Manna Dey (1 May 1919 – 24 October 2013), born Prabodh Chandra Dey, was an Indian playback singer and classical vocalist regarded among the most versatile voices of Hindi cinema. Active in playback singing from the early 1940s into the 1990s, he recorded thousands of songs in Hindi, Bengali, and several other Indian languages, and was particularly noted for his command over Hindustani classical, semi-classical, and qawwali-based film compositions.
| Born | 1 May 1919, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Prabodh Chandra Dey |
| Died | 24 October 2013, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Spouse | Sulochana Kumaran (m. 1953) |
| Occupation | Playback singer, classical vocalist |
| Active | 1942–2013 |
| Languages | Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Assamese, and others |
| Notable mentors | Krishna Chandra Dey (uncle), Ustad Aman Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan |
| Major awards | Padma Shri (1971), Padma Bhushan (2005), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2007), two National Film Awards |
Manna Dey was born in a Bengali family in Calcutta. His father was Purna Chandra Dey and his mother Mahamaya Dey. He was deeply influenced by his uncle Krishna Chandra Dey (popularly known as K. C. Dey), a blind singer-composer who was a leading figure in early Bengali music and Hindi film music of the 1930s. Manna Dey received his initial training in classical music from his uncle and later from Ustad Dabir Khan, Ustad Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana, and Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan.
He studied at Indu Babur Pathshala and Scottish Church Collegiate School, and later at Scottish Church College and Vidyasagar College, University of Calcutta. During his college years he was also a noted amateur boxer and wrestler.
In 1942, Manna Dey moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) along with K. C. Dey, who was working in the Hindi film industry. He worked as an assistant to his uncle and to Sachin Dev Burman before independently composing music and singing playback. His debut as a playback singer came with the film Tamanna (1942), under the music direction of K. C. Dey.
The 1950s established Manna Dey as a leading male voice for compositions requiring classical depth. His rendition of "Upar Gagan Vishal" in Mashaal (1950), composed by S. D. Burman, was an early landmark. He gained wide recognition with "Aayega Aanewala" segment work and collaborations with composers such as Shankar–Jaikishan, Anil Biswas, Salil Chowdhury, Roshan, Naushad, Madan Mohan, and S. D. Burman.
His association with composer Salil Chowdhury produced a number of memorable songs in both Hindi and Bengali. The song "Aye Mere Pyare Watan" from Kabuliwala (1961) became one of his most enduring patriotic numbers.
Manna Dey was frequently assigned songs that demanded a strong base in Hindustani classical music. Notable examples include "Poocho Na Kaise Maine" (Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, 1963, raga Ahir Bhairav), "Laga Chunari Mein Daag" (Dil Hi To Hai, 1963, raga Bhairavi), and the celebrated jugalbandi "Ketaki Gulab Juhi" with Bhimsen Joshi in Basant Bahar (1956).
He also voiced numerous comedy and folk songs, particularly for actor Mehmood, including "Ek Chatur Naar" (Padosan, 1968) with Kishore Kumar. Other widely known recordings include "Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi" (Chori Chori, 1956), "Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua" (Shree 420, 1955), "Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli" (Anand, 1971), and "Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo" (Mera Naam Joker, 1970).
Alongside Hindi cinema, Manna Dey was a prolific recording artist in Bengali, performing in Bengali films and modern non-film songs (Adhunik Bangla gaan). Songs such as "Coffee Houser Sei Adda", "Aami Tomar Sange Bendhechi Aamar Pran", and "Sob Khelar Sera Bangalir Tumi Football" remain widely heard.
From the late 1970s, with changing trends in film music, Manna Dey's playback engagements reduced, but he continued to perform in concerts and record non-film albums. After the death of his wife in 2012, his health declined. He was admitted to Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru and died there on 24 October 2013.
Manna Dey married Sulochana Kumaran, a Malayali, in December 1953; they had two daughters, Shumita and Sumita. In his later years, he settled in Bengaluru. His autobiography, Jiboner Jalsaghorey, was published in Bengali in 2005 and translated into English as Memories Come Alive in 2007.
Manna Dey is recognised for bridging Indian classical music and popular film music. Composers regularly assigned him songs grounded in specific ragas, taals, and classical forms such as thumri, bhajan, and qawwali, where his trained voice could carry technical complexity that was uncommon in mainstream playback. His career spanned the era of S. D. Burman and Anil Biswas to that of R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri, making him a connecting figure across multiple generations of Hindi film music.