In an era when singing stalwarts, like, Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar were reigning the hearts of millions, Manna Dey`s exclusive style of singing put him beyond apart from the rest of the crowd. With his strong foothold in Classical music, Manna Dey awed the listeners with his mesmeric songs. His tryst with music started quite early and the man responsible for instilling unconditional love for music in young Manna`s heart was his paternal uncle Sangeetacharya K. C. Dey. From 1950 to 70s, Manna Dey sang a variety of songs in various languages. Manna Dey received Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

Early Life of Manna Dey
Manna Dey was originally born as Prabodh Chandra Dey on 1st May 1919 in Kolkata. He was born to Purna Chandra and Mahamaya Dey. He received his early education from a pre-primary school named Indu Babur Pathshala and thereafter he attended Scottish Church Collegiate School and Scottish Church College in Kolkata. He later graduated from Vidyasagar College. In his childhood, Manna Dey was very much occupied with sports like wrestling and boxing. He excelled in both the games. His days at Scottish Church College were his heydays; he entertained his companions with his tuneful voice. And by the time, he started receiving training under the great tutelage of his uncle, Krishna Chandra Dey, and Ustad Dabir Khan, Manna Dey had already started participating in competitions. For three successive years, he took part in three different categories of inter-collegiate singing competitions and every time fetched the first position.

Career of Manna Dey
It was in 1942 when Manna Dey accompanied Krishna Chandra Dey to Mumbai. There he started working as an assistant under Krishna Chandra and then under Sachin Dev Burman. Later on he achieved the honour of being the assistant to noted music composers as well. But soon enough he started working independently and began composing music for many successful Hindi films. Simultaneously, he underwent training from Ustad Aman Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan in Hindustani Classical music. In 1943, Dey got his first offer as a playback singer in the film Tamanna. He sang a duet with Suraiya and the music of the song was given by his uncle Krishna Chandra Dey. The song became a hit and Manna Dey was a star overnight.

Later, in 1950, Manna Dey sang for the movie, Mashal. He sang the song `Upar Gagan Vishal` under the music direction of Sachin Dev Burman. In 1952, he lent his voice for a Bengali and a Marathi movie. Both the movies were made with the same name and storyline- Amar Bhupali. The movie placed him on the seat of a leading playback singer. Along with the legendary Bhimsen Joshi, he recorded a popular duet, Ketaki Gulab Juhi. At a much later stage he also sang duets of different genres like, Yeh Dosti Hum Nehi Torenge (Sholay) and Ek Chatur Naar (Padosan) alongwith Kishore Kumar. He worked with Hemant Kumar in Bengali films also. Manna Dey can be justifiably said to have pioneered a new musical genre in Indian music wherein Indian classical is blended with pop culture. He has also left a lasting impression on Rabindra Sangeet. Till date, he has recorded more than 3500 songs.

Personal Life of Manna Dey
The illustrious singer was married to Sulochana Kumaran from Kerala on 18th December 1953. The couple has been blessed with two daughters: Suroma and Sumita. Besides being a singer, Manna Dey has also written an autobiography in Bengali, titled, Jiboner Jalsaghorey. Published by Anando Publishers it has also been translated to English (Memories Come Alive) and Hindi (Yaden Jee Uthi).

Filmography of Manna Dey
* Tamanna (1942)
* Ramrajya (1943)
* Jwar Bhata (1944)
* Kavita (1944)
* Mahakavi Kalidas (1944)
* Vikramaditya (1945)
* Prabhu Ka Ghar (1946)
* Valmiki (1946)
* Geetgobind (1947)
* Awaara (1951)
* Do Bigha Zamin (1953)
* Hamdard (1953)
* Parineeta` `(1953)
* Chitrangada (1953)
* Boot Polish (1954)
* Shree 420 (1955)
* Seema (1955)
* Chori Chori (1956)
* Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957)
* Kabuliwala (1961)
* Dil Hi To Hai (1963 film)(1963)
* Waqt (1965)
* Love in Tokyo (1966)
* Teesri Kasam (1966)
* Pyar Kiye Ja (1966)
* Upkaar (1967)
* Raat Aur Din (1967)
* Aamne Samne (1967)
* Palki
* Nawab Sirajdoula
* Boond Jo Ban Gaya Moti (1967)
* Padosan (1968)
* Mere Huzoor (1968)
* Neel Kamal (1968)
* Ram aur Rahim (1968)
* Ek Phool Do Mali (1969)
* Chanda Aur Bijli (1969)
* Jyoti (1969)
* Mera Naam Joker (1970)
* Anand (1970)
* Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971)
* Jane Anjane (1971)
* Lal Patthar (1971)
* Buddha Mil Gaya (1971)
* Paraya Dhan (1971)
* Reshma Aur Shera (1971)
* Chemmeen (Malayalam)
* Bawarchi (1972)
* Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)
* Shor (1972)
* Zindagi Zindagi (1972)
* Avishkaar (1973)
* Dil Ki Rahe (1973)
* Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973)
* Sampurna Ramayan (1973)
* Saudagar (1973)
* Zanjeer (1973)
* Bobby (1973)
* Resham ki Dori (1974)
* Us Paar (1974)
* Sholay (1975)
* Himalaya Se Ooncha (1975)
* Sanyasi (1975)
* Ponga Pandit (1975)
* Jai Santoshi Ma (1975)
* Das Mnambati (1976)
* Mehbooba (1976)
* Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
* Anurodh (1977)
* Minoo (1977)
* Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)
* Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)
* Jurmana (1978)
* Abdullah (1980)
* Choro Ki Baraat
* Kranti
* Karz (1980)
* Laawaris (1981)
* Prahaar (1990)
* Guria (1997)
* Umar (2008)

Awards for Manna Dey
1969 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Hindi Film Mere Huzur
1971 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Bengali film Nishi Padma
1971 Padma Shri Award
1985 Lata Mangeshkar Award by Government of Madhya Pradesh
1988 Michale Sahittyo Puraskar by Renaissance Sanskritik Parishad, Dhaka
1990 Shyamal Mitra Award by Mithun Fans Association
1991 Sangeet Swarnachur Award by Shree Khetra Kala Prakashika, Puri
1993 P.C.Chandra Award by P.C.Chandra Group
1999 Kamala Devi Roy Award by Kamala Devi Group
2001 Anandalok Lifetime Award by Anandabazar Group
2002 Special Jury Swaralaya Yesudas Award for Outstanding Performance in Music
2003 Alauddin Khan Award by the Government of West Bengal
2004 National Award for Playback Singing by Government of Kerala
2004 Hony D. Lit Award by the Rabindra Bharati University
2005 Lifetime Achievement award by the Government of Maharashtra
2005 Padma Bhushan Award
2007 First AKSHAYA Award by Government of Orissa
2007 Awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award
2008 Hony D. Lit Award by Jadavpur University
2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by Filmfare