Bangalore singer Divya Raghavan, who accompanies the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner at his shows, tells you all about his likes and dislikes
Bangalore singer Divya Raghavan, who accompanies the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner at his shows, tells you all about his likes and dislikesManna Dey loves seafood, and always eats on time, Bangalore singer Divya Raghavan, who accompanies him on his tours, told MiD DAY.
Divya, who has done many shows with the legendary playback singer, is thrilled to know he has been chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
Manna Dey (90) will be conferred the award on October 21 by President Pratibha Patil. "I am so happy. I am also proud as I am in his team. I thank God for giving me a chance to sing with him," Divya said. Last evening, Divya tried to contact him so that she could congratulate him, but he was away at New York.
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u00a0Master: Manna Dey |
Disciple: Divya Raghavan |
First meeting
New York holds a special place in Divya's heart. That was where she first met Manna Dey. "I was a contestant at the TVS Sa Re Ga Ma show in 1999. I was the runner-up, and he was the special guest," she said. Some years later, she got a call from the organisers of a show in Bangalore.
"They asked me if I would sing with himu2026 I agreed and went to his house," recalled Divya.u00a0 She sang just two lines, and he stopped her and said she was good. "I have been working with him for six to seven years. I have done some 30 shows with him in India and Dubai," she said.
Divya has sung several songs in Kannada movies. She is a Tamil by birth, but is very fluent in Kannada, and has won Manna Dey's appreciation for her Hindi diction.
First choice
Manna Dey encourages Divya and treats her like a daughter. He asks for her whenever he gets a show. "Only if I am not available does he think of others... I guess it's my good fortune that I have won his approval," she said.
In May she performed with him at Jaipur Club. "It was a very successful show... Each time I sing with him, it is a new experience. There are so many things one learns from such a great man," she said.
Manna Dey loves non-vegetarian dishes, especially seafood. "He always wonders whether I find my food interesting since I am a vegetarian," said Divya.
Disciplined
Manna Dey eats his food on time. He is also very choosy about his food. He insists his shows begin on time.
He does not accept all shows that come his way. "No one feels he is 90... In a three-hour concert he easily covers 25 songs... comedy, classical, patriotic, romantic," Divya said. For singers like Divya, Manna Dey is a great inspiration.
Bangalore link
One of his daughters live in Bangalore, and that has brought Manna Dey to Banaswadi, on the city's eastern outskirts.
"I meet him whenever I feel like it. He keeps travelling and often he goes to Calcutta for shows and recordings.
I also keep talking to his wife Sulochana, who is a great person," Divya said.
Manna Dey has sung over 3,500 songs from 1950s to the 1970s.
