NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

The Rediff Special/ Manna Dey

'We belonged to an era where good lyrics and singing were appreciated'

I had the good fortune of knowing him for very long. The first song I sang of his was a ghazal. The music was by Anil Biswas and the film was Hamdard. Since then, we kept in touch and many music directors like Burmansaab made me sing his songs. He wrote beautiful lyrics. He was the most sought after lyricist even today.

I have had no opportunity to know him or his lyrics lately, but I guess one has to survive in the industry. Why should he go in exile just because he doesn't like modern ways? It was good that he was sought after even with new lyricists on the scene.

We were good acquaintances. We are not very close, but whenever we met, it was with warmth. His kind of lyrics and my kind of singing always created a bond between us and I will always miss that when I remember him.

He was very nice and had a very decent way of communicating. He was so aristocratic in bearing too. But, when you are advanced in age, you have to go. Even I will have to go one day. We belonged to the era where good lyrics and singing were appreciated. I will miss him whenever I think of him.

As told to Sharmila Taliculam

The Rediff Specials

Tell us what you think of this feature