Legendary singer Manna Dey’s condition remains critical

Bangalore : The condition of 94-year-old legendary singer Manna Dey continued to remain critical at a private hospital on the city’s outskirts, a close family friend said late Sunday.

“There is not much change in Mannada’s condition, which remains critical due to multiple organ failure. He has been put on life-support system to stabilise his other vital parameters,??? the friend told IANS while requesting anonymity.

The nonagenarian multilingual playback singer has been ailing for over a month because of old age-related complications.

Though Dey was rushed to super-specialty Narayana Health hospital late Saturday after he complained of breathlessness due to chest infection, duty doctors and hospital management declined to share details with media on the advice of his family members.

“Family members and relatives are wary of large media presence at the hospital as they do not want to disturb other patients and be quoted or shown on news channels for privacy reasons and are also worried about Mannada’s longevity,??? the friend who lives in the neighbourhood of the classical singer, said.

A week after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee honoured Dey on his 94th birthday May 1 with the state’s Vishesh Maha Sangeet Samman award, the doyen was admitted to the same hospital when he felt uneasy and weak.

“When Mannada’s health improved and stabilised after being in the hospital for about three weeks, he was brought home and was being attended by two nurses round the clock with a doctor doing rounds daily to check his vital health parameters,??? the friend recalled.

Since Dey shifted to Bangalore from Mumbai a couple of years ago, he has been staying with one of his daughters at Kalyan Nagar in northeast suburb of the city.

“Dey’s other daughter lives in the US with family. On hearing about his deteriorating health, his two nephews flew from Kolkata earlier in the day to be with the family,??? the friend pointed out.

Dey’s wife Sulochana Kumaran passed away in January 2012 due to cancer.

Since the news of Mannada’s worsening health condition broke out and spread on news channels and in print media, his family members, relatives and friends have been receiving calls throughout the day from Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and abroad.

Mannada, whose original name was Prabodh Chandra Dey, has to his credit over a record 3,500 songs in an illustrious career spanning seven decades since 1943.

His oeuvre boasts of a range of songs — from romantic numbers to classical to fun songs, he went behind the mike to sing all kind of songs and proved his versatility.

Dey was also honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest award in the film world, in 2007.

The music genius’s all-time hits include “Sur na saje kya gaun main”, “Na to karanwa ki talash hai na to humsafar ki talash hain”, “Puchho na kaise maine rain bitayee”, “Laga chunari main daag”, “Aaja sanam madhur chandani mein hum”, “Dil ka haal sune dilwala”, “Ye raat bhigi bhigi, ye mast fizayen”, “Jhanak jhanak tori baaje payaliya”, “Tu pyar ka saagar hai”, “Chunari sambhal gori udi chali jaye re” and “Ay meri Zohara”.