Manna Dey's Life: Wrestler-Turned-Singer, Started Doing Shows At 10, Ended Mohammed Rafi's Supremacy

Manna Dey is among the few playback singers in the history of the Indian music industry, who have not only enjoyed an illustrious career but also inspired generations. He belonged to one of the esteemed vocal gharanas of India, 'Bhendibazaar Gharana'. The legendary singer, music director, and musician was born on May 1, 1919, into a Bengali family in Calcutta (Kolkata). When Manna Dey was born, his parents, Mahamaya and Purna Chandra Dey chose the name, Prabodh Chandra Dey for him.

Here's how 'blind singer', Krishna Chandra Dey transformed his nephew, Prabodh Chandra Dey, into Manna Dey

However, when Manna Dey made his singing debut in Bollywood with the film, Tamanna back in 1942, it was his uncle, Sangeetacharya Krishna Chandra Dey, who suggested him to opt for the stage name, 'Manna Dey'. The youngster sang a duet titled, Jago Aayee Usha Ponchi Boley Jago, with the legendary singer, Suraiya. For the unversed, right from an early age, Manna Dey was influenced by music, courtesy of his uncle, Sangeetacharya Krishna Chandra Dey, who was also a famed music director of his time.

It was Sangeetacharya Krishna Chandra Dey, who trained Manna Dey and taught him the basics of music. Krishna Chandra Dey indeed played a vital role in Manna Dey's life as it was him, who saw his potential to become a singer for the first time. Besides training under his uncle, Sangeetacharya Krishna Chandra Dey, Manna Dey also received training from Ustad Aman Ali Khan. It was in 1943 when Manna Dey's first solo song, Gayi tu gayi seeta sati, in the film, Ram Rajya, made him famous overnight.

In the coming decades, Manna Dey recorded a total of 3,047 songs in a total of 14 different languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Kannada, and many more. Some of Manna Dey's most famous songs include Puchho na kaise maine rain bitayee, Ay mere pyare watan, Ay mere bichhade chaman, Laga chunari main daag, Ek chatur naar karke singar, Tu pyar ka saagar hain, Ay meri zoharajabi, Zindagi kaisi hai paheli, Aaja sanam madhur chandani mein hum, Ye raat bheegi bheegi, and Chunari sambhal gori udi chali jaye re.

Manna Dey ended Mohammed Rafi's dominance and became the latter's favourite singer

At a time when Mohammed Rafi was ruling the Hindi music industry and almost every big superstar wanted him to sing for them, it was Manna Dey, who ended the iconic singer's dominance. As soon as Manna Dey started making waves in the Indian music industry, he lent voice to a series of A-listed actors. Soon, he slowly and steadily started challenging Mohammed Rafi's dominance.

As per a report in The Times Of India, Manna Dey ruled the industry from 1953 to 1976. It was once in an old interview when Mohammed Rafi admitted that although the entire world listens to his songs and is crazy about him, but he only listens to one and only Manna Dey. For the unversed, Manna Dey and Mohammed Rafi were each other's biggest competitors and always spoke highly of one another.

Manna Dey wanted to become India's best wrestler; here's how he entered into singing

As per multiple film critics and veteran singers, Hindi cinema reportedly underutilised Manna Dey. If he had received the kind of projects Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar had received, he would've probably surpassed them in terms of popularity. While everyone is aware of Manna Dey's stature as a singer, it is true that he never got the recognition he deserved for the kind of legendary singer he was. One can imagine the level of his singing talent by the fact that Manna Dey started doing live stage shows in 1929 when he was just 10.

Another interesting anecdote about Manna Dey's life is that he wanted to become a wrestler when he was young. Yes! You read it right. The iconic singer even took training and was a state-level wrestler during his college days. When Manna Dey was studying at Vidyasagar College, he reached the finals of the All Bengal Wrestling Competition. However, it was his steadily worsening eyesight that became a big hindrance on his way to becoming a wrestler.

Moreover, Manna Dey's dream to become a world-class wrestler ended when, during a match, his spectacles broke and tiny glass particles were embedded in the skin below his eyes. It was a tragic accident and also a call for Manna Dey to choose between wrestling and singing. In his autobiography, Memories Come Alive, Manna Dey opened up about the same and revealed that he chose music over wrestling. In his words

"My only ambition now was to win the finals and be acclaimed as India's best wrestler. Shunning the call of music all through my childhood and adolescence, I had aspired to be a champion wrestler. By the time I was an adult, music had taken over my life and soul. The moment could not be put off any longer. I had to make a choice between my two passions - sports and music. And I chose the latter."

The legendary singer, Manna Dey, passed away on October 24, 2013, at the age of 94 due to a cardiac arrest at Bengaluru's Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital. For the unversed, Manna Dey was married to Sulochana Kumaran, and they were parents to two daughters, Shuroma and Sumita. No matter how many years pass by, Manna Dey will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Indian playback singers ever.

What are your thoughts on Manna Dey's illustrious career and the compliment that he received from Mohammed Rafi? Let us know.

Also Read: Meet Tulsi Kumar: India's Richest Female Singer, Whose Net Worth Is More Than Legendary Asha Bhosle

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