NEW DELHI: The year was 1963 and Manna Dey was recording the song Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaayaa Hogaa at Famous Studio, Mumbai, along with legendary singer Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mehmood and debutant singer Bhupinder Singh.  Dey’s rendering touched Rafi so much that tears welled up in his eyes during the session. As soon as the recording got over Rafi boomed “Manna Da Lajwab’’ and hugged the Bengali singer. It was the beginning of a unique chemistry between the two singers which endured for years. Dey had envied and admired Rafi.

In his autobiography Memories Come Alive, published by Penguin a few years ago, Dey confessed how jealous he was when he was told to bring in Rafi to sing a particular song. Dey says he could not understand why he was overlooked. But after the recording was over, he realized that Rafi’s voice was more suitable for that song. Rafi had told Dey one day “Dada, main apne gale se aap jaisi murki kar paon, to main zyada achha gayak ban paunga” (If I can replicate the tonal expressions and vocal variations that you have, I will become a better singer).

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