Javed Akhtar revisits the magic of Manna Dey's voice and his unforgettable songs

Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar have earned the lion’s share of credit for being the three most dominant male playback singers from yesteryear Hindi cinema. While Mukesh was recognised as Raj Kapoor’s voice, Rafi could sing for just about anybody (the playback singer sang for Kishore Kumar as well) and Kishore Kumar emerged as the preferred playback artist for superstars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan in the late 1960s and 1970s.

But while celebrating the many wonderful songs of all these three men, we must not forget another legendary but sometimes under-appreciated playback artist, Manna Dey, whose career ran alongside the aforementioned great names, sang many all-time classics. He was an extremely versatile singer who could respond to the demands of both classical music and more up-tempo popular compositions. From the peppy ‘Aao Twist Karein’ to the soulful ‘Laga Chunari Mein Daag’ (Dil Hi To Hai, 1963) to the enchanting qawwali ‘Na Toh Caravaan ki Talaash Hai’ (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960), Dey enriched all these songs with his voice.

Two films from 1956, which were blessed with Manna Dey’s magic were Basant Bahar and Chori Chori. The former, starring Bharat Bhushan and Nimmi, was heavy on songs based on classical ragas. Dey sang a number of these melodies including, ‘Sur Na Saje, Kya Gaaoon Main’ and ‘Bhay Bhanjana Vandana Sunn Humaari’. But the pièce de résistance for which Dey combined with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was ‘Ketki Gulaab Juhi Champakaban Phoole’. In the upcoming episode of The Golden Years: 1950-1975 on Sunday at 8 pm, Javed Akhtar says only Manna Dey could have sung these three songs while shedding more light on the fine music of Basant Bahar.

Chori Chori, which had Raj Kapoor and Nargis, again had some terrific numbers sung by Dey. He was one half of the lovely duets, ‘Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum’ and ‘Jahaan Main Jaati Hoon Wahin Chaley Aatey Ho’, with Lata Mangeshkar lending her nightingale-like voice for Nargis’ character. But the two artists combined to sing an even more popular song in the film, ‘Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi’. According to Akhtar, this song is the definition of romance in Hindi cinema. “The deftness with which Shailendra (the lyricist) wove together nature, the beauty of the night and matters of the heart in one song was truly outstanding,” says Akhtar.

Speaking of Raj Kapoor and Nargis, the two shared screen space possibly for the last time in Chori Chori and then for a much shorter duration in Jaagtey Raho (1956). Nargis appears only at the climax of Jaagtey Raho, where she sings the wonderful bhajan ‘Jaago Mohan Pyaare’. The film also had the memorable ditty, ‘Zindagi Khwaab Hai’, which was laced with profound philosophical connotations. The song was picturised on a drunk character played by the venerable actor Motilal.

Kishore Kumar, who Manna Dey described as a “natural talent”, also had a year to remember with several hit tracks in 1956. In New Delhi, he sang ‘Nakhrewaali’ in which he gave one of the earliest demonstrations of his yodelling talents. Kishore made an even bigger splash while singing for Dev Anand in Dev Anand in Funtoosh. From the zany ‘Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa’ to the hysterical ‘Denewaala Jab Hi Deta’ to the extremely maudlin ‘Dukhi Mann Mere’, Kishore perfectly captured the many moods of Dev Anand’s character in the film.

But it was C.I.D which had, perhaps, the most successful soundtrack from among all the films that released in 1956. From the rustic strains of ‘Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re’ to the charming ‘Leke Pehla Pehla Ppyaar’ to the lilting notes of ‘Aye Dil Hai Mushkil’, C.I.D.’s music is totally evergreen. ‘Aye Dil Hai Mushkil’, which was inspired by the English song ‘Oh my darling, Clementine’, has become an unofficial anthem of sorts for Mumbai city with Majrooh Sultanpuri’s terrific lyrics. Even the song that was removed from the film, ‘Jaata Kahaan Hai Deewane', because the censors at that time didn’t approve of its picturisation and placement in the film, found its way back into modern day Hindi cinema in Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet (2015). Meanwhile, two other songs from the film—'Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein Ishaara Ho Gaya’ is hummed by Aamir Khan’s character and his friends in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992) and ‘Kahin Pe Nigaahein, Kahin Pe Nishana’ finds place in one of the lighter moments in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995)—thereby justifying the eternal nature of the film’s songs.

Tune into Zee Classic this coming Sunday at 8 pm to learn more about Hindi film music from 1956 in The Golden Years: 1950-1975 with Javed Akhtar.