Rucsy: brief fix page per sources and cleaned formatting

2026-03-21T19:02:44Z

brief fix page per sources and cleaned formatting

imported>Chris the speller: replaced: Foreword → foreword (3)

2021-06-06T15:44:36Z

replaced: Foreword → foreword (3)

New page

{{short description|Indian writer and historian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| embed =
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Manek Premchand
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Manek-Premchand.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = India
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| occupation = Historian of`Indian film music
| language =
| education = [[University of Mumbai]]
| alma_mater =
| period =
| genre = 
| subject = 
| movement =
| notable_works =
| spouse = 
| partner = 
| children =
| relatives =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| years_active =
| module =
| website = 
| portaldisp = 
}}
'''Manek Premchand''' is an Indian writer and historian of film music at [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]], Mumbai, who has written several books pertaining to the history of Indian film music and biographies of musicians. He has hosted shows on [[WorldSpace Satellite Radio]] and been a consultant with [[Saregama]].

In 2003 he completed his first book, ''Yesterday’s Melodies, Today’s Memories'', with the aim of giving songwriters, singers and composers<ref name="Deepa" /> credit. It was followed by ''Musical Moments from Hindi Films'' (2006). In 2010 he became part of the [[Mohammed Rafi Academy]]'s governing body and two years later produced ''Romancing the Song'' (2012). He contributed an essay on [[Shivkumar Sharma]] in ''Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music'' (2014), and released a biography of [[Talat Mahmood]] the following year. In ''Hitting the Right Notes'' (2016) he focusses on songwriters and composers, the difference the music made and the trends they produced. He devotes a chapter about [[Mubarak Begum]] in ''The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs'' (2018) and published a biography of [[Hemant Kumar]] in 2020.

==Early life and education==
Manek Premchand spent his early childhood in Delhi as the youngest of six children. He was introduced to music by his mother who used to sing. By the age of ten, he had moved to Mumbai, where he became acquainted with the nearby [[qawwali]] singer [[Jaani Babu Qawwal]], who arranged for him to learn the [[bulbul tarang]].<ref name="Deepa">{{cite news |author=Deepa |title=Manek Premchand – A Beacon For Music Travellers |url=https://thesongpedia.com/manek-premchand-beacon-music-travellers/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=TheSongPedia |date=27 January 2017}}</ref> His education has included a diploma in journalism and an arts degree from the [[University of Mumbai]].<ref name="Mondal">{{cite news |last1=Mondal |first1=Antara Nanda |title=The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar: In Conversation With Author Manek Premchand |url=https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/manek-premchand-hitting-right-notes/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=Silhouette Magazine |date=13 July 2020|issn=2231-699X }}</ref><ref name="Notion">{{cite web |title=Manek Premchand's Author Page – Notion Press |url=https://notionpress.com/author/m_prem_music |website=notionpress.com |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He received a two-year Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture on the subject The Changing Face of Lyrics in Hindi Cinema.<ref name="Deepa" /><ref name="Mondal" /> Prior to his career in writing he spent many years abroad.<ref name="Mondal"/>

==Career==

Premchand has hosted shows on [[WorldSpace Satellite Radio]] and been a consultant with [[Saregama]], for whom he has compiled CDs.<ref name="Deepa"/><ref name="Blue">{{cite web |title=Our Authors {{!}} Blue Pencil Publishers|url=https://www.bluepencilpublishers.com/authors/ |website=Blue Pencil |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He is an adviser to [[Manipal University|Manipal University Press]].<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2015-09-25|title=Interaction with author of ‘Talat Mahmood – The Velvet Voice’|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/interaction-with-author-of-talat-mahmood-the-velvet-voice/article7687927.ece|access-date=2021-02-11|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Manipal Film Festival (April 2013), organised by Communication Management Students of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) to celebrate 100 Years of Cinema, invited him as a speaker and honored him at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-29|title=Manipal Film Festival celebrates 100 years of Indian Cinema|url=https://themanipaljournal.com/2013/04/29/manipal-film-festival-celebrates-100-years-of-indian-cinema/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Manipal Journal|language=en}}</ref> He hosted a commemoration of 100 Years of Cinema arranged by Bhavans Kala Kendra, Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 20, 2013|first=Bella|last=Jaisinghani|title=Free musical event by stalwart artistes Saturday |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/free-musical-event-by-stalwart-artistes-saturday/articleshow/18586593.cms|access-date=2021-02-21|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He did a video presentation as a salute to the city of [[Bombay]] (now [[Mumbai]]) for [[The Asiatic Society of Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yeh Hai Bambai Meri Jaan – Bombay in Bollywood songs|url=https://asiaticsociety.org.in/index.php/29-programmes-and-event/60-yeh-hai-bambai-meri-jaan-bombay-in-bollywood-songs|access-date=2021-02-21|website=asiaticsociety.org.in}}</ref> Among the film and music related events he has anchored was an event to honor stars of yesteryear [[Shammi Kapoor]], [[Waheeda Rehman]] and [[Vyjayanthimala]], reported in [[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-06-20|title=Phir Wahi Shaam - A Nostalgic Journey|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/iphir-wahi-shaami-a-nostalgic-journey/107137/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref> He has hosted an evening to celebrate yesteryear’s playback singer [[Sudha Malhotra]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=bhavans.info|url=https://www.bhavans.info/news/show_ho_news.asp?nid=1856|access-date=2021-04-08|website=www.bhavans.info}}</ref> He conceptualized and anchored a show at the birth centenary of lyricist and poet [[Sahir Ludhianvi]] in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Programmes and Event|url=https://asiaticsociety.org.in/index.php/29-programmes-and-event|access-date=2021-04-08|website=asiaticsociety.org.in}}</ref> He has conversed with composer [[Anandji Virji Shah|Anandji]] and singer [[Usha Timothy]] on the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) platform. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Events – IPRS|url=https://www.iprs.org/gallery/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.iprs.org}}</ref>

He was the Guest of Honour to celebrate the music of composers [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal|Laxmikant-Pyarelal]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Laxmikant Pyarelal Utsav Was A Massive Success|url=https://dadasahebphalkefilmfoundation.com/2019/04/23/laxmikant-pyarelal-utsav-was-a-massive-success/|access-date=2021-04-08|website=DADASAHEBPHALKEFILMFOUNDATION.COM|language=en-US}}</ref> He has been invited as a guest on television shows related to music personalities from Hindi cinema like [[Shankar–Jaikishan|Shankar-Jaikishan]],<ref>{{Citation|title=Video {{!}} Recalling the journey of music composers Shankar-Jaikishan|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/bollywood-roots/recalling-the-journey-of-music-composers-shankar-jaikishan-230610|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> [[Talat Mahmood]],<ref>{{Citation|title=TALAT MAHMOOD 'KING OF GHAZALS' Bollywood Roots (NDTV)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF48si5UpAk|language=en|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> [[Jan Nisar Akhtar]],<ref>{{Citation|title=Video {{!}} The life and times of Jan Nisar Akhtar|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/bollywood-roots/the-life-and-times-of-jan-nisar-akhtar-265776|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> [[Kishore Kumar]], [[Mohammed Rafi]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Video {{!}} Recalling the journey of legendary singer Mohammad Rafi|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/bollywood-roots/recalling-the-journey-of-legendary-singer-mohammad-rafi-238533|access-date=2021-04-17}}</ref> among them. Even television shows on different themes like Bollywood's Top 20 Rain Songs.<ref>{{Citation|title=Video {{!}} Bollywood's top 20 rain songs|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/bollywood-roots/bollywood-s-top-20-rain-songs-240873|access-date=2021-04-17}}</ref>

Manek Premchand teaches broadcasting to post-graduate students at Xavier Institute of Communications, a part of [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]], Mumbai, where he is a historian of film music.<ref name="Blue" /><ref>{{cite web |title=The Faculty {{!}} Mass Media Courses – Mass Communication, Journalism, Advertising and Marketing, Diploma Courses and Certificate Courses by Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC). |url=https://www.xaviercomm.org/about-xaviercomm/faculty.htm |website=www.xaviercomm.org |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref>

===Writing===
[[File:Book Release – Musical Moments From Hindi Films.jpg|thumb|Book Release – Musical Moments From Hindi Films. L- R : Jagjit Kaur, Khayyam, Hema Malini, L K Advani, Manek Premchand and Ameen Sayani]]
Among the publications he wrote for were [[Hindustan Times]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2014-08-03|title=The other Kishore Kumar, surrounded by sadness|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/the-other-kishore-kumar-surrounded-by-sadness/story-fmiot0dbMgB1ZT9d3lLr5M.html|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> [[Mumbai Mirror]],<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=June 23, 2013|title=Meeting Dilip Saab|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/leisure/meeting-dilip-saab/articleshow/20722082.cms|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en}}</ref> and [[Deccan Herald]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2010-07-03|title=Memories of another day...|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/79048/memories-another-day.html|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> He had a weekly column with DNA Jaipur to which he contributed film and music related articles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Among his essays is one about the contribution of [[Parsis]] in Hindi cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|last=arZan|last2=arZan|title=Music and Bollywood: The Parsi Way!|url=https://parsikhabar.net/music/music-and-bollywood-the-parsi-way/6472/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Parsi Khabar|language=en-US}}</ref>

Premchand began writing his first book, ''Yesterday’s Melodies, Today’s Memories'', in January 1997, with the aim of giving songwriters, lyricists and singers of what he calls "the golden era of Hindi film music", credit.<ref name="Deepa"/><ref name="Mondal" /> It took almost seven years to complete and was released in 2003.<ref name="Deepa"/> In his research he interviewed several people including singer [[Manna Dey]], poet [[Majrooh]] and lyricist and composer [[Prem Dhawan]].<ref name="Deepa"/> He estimated that 4,334 Hindi films made between 1930 and 1970 depicted around 36,000 songs.<ref name=Bhugra>{{Cite book|last=Bhugra|first=Dinesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXm0AAAAQBAJ&pg=PT69|title=Mad Tales from Bollywood: Portrayal of Mental Illness in Conventional Hindi Cinema|date=2013|publisher=Psychology Press|year=|isbn=978-1-84169-646-1|location=Hove|page=69|language=en|issn=0076-5465}}</ref> The book was described as having "excellent short sketches of the major composers, singers lyricist and arrangers" in ''Bollywood travels of Hindi song and dance''.<ref name="Gopal2008">{{cite book |last1=Gopal |first1=Sangita |last2=Moorti |first2=Sujata |title=Global Bollywood: Travels of Hindi Song and Dance |date=2008 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-4578-7 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19JBf6oDOy0C&pg=PA57|language=en |chapter=Introduction}}</ref> It was followed by ''Musical Moments from Hindi Films'' (2006), released by [[Hema Malini]].<ref name="Deepa" /><ref name="Mondal" />

In 2010 [[Mohammed Rafi]]'s son Shahid Rafi launched the [[Mohammed Rafi Academy]] with Premchand as part of the academy's governing body.<ref name="Sili2010">{{cite web |title=Mohd Rafi's son to launch music academy |url=https://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/mohd-rafis-son-to-launch-music-academy-nid-70237-cid-29.html |website=siliconindia |access-date=10 January 2021 |date=31 July 2010}}</ref> Two years later Premchand produced ''Romancing the Song'' (2012),<ref name="Mondal"/> in which he clarifies who really was the male voice in ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet's]]'' "Dheere Dheere Aa".<ref name="Deepa"/><ref name="Mondal"/> He wrote a third of the 2014 book ''Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Musical Journey|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2014/oct/15/A-Musical-Journey-671750.html|access-date=2021-02-17|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> a biography of [[Shivkumar Sharma]], alongside a piece by Pandit [[Vijay Kichlu]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Immerse yourself in melody, books this World Music Day |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/features/immerse-melody-books-world-music-day-1502901737.html |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=The Statesman |date=20 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=MUP to hold author meets readers interaction at MIT on September 26 - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/mup-to-hold-author-meets-readers-interaction-at-mit-on-september-26/articleshow/49092030.cms|access-date=2021-02-27|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

In 2015, he released a biography of [[Talat Mahmood]],<ref name=":3" /> published by Manipal University. It contains chapters written by Mahmood's daughter Sabina Talat Mahmood Rana, and son Khalid Talat Mahmood.<ref name="Zaman">{{cite news |last1=Zaman |first1=Sahar |title=In fond remembrance of the ghazal’s ‘velvet voice’ |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/bookbeat/in-fond-remembrance-of-the-ghazals-velvet-voice |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=www.sunday-guardian.com}}</ref> Mahmood was a favourite of his and his mother and he stated in an interview that "my book on him was a way of saying 'Thanks Talatji, for the hundreds of hours you gave me joy{{nbsp}}... and sometimes tears'."<ref name="Deepa"/> The following year he produced ''Hitting the Right Notes'' (2016), which reveals who blew the whistle in ''[[Kati Patang]]'''s "Ye shaam mastani".<ref name="Deepa"/> The book focusses on songwriters and composers, the difference the music made and the trends they produced.<ref name="Mondal"/>

His 2018 ''The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs'' devotes one chapter to [[Mubarak Begum]].<ref name="Ojha">{{cite news |last1=Ojha |first1=Abhilasha |title=Mubarak Begum: Bollywood music’s shooting star |url=https://www.theweek.in/leisure/society/2020/07/26/mubarak-begum-bollywood-musics-shooting-star.html |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=The Week |date=26 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, he released the biography of [[Hemant Kumar]] in a book titled ''The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar''.<ref name="Mondal"/> [[Gulzar]] has written the Foreword for two of Manek Premchand’s books – ''Romancing the Song'' (2012) and ''The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar'' (2020).<ref name="Mondal"/> In his foreword to Premchand's book ''Romancing the Song'', [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award|Dadasaheb Phalke]] award winner, filmmaker-lyricist [[Gulzar]] has compared the work with [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s [[The Discovery of India|''The'' ''Discovery of India'']]. For his book ''The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar'', santoor maestro [[Padma Vibhushan]] awardee Pt [[Shivkumar Sharma|Shiv Kumar Sharma]] has called Manek Premchand the [[Premchand|Munshi Premchand]] of Hindi cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|title=E-Paper - Mid Day|url=https://epaper.mid-day.com/?Isout=1|access-date=2021-05-11|website=epaper.mid-day.com}}</ref>

==Publications==

=== Books ===
*''Yesterday’s Melodies, Today’s Memories'', (2003), including a guest article by [[MV Kamath]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Last Supper|url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/the-last-supper|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Cinemaazi|language=en}}</ref> and a foreword by [[Ameen Sayani]]<ref name="Mondal" />
*''Musical Moments from Hindi Films (2006)''<ref name="Deepa" />''<ref name="Mondal" /><ref name="Bamzai">{{cite news |last1=Bamzai |first1=Kaveree |title=Manek Premchand's new book relives musical moments of Indian history |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/20070205-musical-moments-from-hindi-films-by-manek-premchand-748975-2007-02-05 |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=India Today |date=5 February 2007 |language=en}}</ref>'', including Foreword by [[Mohammed Zahur Khayyam|Khayyam]]
*''Romancing the Song'' (2012),<ref name="Mondal" /><ref name="Deepa" /> with a foreword by [[Gulzar]], a Keynote by [[L. K. Advani|L K Advani]], Curtain Raiser by [[Ameen Sayani]] and Last Word by [[Shivkumar Sharma]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-11-28|title=A perfect tribute to the great Hindi film lyricists|url=https://narenmusicnotes.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/a-perfect-tribute-to-the-great-hindi-film-lyricists/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Kaansen Kalling|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Premchand|first=Manek|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/romancing-the-song-hindi-cinemas-lyrical-journey/oclc/823655477|title=Romancing the song: Hindi cinema's lyrical journey|date=2012|isbn=978-81-924931-0-7|oclc=823655477}}</ref>
*''Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music'' (2014). (Contributor)<ref name="Mondal" /><ref name=":7" />
*''Talat Mahmood: The Velvet Voice'' (2015)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Premchand|first=Manek|date=18 May 2015|title=Talat Mahmood-A Velvet Voice|url=https://www.apnnews.com/talat-mahmood-a-velvet-voice/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref name="Mondal" />
*''Hitting the Right Notes: Hindi Cinema's Golden Music'', published by Manipal University Press December (2016)<ref name="Mondal" />
*''The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs'' (2018)<ref name="Mondal" />
*''The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar'' (2020)<ref name="Mondal" />

=== Articles ===

* ''The Only Film Mahatma Gandhi Saw''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Premchand|first=Manek|date=2013-10-02|title=Ram Rajya, the only Indian film Mahatma Gandhi saw|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ram-rajya-the-only-indian-film-mahatma-gandhi-saw-1897123|access-date=2021-02-11|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>
* ''Songs of Life, Sweet And Sour''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Premchand|first=Manek|date=2006-02-25|title=Songs of life, sweet and sour|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-songs-of-life-sweet-and-sour-1014797|access-date=2021-02-11|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>
* ''Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Premchand|first=Manek|date=2012-10-14|title=Pandit Shivkumar Sharma: Classical music to melodies to iconic film|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-pandit-shivkumar-sharma-classical-music-to-melodies-to-iconic-film-1752204|access-date=2021-02-11|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>
*''Meeting Dilip Saab''<ref name=":5" />
*''The other Kishore Kumar, surrounded by sadness''<ref name=":4" />
*''Memories of Another Day''<ref name=":6" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Premchand, Manek}}
[[Category:Historians of South Asia]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Indian film historians]]
[[Category:Music historians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]

Manek Premchand - Revision history

Rucsy: brief fix page per sources and cleaned formatting

imported>Chris the speller: replaced: Foreword → foreword (3)