- Kuldeep Manak
Kuldeep Manak (ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਮਾਣਕ) (born
15 November 1951 ) is a Punjabisinger . He is especially renowned for singing a genre of songs called kalis.Early life
Kuldeep Manak was born Latif Mohammed in the city of Bathinda in the Punjab district. His father was Nikka khan also a singer. (His name was changed after his conversion into
Sikhism ) [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030121/ldh1.htm Tribune] ] .Manak was the youngest in his class and was called "Manaka" by his classmates and friends. He completed his matriculation from the village school, where he was a keen
hockey player. He had an inclination towards singing from a very young age and was persuaded by his teachers to sing and perform on stage. In 1968, at only 17 years of age, he was given the chance to sing with 'Seema', a very popular singer of that period.He is married to Sarabjeet and has two children, a son Yuhdhvir Manak and a daughter Shakti, who both got married in the starting of 2006. He is named as one of the greatest indian singers alongside Amar Singh Chamkila, Gurdaas Maan, Surinder Shinda and Surjit Bindrakhia.
Yudhvir is following his father's footsteps as an upcoming singer from Punjab. Manak has two brothers: Siddqui, a famous devotional singer, and Rafiq, a tantric, [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030121/ldh1.htm Tribune] ] who hit the headlines when he was arrested for molestation in 2003. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030121/ldh1.htm Tribune] ]
Singing career
Manak left
Bathinda and went toLudhiana to pursue his career as a singer. He started singing with the famous duo Harcharan Grewal and Seema. When they came toDelhi , a music company official spotted Manak and asked him to record the song "Jija Akhian Na Maar Vemain Kal Di Kuri" (written by Babu Singh Maan Mararawale) with Seema. His first record features this song along with "Laung Karaa Mitran, Machli Paunge Maape" (written by Gurdev Singh Mann). This record was a runaway success.He started an office at Bhatinda along with writer Dilip Singh Sidhu, but did not stay there for long and returned to Ludhiana. The famous writer Hardev Dilgir (also known as Dev Thrikewala) spotted Manak at one of his live performances and penned "Lok Gathava" (English: "Old Stories") for him.
His first
EP , "Teri Khatir Heere", was released by HMV. In 1978 his first LP was released. It included the songs "Tere Tilley Ton", "Chheti Kar Sarwan Bachaa" and "Ghar Mukiave Dee Naara". Further albums included "Saahibaan Da Tarla", "Ichharan Dhaahaan Mardee" and "Saahibaan Bani Bhraawaan Dee".References
He is a living legend for Punjabis all over the world. He is best ever, when he sings time stops, one finds himself in mystical lands of heer ranjha, mirza sahiban. He brings them alive with his singing. A human cannot sing like that, Punjab's soul lives inside him.
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Dev Tharikewala and Kuldip Manak were born for each other. Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu, Sohni Mahiwal, Mirza Sahiba, Puran Bhagat and other folk tales of Punjab, they took birth because with the passage of time Kuldip Manak's Golden Voice was to sing for them and made each of them immortal. I don't think there will be another Kuldip Manak. If someone has to know about culture of Punjab then Kuldip Manak is only one to listen. Rivers of Punjab are thankful to this legend. May he live for ever and continues to enthrall people around the world with his golden voice.
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