Hai – Mazdoor (1945) – with Ammrbai Karnataki – H P Das – G S Nepali

Mannaa Dey has been made to revert to typical vintage era style of singing.

Hai Gagan Mein Badal Theare Hue – Vikramditya (1945) – With Rajkumari – Shankar Rao Vyas – Ramesh Gupta

The song had been quite popular in those days. The heavy bass of female singers of Vintage Era is so evident in Rajkuamri;s voice too, whereas we get to listen Manna Dey’s voice that we have known in 60s.

Ek Chakori Dev Se Apne – – Vikramditya (1945) – Shankar Rao Vyas – Ramesh Gupta

The association with Shankar Rao Vyas has now yielded Manna Dey position of the principal lead male playback singer. The film has 4 more Manna Dey solos and one group song which is a prayer.

The soft digital copies of these other songs are not available on net.

Priye Ek Baar Man Mandir Mein Tum Rum Zum Karati Aana – Mera Geet (1946) – with Geeta Roy – Shankar Rao Vyas – Ramesh Gupta

Ye Jag Matlab Ka Hai Dera Kyon Kahata Hai Mera Mera – Rupa (1946) – Govind Ram – Ram Murty

Manna Dey sings a religious-flavored ‘filler‘song in vintage style.

Ram Naam Se Man Ke Ho Jaat Hai Shudhdha Vichar – Valimiki (1946) – Shamkar Rao Vyas – Mahesh Gupta M A

Shankar Rao Vyas has used Manna Dey’s voice in background.

I have sourced soft links of following songs from ‘mannadey.weebly.com/’:

Har Ek Kadam Sochke – Bisvin Sadi (1945) – Pannalal Ghosh

Pardes Musafir Jata Hai, Utha Hai Abodana – Dil (1946) –[Manna Dey gets credit as Prabodh Dey] – Zafar Khursheed – Shams Lakhanavi

Allah Khata Kya Thi – – Dil (1946) – [Manna Dey gets credit as Prabodh Dey] – Zafar Khursheed – Shams Lakhnavi

Naino Ke Badal Baras Rahe – Insaf (1946) – H P Das – D N Madhok

O Duniya Jara Sun Le – Kamla (1946) – With Amirbai Karnataki – Gyan Dutt

The songs for which I could not locate YT or other soft links:

Yeh Prem Ki Reet – Kavita (1944) – Shankar Rao Vyas – Ramesh Gupta
Raj Dwar Pe Baj Uthi Sahanai – Maha Kobi Kalidas (1944) – SreedharPalsekar – Ramesh Gupta
Din Aaye, Din Jaaye – Maha Kobi Kalidas (1944) – Sreedhar Palsekar – Ramesh Gupta
Kya Julm Kabhi Jeet Gaya.. Jeet Hamari Hai – Mazdoor (1945) – H P Das – G S Nepali
Paritranayam Asdhunam…Avtar Liya Jug Jug – Prabhu Ka Ghar (1945) – Khemchand Prakash – Pt. Indra
Tum Nath Ho Phir Main Anath Hun Kyon – Jug – Prabhu Ka Ghar (1945) – Bulo C Rani – Pt.Indra
Kyun Rooth Gayi Maa Dharti – Dharti (1946) – Bulo C Rani – Pt. Indra
Dil Churaney Ke Liye – Door Chalein (1946) – [Manna Dey gets credit as Prabodh Dey] – K C Dey
O Ji More Balamwa – Insaf (1946) – with Raj Kumarri
Aye Naujwan Veerat Ki Hai Kasauti Aaj – Mera Geet (1946) – Shankar Rao Vyas –Ramesh Gupta

In our established tradition of the ending each of our post with a relevant Mohammad Rafi song, I have located a Sonik-Omi composed duet with Manna Dey from an unreleased film. The song does not strictly belong to the period that we have chosen for the present post. :

Hamane Maana Ki Ham Hai