This is an English translation of the Bengali autobiography of a singer who has dedicated his entire life to music alone as he considers music his God?the sole source of his inspiration and knowledge. It is said that one of greatest compliments paid to him was by his contemporary Mohammad Rafi, who once said to a journalist, ?You listen to my songs; I listen to Manna Dey'ssongs only!?
For over 60 years, Manna Dey'sname has been synonymous with music and songs?ranging from film songs, ghazals, bhajans to classical and pop. He has been regaling generations of listeners of his romantic ballads, zany rock ?n? roll numbers, playful qawwalis and raga-based songs. In this autobiography, Manna Dey takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane?precious visuals from his childhood reveal his uncle Babu Kaka taking him under his wings and being his first music teacher, who would tell his nephew, ?There is no end to learning, for knowledge is infinite. Whenever you come across a new melody, try and assimilate it into your repertoire by making it a part of yourself? Remember your guru is your mentor??
Manna Dey recalls his life at his ancestral home when his mother would observe every festival with much pomp and ceremony for which he did not care because these ?kept me confined to the house on such occasions.? What he particularly enjoyed was the night-long extravaganzas that his uncle organised where famous musicians like Ustad Badal Khan, Ustad Jamiruddin Khan, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan and others participated. In spite of their influences, Manna Dey, like his uncle Babu Kaka, found singing Rabindra Sangeet among his favourite pastimes??Tagore'svast repertoire of songs represents, in my eyes, an entire universe unsullied by petty concerns. They constitute a veritable treasure trove of human moods and experiences.?
His childhood was spent in fulfilling his passion for wrestling and football; adolescent pranks which involved shoplifting sweets from a confectionery shop and pole-vaulting into the neighbour'sterrace to swipe pickle jars. Here he describes his childhood hobby of flying kites and outwitting his contemporary Mohammad Rafi in Bombay at kite flying. He admits that regarding music, ?in the literal sense of the word, my youngest uncle was my first music teacher?In my heart of hearts, however, there is no way I can discount the value of those precious lessons that I unconsciously imbibed as I sat listening to the maestros in Babu Kaka'smusic room.? This includes the influence of his uncle and guru K.C. Dey (the celebrated singer and composer of the 1930s).
He relates an amusing incident when his uncle tells him to call Rafi to sing a particular number. He says, ?I was crestfallen. Why wasn'tuncle allowing me to sing the fine composition? I wondered miserably.? He even asks his uncle why ?can'tI be allowed to sing this song?? Babu Kaka snubbed him, ?Absolutely not. You can'tpossibly sound like Rafi. By the way, don'tforget to contact him tomorrow.? He admits being heartbroken at it. Thus he vividly recalls his struggle to carve a niche as a playback singer in Hindi films, while competing with stalwarts like Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar. He also discusses his foray into the world of Bengali films and non-film music where he has come to be regarded as the undisputed king of melody.
Manna Dey, when talking about the women in his life?his mother, wife and two daughters?devotes a large portion of the chapter to his mother who doted on this third son of hers. Manna Dey says that at his mother'sdeath, ?I could not stop the tears as memories of Ma besieged me and transported me for a few moments to a different plane altogether.? With her passing away, ?I was an orphan now. To whom would I turn in times of distress??
This autobiography, filled with interesting anecdotes and priceless nuggets on how some of his famous songs came to be written and recorded and his enduring relationships with legends like Raj Kapoor, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Pulak Bandopadhyay and others and ending with a list of his songs ever compiled, will not only interest his innumerable fans but also all kinds of music lovers and composers!
?M.G.
(Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110017.)
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