Talking Pics:The best of Manna Dey

In an exclusive interview to NDTV.com, renowned playback singer Manna Dey has said he's extremely happy and honoured to have been chosen for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2007 and has no regrets about giving way to new musical talent.

Manna Dey said he's extremely happy and honoured to have been chosen for the prestigious award but further added that there was no question of being upset that the recognition has come to him so late in his career.

Speaking on the phone from New York, where he's presently staying with his daughter, Dey admitted he was taken aback when he received the news.

"Someone called me from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India and asked if I would accept the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. How can I possibly say no to such an honour? I am a very small person and if the Government thinks that I am worthy of this prestigious recognition, then I shall accept it in all humility. I am extremely happy and consider myself fortunate," he said.

Known for such evergreen songs as Ae mere pyaare watan, Poochho na kaise maine rain bitaayi and Ae meri zohrajabeen, Dey, 90, does not agree with those in the music fraternity who feel that the Award should have come to him much earlier.

According to him: "It's never too late to receive an Award that is held in such high esteem. Having been in the industry for such a long time, I feel this Award is a recognition of my hard work and dedication. I am thankful to all those people, directors and film personalities, who helped me create good music. It's really very flattering to be in the same league as other recipients of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award like the legendary Raj Kapoor."

Dey, who started his career in playback singing with the movie, Tamanna, in 1943 and went on to record over 3500 songs, claimed he has no regrets about going into retirement.

"It's true that I was not getting too many good offers to sing. However age has also played a part. Times change and this is a natural process. The old must give way to the new. Do you imagine that I can lend my voice to Shah Rukh Khan today? Certainly not! Different kinds of films are being made today, and I am not at all critical about these changes," he said.

But Dey added a note of caution. It was important for the younger generation to know the golden past of Indian film music, and remember the great musicians and singers who had done some remarkable work in the years gone by.

While he was hesitant to take names, Dey felt there are many others also deserving of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. "I don't have any names in mind, but I must say that all my contemporaries should get such recognition. We have all worked very hard for it," he said.

Dey may have given up singing for films, but he still takes a keen interest in them. "Off hand Kajra Re from the film Bunty and Babli is one song I recall that I really liked in recent times. It has great composition, great music and what made it even better was that it was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan. I love this song," he said.

Unlike some other singers of note, Dey has no objections to remixes. According to him: "I don't really see a need for it. But if others are doing it, let them. There is no harm if remixed songs are doing so well."

Dey, who has previously been honoured with National Film Awards, the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, would like to believe that the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, though welcome, doesn't change anything about him.

"I am a very small man and have always maintained a very low profile. I have been happy with whatever I have got till today and that is the way I want to live my life. But this Award certainly means a great deal to me," he said.