--

 MANNA DEY REGALES AUDIENCE WITH NOSTALGIC MUSICAL JOURNEY

Accompanied by  a 5-piece band with outstanding tabala player Modak, Manna Dey was also assisted by Niyati Mukherjee who sang beautiful duets in the second half of the performance. The concert was held to commemorate India’s 60^th anniversary of India’s Independence and held at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple auditorium, The event was co sponsored by Yashpal Soi productions, CineMaya Media group in junction with the Indo-American Community of Bay area.

Classic songs ranging from Madhushala, written by Harvanshrai Bachhan, Mere Zohra Zabeen;  the rollicking "Phool Gendhu va  Na Maaro" and  "Tere Nayana Talaash", were complimented by the classic romantic "Aaja Sanam Madhur Chaandini Me tum"  Yaari Hai Imaan Mera and Laaga Chunari me daag and the nostalgic Aye Mere Watan Tujh pe Dil Kurbaan

Many times, Manna Dey remembered the composer and lyricist as a mark of respect, many time marking the passing away of his friends and music directors Shankar Jaikishen and Sachindev Burman etc and singing a song they were involved in producing a masterpiece like Ab Kahan Jaye Hum and Shailendra’s “Tu Pyaar ka Saagar hai” etc.

Complimenting composer Roshan as the most prolific composer with songs based on classical music, Manna dey sang the classic “Kaun Aaya Mere” from the movie Dekh Kabira Roya. Remembering director Shankar, Manna Dey sang a song he classified as “”my pet number” as Sur na Saajey Kya Gaavun Mein”. He also followed with the rollicking “Mere Zohra Jabeen” as an salute to music director Ravi and followed up with SD Burman’s offering from the movie Talaash, “Tere Naina Talaash”.

Following a quick break, Manna Dey and Jayati Mukherjee combined to regale with duets, some of which were audience requests.  With songs like the much awaited “Aaja Sanam madhur chaandini me” from movie Chori Chori to “ Tujh ko Rakhe Ram tujhko Allah rakhe” (Aankhen) and Jhoom ta Mausam Mast Mahina” from Ujaala, the audience was enthralled by the intensity and non stop repertoire of fantastic songs from Manna Dey and troupe.

As the evening rolled to an end, Manna Dey sang the crowd favorite, “Laaga Chunriya me daag” followed by the sedate favorite from Manoj Kumar’s Upkaar, “ Kasme Wade Pyar Wafa”, enacted on the silver screen by veteran actor Pran- bringing home the immortal words of “ Dete hain Bhagwaan ko dhoka, Insaano ko kya choodenge.”

A single tear rolled down the cheek of Anil Sood, Board member of Sunnyvale Temple as Manna Dey finished with a long awaited classic from Kabuliwala, evoking the love for his motherland, appropriate for the celebration of the 60^th Anniversary of India’s independence. And as the emotional song, “ Aye Mere Pyaare Watan, Tujh Pe dil Kurbaan”, filled the large hall of the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple there were many, many tears in the audience, marking both the nostalgia, homesickness as well as the marking a rare concert visit to the SF Bay area of a legendary singer, the inimitable Padma Bhushan Manna Dey.