Manabendra Mukhopadhyay

At that time Bengali modern song world had the presence of some outstanding performers like Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Manna Dey, Satinath Mukherjee, Akhilbandhu Ghosh, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to name a few.

[1] At that time Bengal had a unique mix of singers which inspired composers and lyricists to create innumerable treasure of creative music.

A number of his songs began to hit the airwaves including the romantic 'Emni Kore Porbe Mone' (lyrics by Shyamal Gupta [bn]), and semi classically bent 'Ghumayona Saheli Go'.

His successful songs include 'Ami Parini Bujhite Parini' and 'Jodi Jante' composed by Salil Chowdhury, 'Mayur Konthi Ratero Nile' and 'Tari Churite Je Rekhechhi Mon Shona Kore' by Sudhin Dasgupta, 'Jodi Amake Dekho Tumi Udashi' and 'Sei Chokh Kothai Tomar' by Abhijit Banerjee, 'Ei neel nirjan sagore' by Prabir Majumdar, 'Birohini Chiro Birohini' by Himangshu Dutta, 'Bone Noy Mone Mor', 'Aha Na Roy Na' by Nachiketa Ghosh, 'Tomar Pother Prante Moner Monideep Jwele Rekhechi' and 'Tumi Phiraye Diyechho Bole' by Satinath Mukherjee [bn].

His own compositions also continued to grab the attention of audience like 'Ami Eto Je Tomai Bhalobesechhi', 'Sei Bhalo Ei Basanta Noi' (1960) 'Rimjhim Baje Manjira Kar', 'Kato Asha Niye Tumi Esechhile', etc.

'Jar Hiya akasher nil nilimay', 'Dukho amar Shesh kore dao probhu', 'Surjo tomar Sonaar toron kholo', 'Dukher pothe naai jodi', 'Ei pran jharona jaglo.

In another film Nilachale Mahaprabhu celebrated composer Raichand Boral invited him to sing kirtans of Lord Chaitanya and the song 'Jagannath Jagat Bandhu' made the audiences spellbound.

Manobendra himself composed music in a number of Bengali films including Mayamrigo (1960), Badhu (1962), Jato Mat Tato Path, Joy Jayanti, (1970), Godhuli Belay, (1965), Sudur niharika, (1978) etc.

In the 1970s also, Manabendra had sung notable songs like 'Ei Ganga ei Padda' (1970), ‘Halka megher palki', 'Hajar jonom dhore', 'Oi moushumi mon shudhu rong bodlai', etc.

Manabendra Mukherjee's songs in Bagbajarer gaan include the creations of late eighteenth century written by Bhola Moira, Khirod Prasad, Girish Chandra Ghosh etc., titled "Bagbajarer Sidheswarir Annopurnar Ghat","Bandhona Torikhani", "Jaigo Oi Bajae Bashi Pran Kemon Kore","Ki Diye Pujibo Bolo Ki Achhe Amar", etc.