Kuldeep Manak
Kuldeep Manak, was an Indian singer best known for singing a rare genre of Punjabi music, kali, also known by its plural form kalian or kaliyan. Manak is generally regarded as one of the greatest Punjabi artists of all time. His high pitched strong voice was unique, and instantly recognisable. A statue of Manak has been erected in Ludhiana near his residence as a tribute.
Early life
Manak was born as Latif Mohammed on 15 November 1951 to Nikka Khan in Mirasi family, in the village of Jalal in Bathinda district of Indian Punjab. Sardar Partap Singh Kairon penned the name Kuldip Manak, after being amazed by the quality of his voice at a school prize giving. He completed his education from Jalal Government High School, where he was a keen hockey player. He had an inclination towards singing from an extremely young age. He was constantly persuaded by his ustad to graft in his raags and perform on stage. In his early career he became the baadshah of kaliyan. He had lyrics written by famous writers such as Debi Maksoospuri, Dev Tharikewala and Jandu Litranwala. His most known tracks were Gadeya Millade Sohne Yaar, Yusuf Zuleikha, Tere Tille ton and Dulleya Ve Tokra. Manak learnt the hazuri raagi methods of gaiki.Family
Manak's father, Nikka Khan, was a singer himself. Manak had two brothers: Siddqui, a devotional singer, and Rafiq, who was also briefly noted. Kuldeep Manak's ancestors were the Hazoori Raagis of Kirtan for Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha.He was married to Sarabjeet Kaur with whom he had two children, a boy named Yudhvir Manak and a girl named Shakti Manak. Yudhvir is following in his father's footsteps as a singer.
Career
Manak learned music under Ustad Khushi Muhammad Qawwal in village Bhuttiwala at Muktsar. He left Bathinda and went to Ludhiana to pursue his career as a singer and started singing with the duo Harcharan Grewal and Seema.When they came to Delhi, a music company official spotted Manak and asked him to record the song "jija akhian na maar ve main kall di kurhi" with Seema. In 1968, at the age of 17, he was given the chance to record the song with Seema. His first record features this song along with "laung karaa mittra, machhli paunge maape". This record was a runaway success. He did sing duets with Satinder Kaur biba, younger sister of famous Punjabi singer Narinder biba; one of the duets was "Nale baba lasee pee gia nale de gia duanee khotee".
Later, he started an office at Bathinda along with writer Dilip Singh Sidhu of Kanakwal, but did not stay there for long and returned to Ludhiana. The first folk song sung by Manak was "maa Mirze di boldi", followed by "ohne maut nu waajan maarian".
The writer and lyricist, Hardev Dilgir spotted Manak at one of his live performances and penned many Lok Gathavan for him. Dev Tharikewala and Manak were very close to each other.
His first EP, Punjab Dian Lok Gathawan, was released by His Master's Voice in 1973 which included the songs "Jaimal Phatta", "Heer Di Kali", "Raja Rasalu" and "Dulla Bhatti". All were written by Hardev Dilgir and the music was composed by Ram Saran Das.
This was followed by another Lok Gathawan album in 1974 which included "Gorakh da Tilla" and "Allah Bismillah teri Jugni". In 1976 his first LP, Ik Tara, was released, which included the kali "Tere Tille Ton", "Chheti Kar Sarwan Bachcha" and "Garh Mughlane Dian Naaran" and more.
A traditional Punjabi folk song by Kuldeep titled "Rana Chanchal Hariyan" gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. This kalii or dhadi vaar is a classic tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance. The story details the forbidden infatuation of Rana's younger brother, Hariya, with Rana's beautiful wife, Chanchal. Consumed by lust, Hariya betrayed his brother and tried to assault Chanchal. To maintain her honor, Chanchal committed suicide by drowning herself in a river or well. In response to this betrayal, Rana killed Hariya, avenging his wife and restoring the family's standing. The narrative has enduring cultural significance as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire and the severe impact of intra-family betrayal. This powerful story of honor and tragedy has been preserved for generations in Punjab, mainly through musical performances that emphasize its dramatic and emotional core.
Other albums included:Mitran di jacket de Heer di doli Sahiban Bani Bharaawan Di Sahiban Da Tarla Maa Hundhi Ae Maa Akhan ch Najaiz Vikdi Ichhran Dhaahan Maardi
- Music By – K.S. Narula
- A1 Ichhran Dhahan Mardi
- A2 Maa Mar Chali
- A3 Suchha Soorma
- A4 Banaoti Yaar
- B1 Ranjha Beparwa Kudio
- B2 Koi Pijooni Gulabi Rang
- B3 Channa Main Teri Khair Mangdi
- B4 Jindriye Rowengi
- B5 Soukha Niaon Yaar LabhnaMehroo Posti Sarwan Bhagat Jugni Yaaran Di Mundri vagah ke maari Bhul Jaan Waaliye Nachna pia Ja ni tera kakh na raheRanjha heer di bukalHeer maardi leraanDilla De SodyaBaba lassi peegeyaKadna rumaalde geya veSanu nachke vikhaSingh Soorme including Banda Singh BahadurGhare chal kadun rarkanDil milyan de meleKaro na yaar maar mitroDil nahion lagda
- "Ghadney Jhande Khalsa Raaj" Gidhe wich too nachdiYaar ve teri yaariLoko vaddeya gandasseyan de naalLaila Laila mukh ton MajnuHakaan maardiThe OneBhull ke jhuthe yaaran nuRanjha jogi hoyaDo Gabhru Punjab De
Film
He also acted and sang in many Punjabi films such as Saidan Jogan with the song "sathon naee majhin chaar hundian", and Lambardaarni with "yaaran da truck balliye". In Balbiro Bhabi he was actor, singer and composer. He sang "ajj dhee ik raje di", in the 1983 film Sassi Punnu.Politics
Manak took part in the parliament elections of 1996 as an independent member from Bathinda, but did not win.Illness and death
Manak was admitted to emergency care in July 2011 due to lower gastrointestinal bleeding. While he was discharged from emergency care when his condition stabilized, his son was still admitted in DMC ludhiana undergoing treatment for a mental illness due to which Manak suffered a tremendous amount of stress.Manak was later admitted to DMC Ludhiana due pneumonia on 28 November 2011 and he died on 30 November due to complications.
He was buried in his native village, Jalal at Bathinda on 2 December 2011.
In popular culture
On 25 December 2012, a tribute single was released by Aman Hayer under Moviebox Records with the title "The Folk King", featuring a number of artists interpreting his songs. The track was first played and performed at the Britasia Music Awards 2012 by Angrej Ali who started the song with "Vaar Banda Bahadur", with which Ustaad Kuldeep Manak Ji used to start his shows. The final song sung in this tribute was "Tere Tille Ton" by Jazzy B, a close student of Ustaad Kuldeep Manak Ji.Manak's songs were featured in the movie Punjab 1984 starring Diljit Dosanjh and Pavan Malhotra as a tribute to him. The main character, Shivjeet, is an avid fan of Manak and his songs are played at suspenseful moments of the film.