Manna Dey to get Dada Saheb Phalke award

Ninety-year-old legendary playback singer Manna Dey - whose voice is behind the evergreen songs like Ae Mere Pyaare Watan, Poochho Na Kaise and Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli - is being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.

Born as Prabodh Chandra Dey on May 1, 1919 to Purna Chandra and Mahamaya Dey, the singer was a name to reckon with in the Hindi film industry from the 1950s to the 1970s. He has recorded more than 3,500 songs over the course of his career.

He started his career in playback singing with the movie Tamanna in 1943. The song "Jago Aayee Usha, Panchi Boley Jago" was an instant hit and later he sang a solo, Upar Gagan Vishal, in the 1950 movie Mashal.

Mr. Dey, who is among the few surviving playback singers of the golden era of Indian film music, became the voice of showman Raj Kapoor during his initial days in the film industry and sang many memorable songs for movies like Awara, Shri 420 and Chori Chori.

Known for blending classical and popular music, Mr. Dey also teamed up with Kishore Kumar for hit duets like "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Torenge" in Sholay and "Ek Chaturnar" in Padosan.

He also sung hits like "Kasme Vaade Pyar Wafa" and "Yaari Hai Imaan" for veteran actor Pran in Upkaar (1967) and Zanjeer (1973) respectively.

Mr. Dey's most memorable songs include "Puchho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitayee," "Laga Chunari Main Daag," "Sur Na Saje Kya Gaun Main," "Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala," "Aye Meri Zohara," "Na To Karanwa Ki Talash Hai," "Aye Mere Pyare Vatan" and "Chunari Sambhal Gori."

He won the National award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Hindi Film Mere Huzur and for the Bengali film Nishi Padma. He is also the recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.