Renowned singer Kavita Krishnamurti embarked on her musical journey by collaborating with none other than the legendary Indian playback singer and music composer, Manna Dey.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Kavita Krishnamurti reminisced about her introduction to Manna Dey and their extensive travels around the world over 18 years.

“When I came to Bombay and joined college, I started singing professionally. The breakthrough came when I performed ‘Jaiye Aap Kahan Jayenge,’ a song by Asha Bhosle, at my college function. Hemant Kumar, the chief guest, invited by his daughter Ranu, my classmate, suggested that I join him for duets on stage,” Kavita shared about her initial journey.

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Kavita fondly recollected her introduction to Manna Dey through Hemant Kumar, marking the beginning of 18 years of global concert tours.

Reflecting on those times, Kavita shared, “Backstage at Shanmukhananda hall, Brabourne Stadium concerts, I found myself amidst Lata Ji (Lata Mangeshkar), Manna Da, Mohammed Rafi Saab, everyone sitting together, chatting, and awaiting their turn to perform. As the junior singer, I sang one song with Manna Dey, like ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein,’ and then duets like ‘Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi.’ It felt like my first concert.”

Speaking of Manna Dey’s influence, Kavita emphasized his dedication to music, saying, “With him, for 18 years, I witnessed his dedication to music. Despite voice troubles, colds, and coughs, he ensured perfection in every note. I learned how conscious they were about their singing.”

She shared a learning experience from Manna Dey, particularly while preparing for the song ‘Tum Gagan Ke Chandrama.’ “He told me to step on the note and go to the higher note directly, without unnecessary support. It was like they looked at every song under a microscope and approached the mic with sincerity,” Kavita added.

Recalling a thoughtful gift from singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Kavita mentioned, “They didn’t need extra embellishments. The standing notes of a song are crucial, and when they are beautiful, the emotion reaches you. Singing simplistically conveys the emotion effectively.”

Manna Dey, known as Prabodh Chandra Dey, was an internationally acclaimed playback singer, music director, and musician, with hits like ‘Poocho na kaise main rayan beetayi’ and ‘Ae mere pyare watan’ to his credit.

Speaking of Kavita Krishnamurti’s career, her performance in R.D. Burman’s ‘1942: A Love Story’ catapulted her to fame. Collaborating with top composers like Bappi Lahiri, A. R. Rahman, and others solidified her position as a leading female playback singer. (ANI)