Kuldeep Manak

Kuldeep Manak

Kuldeep Manak ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਮਾਣਕ‌
Birth name	Latif Mohammed
Born	15 November 1949 Jalal, Punjab, India India
Died	30 November 2011 (aged 62) Ludhiana, Punjab, India India
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1968–2011

 Kuldeep Manak (Punjabi:ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਮਾਣਕ‌) (Hindi:कुलदीप माणक) was the adopted name of Latif Mohammed: لطیف محمد ) (November 1949 – 30 November 2011). He was a Punjabi singer who was known for singing a genre of traditional Punjabi songs called kaliyan.

 

                  Early Life

Manak was the youngest in his class. He completed his matriculation from the village school, where he was a keen field 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 19 years of age, he was given the chance to sing with Seema, a popular singer of that period.

                   Family

Kuldeep Manak was born in the village of Jalaal (pb) in the Bathinda district. His father, Nikka Khan, was a singer himself. Manak had two brothers: Siddqui, a devotional singer, and Rafiq, a tantric, who was also briefly famous. Kuldeep Manak's ancestors were the Hazoori Raagis (designated cantors) of Kirtan for Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha. Manak studied under Ustad Kushi Mohammad Qawwal of Ferozepur.

He was married to Sarabjeet and had two children, a son named Yudhvir Manak (married) and a daughter named Shakti (married). Yudhvir is following in his father's footsteps as an up-and-coming singer from Punjab. Manak was a heavy drinker since young age. He used to say that his habit of drinking came from the people whose company he shared.

                    Career

 Manak left Bathinda and went to Ludhiana to pursue his career as a singer. He 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 (written by Babu Singh Maan Mararawala) with Seema. His first record features this song along with Laung Karaa Mittra, Machhli Paunge Maape (written by Gurdev Singh Maan). This record was a runaway success. He started an office at Bathinda along with writer Dilip Singh Sidhu, but did not stay there for long and returned to Ludhiana. The first folk song sung by Manak was Maa Mirje Di Boldi, followed by Ohne Maut ne Baajan Maariyan. The writer Hardev Dilgir (also known as Dev Tharikewala) spotted Manak at one of his live performances and penned Lok Gathavan (Folk/old Stories) for him. His first album, 'Teri Khatar Heere', was released by HMV in 1973 which included the 4 songs Jaimal Fatta, Teri Khatar Heere, Raja Rasaloo and Dulleya veh tokra chukayeen aanke. His second album released as a Super-7 vinyl was called 'Punjab Diyan Lok Gathavan', and contained Gorakh da Tilla. In 1976 his first LP was released called 'Ektara'. This included the songs Tere Tilley Ton, Chheti Kar Sarwan Bachcha and Garh Mughlane Dian Naaran. Further early career albums included 'Sahiban Da Tarla' (1978), 'Sahiban Bani Bharaawan Di' (1978), 'Maa Hundhi a Maa' (1980), 'Akhan ch Naziaz Vikdi', 'Ichhran Dhaahan Maardi', 'Jugni Yaaran Di' (1983) and 'Do Gabhru Punjab de'. He also acted in the Punjabi films 'Lambardaarni' (1980) with Yaaran da Truck, and 'Saidan Jogan' (1979) with Sadthon Ni Majji Chaar Hundhiyan. Manak's voice was versatile as within one album he sang in many different pitches and tones to reflect a song's meaning. For example in the album 'Sahiban da Tarla' the songs Sahiban da Tarla, Yaari Yaaran di and Teri aan ma Teri Ranjha are all sang with different pitches.

Manak also tried to run as a member of parliament in Punjab and did not win.

Jazzy B said in the track "Jadu (Rambo)": "Main Manak Da Chela, Dass Doon Aal Dawaale Nu, Meri Umar Vi Lagg Jey Jandu Littranwale Nu". "I am Manak's disciple (he is my Ustaad/Guru/Teacher), tell everyone and everything I hope that Jandu Littranwala (Lyricist) lives with my age added onto his (Paying homage)." Gurdas Maan paid tribute to Manak in his song "Pind Dian Galiyan" with line "Manak hadd muka giya naviyaan kaliyaan di.." roughly translated to "Kuldeep Manak broke all limits of traditional Punjabi Kali."

Manak was featured in an album by Kalikwest, released on February 10, 2012, along with Bhinda Jatt, Sukhwinder Panchhi, Manjeet Pappu, Sukhdev Sukha, Inder Kooner, and Harleen Kaur.

                   Death

Manak was battling a kidney disease for quite a long time. He died on 30 November 2011 due to Pneumonia lung infection, at the DMC Hospital in Ludhiana. He was 62 years old.His Last album was Maharajas in which he sang 2 songs with both Jazzy B and Yudhveer Manak and 4 songs only with Jazzy B.