He was 94. Manna sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Punjabi and Bhojpuri.
At birth, the name of Manna Dey was Prabodh Chandra Dey. He was born on May 1, 1919 in Calcutta. His father was called Purna Chandra Dey, and the Mahamaya Dey was his mother. His earliest education was received in the Indu Babur Pathshala. He joined the Scottish Church Collegiate School, and then to Scottish Church College. He went for his post graduate education at the Vidyasagar College.
Among Manna Dey’s best loved Hindi songs were Ek Chatur Naar from Padosan, Zindagi Kaise Hai Paheli from Anand, Ae Meri Zohrajabeen from Waqt and Yaari Hai Imaan Mera from Zanjeer. He often sang for Raj Kapoor, establishing hit collaborations with Salil Chowdhury and Laxmikant-Pyarelal composers.
Manna Dey has won the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and the Phalke Dadasaheb Awards.
He has daughters Shuroma and Sumita. His wife, Sulochana, had died last year from cancer.