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{{short description|Indian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Manohari Singh
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|03|08}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|7|13|1931|03|08}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| alt =
| caption =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| alias = ManohariDa
| origin = [[Indian Gorkha]]
| genre = Duo Composition, [[Classics]]
| years_active = 1942-2010
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| instruments = [[Alto Saxophone]], [[Soprano Saxophone]], [[Tenor Saxophone]], [[Trumpet]], [[Flute]], [[Piccolo]], [[Clarinet]], [[Mandolin]], [[Pan Flute]], [[Pump organ|Harmonium]], [[Bansuri]], [[Recorder (musical instrument)|Recorder]]
| occupation = [[Music director]], [[Music arranger]], [[saxophonist]]
}}
'''Manohari Singh''' (8 March 1931 – 13 July 2010) was an Indian [[music director]], [[saxophonist]] and was the main arranger of seminal film composer [[R. D. Burman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/pancham-s-team-member-no-more/story-y6YfkLugeoTw9oGlfMhkTL.html |title=Pancham’s team member no more |date=2015-07-15 |accessdate=2023-06-08| website=HindustanTimes }}</ref> He worked with Basudeb Chakraborty as a music composer, the duo also popularly known as Basu-Manohari.

==Early life==
Manohari Singh was born in a [[People of Nepal|Nepalese]] [[Bhusal]] family in [[Kolkata]]. His father and uncle used to play in brass bands. In 1942, he joined the brass band at Bata Shoe Company, Bata Nagar in Kolkata, under its Hungarian conductor Joseph Newman. When Newman left in 1945 to join [[HMV]], Manohari followed. From classical music, he started playing [[Hindi]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] songs for the [[HMV]] [[orchestra]], since Newman arranged music for many composers like [[Kamal Dasgupta]], [[S. D. Burman]], Timir Baran and [[Ravi Shankar]]. He also played [[flute]] and [[piccolo]] at the [[Calcutta Symphony Orchestra]]. Through fellow musicians such as [[Francisco Casanovas]], conductor at the Symphony Orchestra and band leader at Firpo's Restaurant, George Banks, trumpet player at the Grand Hotel, and others, Manohari was introduced to the [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] nightclub scene. He had already tried his hand at the English key [[flute]], the [[clarinet]] and the [[mandolin]], but now he decided to learn the [[saxophone]] in order to be able to play at nightclubs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Iyer|first=Shankar|title=the Charming Pied Piper: Manohari Singh|url=http://swaraalap.com/epaper/jun_09/index.htm|publisher=Swar Aalap}}</ref>

==Career==
When the conductor Joseph Newman left HMV in 1950 to settle in Australia, Manohari moved on to play at Firpo's with his own band. Urged by the music director [[Salil Chowdhury]], Manohari decided to try his luck in [[Mumbai]], moving there in 1958. His first break in the [[Bollywood|Hindi film industry]] was in 1958 with [[Sachin Dev Burman]], as a [[saxophonist]] for the movie [[Sitaron Se Aage]]. He went on to play with many other [[music director]]s, his strongest association being with [[R.D. Burman]], for whom he played the [[saxophone]] in many compositions. In addition to playing the [[alto saxophone]], Manohari Singh was also the music assistant and arranger for [[R. D. Burman]].

==Notable hits==
Among other notable works, Manohari played on the hit "Gaata Rahe Mera Dil", composed by [[S.D. Burman]], from the movie'' [[Guide (film)|Guide]]''. He also played for songs in the movie ''[[Chalte Chalte (2003 film)|Chalte Chalte]]'' and ''[[Veer Zaara]]''. He also released an album titled ''Sax appeal'' containing saxophone renditions of various Hindi movie music tracks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/searchresults.asp?ProdStock=13095 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2006-04-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509120013/http://www.indiaclub.com/Shop/searchresults.asp?ProdStock=13095 |archivedate=2006-05-09 }}.</ref> Manohari Singh was said to deeply cherish his gold-plated [[The Selmer Company|Selmer]] saxophone (bought in [[New York City]] in 1969) and tried to avoid getting even his own fingerprints on it. He (as Basu-Manohari) composed for ''Sabse Bada Rupaiya'', produced by Mehmood, starring Vinod Mehra and Moushmi Chatterji. Here is a romantic song "Wada Karo Sajan", one can enjoy the same beauty and touch of Panchanda.<ref name=XI>{{Cite web |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=174209 |title=Grooving in style |access-date=7 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311002703/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=174209 |archive-date=11 March 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Awards==
Manohari Singh was felicitated at the [[Yashwantrao Chavan Natya Gruha]] (auditorium) on 19 March 2006, on the occasion of his 75th birthday.<ref name=XI /> He was also awarded the "Memorable Contribution to Music Award" at the Tata Indicom [[Radio Mirchi]] Music Awards function held on 27 March 2009.

==Death==
Manohari Singh died after a [[cardiac arrest]] on 13 July 2010 in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/rdburmans-close-associate-manohari-singh-dead_100395414.html|title=R.D.Burman's close associate Manohari Singh dead|website=Thaindian News}}</ref>

==Selected filmography==
''Santaan-1989'' - [[Nepal]]ese Movie
''Kanyadan- 1991''- Nepalese Movie
'Sabse Bada Rupaiya - 1976 - Hindi movie (as Basu-Manohari)

==Memorable Nepali songs==
{| class="wikitable"
!Movie
!Year Released
!Song
!Singers
|-
! rowspan=6 |''Kanyadan [[Nepal]]ese [[Movie]]''
! rowspan=6 |1991
|''Dhiki-Chyau Dhiki-Chyau Ghwaar Ghwaar Jaanto''
|[[Sushma Shrestha]], Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Gaau Swor Kholera Didi Ra Bahini (aka'' ''Teej Ko Rahar Aayo Baree Lai)''
|[[Sushma Shrestha]], Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Kopilaa Maa Ranga Chadhyo Ful Haansa Thaalyo''
|[[Asha Bhosle]]
|-
|''Yeti Dherai Maayaa Diyau, Baanchne Rahar Badhna Thaalyo''
|[[Asha Bhosle]], [[Prakash Shrestha]]
|-
|''Duniyaa Laai Tadhaa Chhoda, Aafnai Mann Laai Roja''
|[[Prakash Shrestha]]
|-
|''Najaau Na Malaai Chhodee, Mukha Modi, Dil Todi, Chyaante Mayalu''
|[[Prakash Shrestha]] [[Sushma Shrestha]]
|-
! rowspan=6 |''Santaan''[[Nepal]]ese [[Movie]]
! rowspan=6 |1989
|''Kahawase Aaibe Raam-Lachhuman''
|[[Prakash Shrestha]], [[Sushma Shrestha]], [[Udit Narayan]],
Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Piratii Ko Kitaab Maa Naulo Paanaa Thapchhaun''
|Prasaad Shrestha (not to be confused with the more popular Prakash Shrestha) [[Sushma Shrestha]]
|-
|''Chha Bhane Maaya Chhapakkai Laaideu, Chhaina Bhane Maayaa Mohani Fukaaideu''
|[[Prakash Shrestha]] Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Ishara Nai Nabujhne Timlaai Ma Ke Bhanu?''
|Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Himaal Laai Saakshi Raakhi Aau Mitho Baachaa Garaun''
|[[Prakash Shrestha]] Deepa Narayan Jha (Gahatraj)
|-
|''Garbha Ko Peeda, Janma Ko Marma, Mutu Mai Khopera,''
|[[Udit Narayan]],
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100721081117/http://www.thebhopalpost.com/index.php/2010/07/manohari-singh/ An article in Hindi about Manohari Singh on The Bhopal Post web-site]
*[https://poll.imdb.com/name/nm1207632/ IMDB entry on Manohari Singh]
*[http://www.panchamonline.com/musicians.htm Musicians]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Manohari}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian saxophonists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century saxophonists]]
[[Category:Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]

Manohari Singh - Revision history

WikiDwarf at 08:11, 19 June 2023