Manna Da! All the music lovers know his importance, abilities & performance BUT when it comes to choosing their favorite most singer they choose someone else. At the same time they do not have any problem admitting that Manna was a better singer for classical songs than the best out there. But somehow he appears 2nd or maybe 3rd on their list. This could be due to his voice being so flexible that a single label/identity was never thrust on him. Mukesh/Talat were known for their different voice: Mukesh for sad songs & Talat for the ghazals. Rafi was an all rounder & Kishore initially was man-mauji!
Manna was never labeled anything & he himself never projected any image or any quirks. He just kept doing his job. He delivered & outscored very singer in sheer classical base songs & also overall abilities. He also never entered a rat-race not played politics to get hold of any songs. Just waited for his name to be called for the right songs. Just check out his ratio of songs sung & the hits; you would be surprised that his ratio is the best of all the singers. He did have a little Bengali touch to his voice though. Of course it was more subtle than'Punjabi Dhung' that Mukesh had.
Here's my salute to the Master! Let me know if you like it.
8-July-2004: Wonder how I forgot Yaari Hain Imaan Mera Yaar Meri Jindagi from Janjeer in this list! Similarly Lapak Zapak aaye badarawa from Bootpolish is highly comic & filmed with brilliance. Just wanted to make a mention of these song I forgot while composing the list
(1) Ketaki Gulab Juhi champak wan zhume
The competition with THE Master like Bhimsen Joshi. Manna mentioned that he just ran away from the studio when he knew he was about to sing & compete at that against Pundit Bhimsen Joshi! He was somehow brought to the studio & Punditjee also asked him to settle down & encouraged to sign with him. The result was stunning! Manna did his best & wasn't blown away, rather he was as good as the master himself.
(2) Sur na Saje Kya Gawu main, Sur ke bina jeevan suna
A classical based song. Manna was a specialist & was summoned whenever there was a song that mere mortals couldn't perform or even the great of the greats had difficulty to modl their voice. Several of the songs in this list went to Manna just because his ability & not'just' because of popular choice.
(3) Na to karanwa ki talash hain Na to humsafar ki talash hain
Have mentioned this song in several of my reviews. The best ever kawwali of Indian movies.
(4) Jindagi kaisi hain paheli haay
Philosophical song with great lyrics & Mann's free flowing voice. Kabhi Dekho Man main hi jage.pichhe pichhe sapano ke dhage.Ek din sapano ka raahi, chala jaye sapano se age kaha.Kinhone sajaye yaha mele sukh dukh sang sang zhelel, Wahi chun kar khamoshi yun chala jaye akele kaha
(5) Puchho na kaise maine rain bitayee
Again a classical song from Manna.
(6) Ay Mere Pyare Watan, Ay Mere Bichhade chaman tuzh pe dil qurban
Regarded as the best patriotic song along with 'Kar chale hum fida jan-o-tan sathiyon ab tumhare hawale watan sathiyo'.
(7) Laga Chunari main daag
Only Manna could have performed in this song, the music director also probed his extremes with this song, it is classical masterpiece & also a tongue-twister!
(8) Aaja Sanam Madhur chandani maini hum tum mile to wirane main bhi aa jayegi bahar
Have written about this one in my All time great Love songs review: https://mouthshut.com/readreview/57442-1.html
(9) Phul Gendawa na maro
A playful &'different for Manna' song.
(10) Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala Or Pyar Huwa Ikrar huwa hain, Pyar se phir q darata hain Dil
Agreed that Mukesh was used extensively for Raj Kapoor but there are some marvelous songs given by Shankar-Jaykishan to Manna that are filmed on Raj Kapoor. Choro Chori is a prima example. This one is from Sri 420.
(11) Ye Raat Bhigi Bhigi, Ye masta fijaye.Utha dheere dheere woh Chand pyara pyara
Again, from Chori Chori. It is one of that songs where people find it very difficult to remember the lyrics correctly.
(12) Ek chatur naar karake singar
Manna-Kishore combo. Everyone knows about the greatness of this song.
(13) Tu kya jaane piya jale mora jeeya
Again, from Padosan. Mehmood has presented it very nicely.
(14) Zanak Zanak Tori baaje payalaiya
Filmed on very unorthodox actos like Raj Kumar, this one is one of the Heavy-Duty songs like Ketaki Gulab & Laga Chunari
(15) Kaun aaya mere man ke dware, Payal ki zankaar liye
Sweet Song, sung is sweet bong accent by Manna! :)
(16) Tu Pyar Ka Saagar hain.Teri ek bund ke pyase Hum
Boy o Boy.What a song! Lyrics are just out of the world & Manna has poured everything into it. Actor like Balraj Sahani compliments with his great acting.
(17) Chum Chum Baje re payaliya.
Classical based song, speciality of Manna.
(18) Chunari Sambhal Gori Udi chali jaye re
One of the all time hit songs. Manna has sung a very few flurtish songs, this one is prob'ly the only one?
(19) Yalla Yalla Dil legayee.
Shammi & Mala Sinha, One of the early movies from Shammi. This is a great performance in a song where Manna got a chance not too often. Zhumata Mausam Masta Mahina, Chand Si Gori Ek Hasina, Ankh main kajal muh pe pasina.Yalla Yalla Dil le gayee' Koi Rangeela sapano main aake, Ek Najar ka khel rachake, pyar ka jaadu hum pe chala ke.yalla yalla dil legaya'
(20) Ay Meri Zohara -Zabin tuzhe malum nahi tu ab tak hain hasin aur main jawan.
Every indian knows this songs & the way Balaraj Sahani has presented it on the screen. Manna has given a romantic & playful touch to this one.
