This is a note, written by my wife, Usha, on Manna Dey receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He has finally been recognized for his stellar contribution to music!
My first encounter with Mannada was years ago when my six year old daughter Amrita was singing a song with him and Mahendra Kapoor for a Hindi film.
She was in the singer's cabin with both these stalwarts and was standing on a chair to reach the mike she shared with Mannada. I was sitting in the control room and as the music track was being laid, I suddenly noticed the normally well-behaved Amrita playing the "tabla" on Mannada's head! I was horrified and rushed to the cabin to censure her, when Mannada asked me if I was there to interfere between him and his singing partner!! I profusely apologized for her act and he promptly told me in impeccable English, that she was playing the "tabla" along with the rest of the musicians, totally at his behest and with his full permission so to go back and enjoy the recording!
Later when both the great singers signed Amrita’s lyrics sheet, I noticed that he had written a very lovely note, blessing her and saying how it was an honor to sing with such a talented child and predicting she would go far, which she did by singing hundreds of jingles in all languages and cutting three albums, the last one a Hindi-pop which HMV produced to launch her. I take this opportunity to congratulate this thorough gentleman and amazing singer and wish him a long and healthy life.
Usha Nandu Bhende.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)