Manna Dey Event In Mumbai

Manna Dey ----- Ek Shaam Hamare Manna Da Ke Naam

Even though I came to know of this event rather late, I was able to book my ticket for the programme and attend it altogether in a single day. I purchased Balcony seats early morning and rushed back to my office by around 1 P.M.

The programme was in the evening. I left my office by around 6 P.M. Thanks to a colleague who offered me a lift up to the station. She was however little bit surprised that I was going all alone.

I reached the Auditorium by around 7 P.M. It took some five more minutes before I had occupied my seats. The curtains were there still so I was not that late. Just ahead of me a person was sitting. I casually asked him If Manna Dey had arrived. He looked rather surprised. He said that obviously he must have come. As we started talking Perry, for that was his name said that he was in two minds while coming to this event, whether to attend or not? He did consider Manna Dey the only living legend so this must be worthwhile. Perry has some talent. He takes notes and makes tunes.

I glanced across the stage. Still the Curtains were there. There were some video songs played of his on the Video screen. Songs included Professor, Awaara, Love & God, Raat Aur Din, Shree 420, Ujala, Bawarchi and Waqt.

Then there was an announcement that Manna Dey had arrived. Then Khurana Saab, who has been accompanying Manna Dey in all his programmes, came to take centre stage when the Curtains were drawn finally. He introduced us to Shailaja Subramaniam who was going to sing some songs before Manna Dey would take over.

Shailaja started with ‘Raina Beethi Jaayein’. Then went on to sing ‘Yeh Hain Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andheraa’ and ‘Kuch Dil Ne Kahaan’ .This was followed by the introduction of another singer, this time a male—Rana Chatterjee. He started with ‘Aa Chalke Tujhe Main Leke Chalun’ and then sang ‘Mohabbat Zinda Rehti Hain’.

Then Khurana Saab announced the arrival of the Legend, Manna Dey. All rose to give him a thundering applause. Manna Dey seated himself on a cushion with a harmonium in front of him. He started with ‘Bhay Banjana Vandana Sun Hamaari’. Before singing, the song Manna Dey had mentioned that he would start with some songs then will sing some audience choices. Luckily, for me, even before I could think whether I would be able to listen to one of my favourite songs, I was pleasantly surprised when he mentioned about Kanu Roy and how he had died in a very young age. He then sang ‘Hansne Ki Chaah Ne’. Followed by ‘Phool Gendwa Na Maaro’, ‘Jhanak Jhanak Tori Baaje Payaliya’, ‘Abhi Tho Haath Mein Jaam Hain’, ‘Aye Meri Zohra Zabeen’.

The one non-film song he sung was ‘O Sajni, Sajni, Nathni Se’.

Then Sheela, another female singer accompanied Manna Dey in singing some duets such as ‘Sochke Yeh Gagan Jhoome’, ‘Dil Ki Girah Khol Do’, ‘Main Tere Pyar Main’ before stopping for an interval.

Anil Trivedi the organizer announced the intermission. Post interval Sheela Verma came on to sing songs ‘Rasm-E-Ulfat Ko’, ‘In Aankhon Ke Masthi Ke’ and ‘Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm’. Then Anil Trivedi called the Guest of Honour Mr. Nautiyal on to the stage. He mentioned that Manna Dey had sung for as many as 19 languages and overall 2,500 songs.

After that, Anand Daulat felicitated him with a shawl and bouquet of flowers. When the felicitation was over Manna Dey resumed with his songs. He sang some verses of ‘Madhushaala’. On request from some of the Bangla audience, he sang one Bangla number, which had lyrics by Pulok Banerjee. It went something like ‘Tumi Ek Jhot Ne’.

He followed this song with ‘Poocho Na Kaise Maine Rain’, ‘Aayo Kahaan Se Ghanshyam’, ‘Laaga Chunri Mein Daag’, and finally ‘Aye Mere Pyare Watan’, which was the last song.

Anil Trivedi then came along to mention the names of the members of the musical troupe. Mahendra Gokhale was on the synthesizer, Guitar by Richard, Tabla by Indranath Mukherjee, Dholak by Shyam and Side Rhythm by Waman Kohli.

I returned home remembering an evening well spent.