Karnataka government is all set to pay a musical tribute to legendary playback singer Manna Dey, who passed away recently.
Department of Information in association with the Department of Kannada and Culture and Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy is organising Amara Gayaka Manna Dey Avarige Naada Namana on Friday at Raveendra Kalakshetra at 6 pm.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is inaugurating the event and the Home Minister K.J. George, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao, Agricultural Minister Krishna Byre Gowda will attend .
Noted singers including, Shojo Bhattachaya, Sairam Iyer, Sangeeta Katti, Achana Udupa, Manoj Vasistha and Mohan will render over 25 landmark songs sung by Manna Dey in Kannada, Hindi and Bengali on the occasion. The main attraction of the event is; a photo exhibition on the life and music of Manna Dey.
Though Manna Dey had lived in Mumbai for more than 55 years, he had a special affection for Bangalore, as this is where he married his wife Sulochana. In one of the programmes he remembered the long walks he had with his wife in places like Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh. Manna Dey lived with his younger daughter’s house in the quiet Kalyan Nagar area in Bangalore East.
Despite his celebrity status, Dey’s simplicity and exceptional talent attracted many people in Bangalore. People in the city never lost an opportunity to felicitate him, which happened many times over.
He had sung five songs, when the Kannada film industry was in its nascent state. Manna Dey recited Jayate Jayate Satyameva Jayate for Kalpavriksha. He etched an indelible impression on the minds of music lovers through his Kuhu Kuhu , which he sung for Kalavathi directed by T.V. Shankar Singh. Kannillaveno, Nijakanadeno and Anu Anuvinallu Visha Dwesha Jwale , which the singer sung for Margadarshi directed by M.R. Vittal, are still fresh in the memory of music connoisseurs. He also sung Neere Neere Baare Bega for the older version of Sangolli Rayanna , for which Lata Mangeshkar also lent her voice.
