Biography of Manna Dey

Born: 1 May 1919, Kolkata
Died: 24 October 2013, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, HSR Layout, Bengaluru

With a deep voice and semi-classical training, Manna Dey is a flawless singer who has the ability to sing any type of song. From romantic duets to Qawwalis to racy numbers to patriotic songs to prayers, his versatility is evident throughout

Manna Dey was born as Prabodh Chandra Dey in Kolkata. Manna Dey's family wanted him to study law but his uncle K.C. Dey, gauging his inherent singing talent, took him to Mumbai in 1940.

There, Manna Dey worked as an assistant to a music director. He, along with Manna's uncle, who was a well-known singer and star of the New Theatres, trained Manna Dey in the subtleties of Thumri, Bhajan, Tappa, and Qawwali.

He got his first break in playback singing in Vijay Bhatt's film 'Ram Rajya'. The song which established Dey in the Mumbai film world was ‘Upar Gagan Vishal' from the film ‘Mashaal. Manna Dey soon established himself as a popular singer of classical songs.