Singer Manna Dey no more; last rites in Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 24 (IANS): India's legendary playback singer Manna Dey passed away early Thursday after a prolonged illness at a private hospital here. He was 94.
"Mannada breathed his last around 4 a.m. after his condition suddenly deteriorated in the wee hours though he was on a ventilator in the intensive care unit," Narayana Hospital spokesman K.S.Vasuki told IANS here.
The multi-lingual singer, who has been ailing for four months, leaves behind two daughters -- Rama and Sumita.
"Dey's eldest daughter (Rama) rushed to the hospital and was at his bedside when the end came after we alerted her about her father's deteriorating condition," Vasuki said.
According to Dey's family sources, Sumita lives in the US.
Dey's wife Sulochana Kumaran passed away here in January 2012 due to cancer.
Dey was admitted to the super specialty hospital in early July after he complained of complained of lung infection and was undergoing treatment for respiratory disease.
"Dey's body will be kept at Ravindra Kalkshetra in the city centre from 10am to 12noon for the public to pay their last respects and homage," a family friend said.
The family plans to perform Dey's last rites at Hebbal crematorium in northwest of the city by Thursday evening.
News of Dey's passing away shocked thousands of his fans, especially the music industry and the million-strong Bengali community in this tech hub.
Dey was in the same hospital for about 20 days in May a week after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee honoured him May 1 with Bengal's Vishesh Maha Sangeet Samman award in recognition of his yeomen service to the world of music and the film industry for over seven decades.
Mannada, whose original name was Prabodh Chandra Dey, has to his credit over a record 3,500 songs in an illustrious career spanning seven decades since 1943. His oeuvre boasts of a range of songs -- from romantic numbers to classical to fun songs.
Dey was also honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country's highest award in the film world, in 2007.
He was also recipient of several awards, including Padma Shri and Padma Bhusan.
Siddaramaiah Mourns Manna Dey’s Death
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 24: Karnataka chief minister Siddamaiah has mourned the demise of Indian cinema’s legendary playback singer Manna Dey.
''A contemporary singer of other legendary playback singers like Mohmmed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh, Padma Bhshan Manna Dey will remain immortal in the hearts of the movie lovers and listeners,” the chief minister said in a condolence message.
Pointing out that the 94-year-old veteran singer, whose actual name was Prabodh Chandra Dey, had dominated the Indian playback singing for over 70 years, had sung over 3500 songs in seven different languages, including Kannada, Siddaramaiah said.
Manna Dey’s melodius singing in the Kannada film, Kalpavruksha, with the song ''Jayate Jayate, Satyameva Jayate..” and ''Kuhoo Kushoo ennuta haaduva kogile” in Kalavati and ''Anu Anuvinalli Visha Dvesha Jvale…” in Margadarshi Kannada films were some of the most popular songs sung by Manna Dey, the chief minister said.