New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): Ninety-year-old playback legend Manna Dey - who belted out evergreen songs like "Ae mere pyaare watan" and "Zindagi kaisi hai paheli" - is being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, the highest honour in Indian cinema, his family said Wednesday.
"We got a call from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Tuesday to inform us about the award (for 2007). He is right now in New York for some cultural programe. He will return to Bangalore Thursday. We are very happy for him," his family member Anuradha Dey told IANS on phone.
Born as Prabodh Chandra Dey May 1, 1919 to Purna Chandra and Mahamaya Dey, the singer was a name to reckon with in the Hindi film industry from the 1950s to the 1970s. He has recorded more than 3,500 songs over the course of his career.
He started his career in playback singing with the movie "Tamanna" in 1943. The song was an instant hit and later he sang a solo, "Upar Gagan Vishal", in the 1950 movie "Mashal".
His all-time hits include "Sur na saje kya gaun main", "Na to karanwa ki talash hai na to humsafar ki talash hain", "Puchho na kaise maine rain bitayee", "Laga chunari main daag", "Aaja sanam madhur chandani mein hum", "Dil ka haal sune dilwala", "Ye raat bhigi bhigi, ye masta fijzayen", "Jhanak jhanak tori baaje payaliya", "Tu pyar ka saagar hai", "Chunari sambhal gori udi chali jaye re" and "Ay meri Zohara".
He also teamed up with Kishore Kumar for hit numbers like "Yeh dosti hum nahin torenge" ("Sholay") and "Ek chatur naar" ("Padosan").
How can one forget "Yaari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagi" from the film "Zanjeer"? He also sang for the Bengali film industry, sometimes teaming up with Hemant Kumar.
He sang a duet "Ke prothom kachhe esechi" with Lata Mangeshkar for the Bengali movie "Sankhyabela".
Comment on this article
rizwan, dubai/Mangalore
Wed, Sep 30 2009No one can oppose his candidature. This is the most deseverving case. Name one in the industry who can challenge him TODAY as far as classical music is concerned. I am his utmost admirer. His contribution to music has been recognised very late. However, better late than never.
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Chananlall Dhanraj, Guyana
Wed, Sep 30 2009I grew up with Manna Dey songs and my father admired him. He was the first playback singer to visit Guyana in the early 60's to sold out halls. It is always be a pleasure listening to his melodious voice singing his immortal songs, especially from the movie Chori Chori. He greatly deserves this award.
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Felix A. D'Souza, Bdnur/Canada
Wed, Sep 30 2009Great singer with olden voice ! He deserves this national honour. All his songs sung melodiously will be remembered for many many years to come. God bless him !!
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ISMAIL K PERINJE, perinje/YANBU-KSA
Wed, Sep 30 2009It was due for long back.He was star singer of yester years.After 90 years,He is getting the covetd "Dada Saheb Phalke"award,I would like to congrats and wishing him good health.
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henry MISQUITH, MANGALORE/BAHRAIN
Wed, Sep 30 2009Congratulations to Manna Dey saab, you deserve this prestigious award.We all are proud of you.I really cherish your songs "AE MERE PYARE WATAN"& "ZINDAGI KAISI HAI PAHELI". All the best.
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Rajesh Rao, Mangalore
Wed, Sep 30 2009Congratulations sir. May God grant you good health and happiness. I liked all you songs since my chilhood days, especially the one in Padosan - ek chatur nara", you and kishoreda were too good in that. I miss kishoreda & Panchamda very much.
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