Manek Premchand

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.{{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}} His education has included a diploma in journalism and an arts degree from the University of Mumbai.{{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 }}{{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}} He received a two-year Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture on the subject The Changing Face of Lyrics in Hindi Cinema. Prior to his career in writing he spent many years abroad.

He is married to Lata Jagtiani,{{Cite web |title=Lata Jagtiani, Author at Blue Pencil |url=https://www.bluepencilpublishers.com/author/jagtianilata/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.bluepencilpublishers.com}} a writer and author of several books including Sindhi Reflections and Bhagavad Gita in 365 Days.{{Cite web |last=Deepa |date=2017-03-04 |title=With Passion In Her Pen – Lata Jagtiani |url=https://thesongpedia.com/passion-pen-lata-jagtiani/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=TheSongPedia |language=en-US}}

Premchand has hosted shows on WorldSpace Satellite Radio and been a consultant with Saregama, for whom he has compiled CDs.{{cite web |title=Our Authors {{!}} Blue Pencil Publishers|url=https://www.bluepencilpublishers.com/authors/ |website=Blue Pencil |date=18 January 2019 |access-date=10 January 2021}} He is an adviser to the Manipal Academy of Higher Education's Manipal University Press.{{Cite news|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}} 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.{{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}} For students at Manipal University, he has lectured on several subjects, especially on The Evolution of Music in Hindi Cinema.{{Citation|title=The Evolution of Music in Hindi Cinema| date=4 June 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmzEcBDCEgk|language=en|access-date=2021-12-05}} He hosted a commemoration of 100 Years of Cinema arranged by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans Kala Kendra, Mumbai.{{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}} He did a video presentation as a salute to the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) for The Asiatic Society of Mumbai.{{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}} 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.{{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}} He has hosted an evening to celebrate yesteryear's playback singer Sudha Malhotra.{{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}} He was the Guest of Honor to celebrate the music of composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

He served as a Jury Member for the Bengaluru Film Festival in March 2022,{{Cite web |title=13th Bengaluru International Film Festival- Official Catalogue |url=http://online.anyflip.com/gysuz/ylct/mobile/index.html |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=anyflip}} and was presented a memento by the Governor of Karnataka for the same.{{Citation |title=Mr.Manek Premchand receiving a memento during 13th Bangalore International Film Festival 2022 | date=13 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_8JFDupjyc |language=en |access-date=2023-02-21}} He was invited as a speaker to the Mangalore Litfest in January 2024, where his recent book was also released.{{Cite web |title=Speakers |url=https://mlrlitfest.org/speakers |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Mangaluru |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Event Schedule 2024 |url=https://mlrlitfest.org/event-schedule-2024 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Mangaluru |language=en-US}}

Manek Premchand teaches broadcasting to post-graduate students at Xavier Institute of Communications, a part of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, where he is a historian of film music.{{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}} For his Mass Communications students, in July 2022, he conducted a field trip showing where the first cinema was shown in India, as also from where the first radio signals were sent.{{Cite web |title=Manek Premchand takes the Journalism students on an insightful and informative Heritage Walk |url=https://www.xaviercomm.org/events/manek-premchand-takes-the-journalism-students-on-an-insightful-and-informative-heritage-walk |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.xaviercomm.org}} In October 2022, Premchand was felicitated for his work in writing on Hindi cinema by FLO, the ladies wing of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).{{Cite web |title=Celebrates 20 years |url=https://www.ficciflo.com/events/celebrates-20-years/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=FICCI FLO |language=en-US}}

In January 2023, he presented an audiovisual of songs based on the streets of Mumbai in a program called "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai.{{Cite web |title=Jashn3 |url=https://asiaticsociety.org.in/index.php/21-activities/328-jashn3 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=asiaticsociety.org.in}} He presented a Masterclass at the Paridrishya Short Film festival in Bengaluru in February 2023:{{Cite web |title=Paridrishya - Short Film Festival |url=https://paridrishyafilmfest.com/masterclasses |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Paridrishya - Short Film Festival |language=en-IN}}{{Cite web |title=Paridrishya - Short Film Festival |url=https://paridrishyafilmfest.com/schedule |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Paridrishya - Short Film Festival |language=en-IN}} In February 2023 he curated a film music event on the theme of Unity in Diversity sponsored by Infosys Foundation and hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kala Kendra.{{Cite web |title=Cultural Festival on Unity in Diversity - A Nine-day Cultural Programme, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, 19 February 2023 |url=https://stayhappening.com/e/cultural-festival-on-unity-in-diversity-a-nine-day-cultural-programme-E2ISVABY6KJ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=stayhappening.com |language=en}} More recently, in the summer of 2023, he did video presentations on singer Mohammed Rafi{{Cite web |date=2023-06-06 |title=Mohammed Rafi |url=http://www.janmabhoominewspapers.com |website=www. janmabhoominewspapers.com}} and hero-turned-villain, actor Ajit{{Cite web |date=2023-07-14 |title=Geet Sangeet |url=http://www.janmabhoominewspapers.com |website=www. janmabhoominewspapers.com}} also for the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kala Kendra, Mumbai. He curated and presented a talk and audiovisual on qawwalis down the years, also for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kala Kendra in October 2023, and on Poet and Lyricist Shailendra for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, in December 2023.{{Cite web |title=he Mumbai Research Centre of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai has organised the following programmes |url=https://www.asiaticsociety.org.in/index.php/21-activities/374-he-mumbai-research-centre-of-the-asiatic-society-of-mumbai-has-organised-the-following-programmes |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.asiaticsociety.org.in}}

Recently Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kala Kendra, Mumbai, organized a special audio-visual show with Cine Society, as homage to legendary radio host Ameen Sayani after the latter passed away. The show was curated and presented by Manek Premchand and titled Celebrating Ameen Sayani, The Voice of India.{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Ameen Sayani The Voice of India |url=https://epaper.janmabhoominewspapers.com/view/previous/29-04-2024/1 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=epaper.janmabhoominewspapers.com}}

As Guest of Honour at the Paridrushya Film Festival{{Cite web |last=Author |date=2025-01-31 |title=Events tomorrow - feb. 1: Mysuru Cinema Society (MCS) and Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna |url=https://starofmysore.com/events-tomorrow-feb-1-mysuru-cinema-society-mcs-and-bharatiya-chitra-sadhna/amp/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Star of Mysore |language=en-US}} in Mysuru on Feb 1, 2025, Premchand gave a Masterclass on cinematographer V K Murthy.{{Cite web |title='Paridrushya': International festival of short films, documentaries to be held in Mysuru on Feb 1, 2 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/paridrushya-international-festival-of-short-films-documentaries-to-be-held-in-mysuru-on-feb-1-2-3375594 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} In February 2025, he also gave a Masterclass on The Journey of Music in Indian Cinema for Mysuru Cinema Society.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=Cine Mastery - Mysuru Cinema Society |url=https://mysurucinemasociety.com/workshop-masterclass/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |language=en-US}}

File:Book Release – Musical Moments From Hindi Films.jpg

Among the publications he wrote for were Hindustan Times,{{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}} Mumbai Mirror,{{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}} and Deccan Herald.{{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}} He had a weekly column with DNA Jaipur{{Cite web|title=Jaipur|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/topic/jaipur|access-date=2021-12-05|website=DNA India|language=en}} to which he contributed film and music related articles. Among his essays is one about the contribution of Parsis in Hindi cinema,{{Cite web|last1=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|date=13 June 2013 |language=en-US}} and an article on Dilip Kumar{{Cite web|title=MUSICAL GEMS – IPRS|url=https://iprs.org/musical-gems/|access-date=2021-12-05|website=iprs.org}} with a focus on his musical prowess and abilities for The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS).{{Cite web|title=IPRS – The Indian Performing Right Society Limited|url=https://iprs.org/|access-date=2021-12-05|website=iprs.org}} His writings have been cited by many authors. Recently, an article for The Indian Express quotes from his book on Majrooh Sultanpuri while reporting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's remarks about curtailing the freedom of artists.{{Cite web |title=The Indian Express |date=18 December 2024 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/nirmala-sitharaman-nehru-majrooh-balraj-arrest-story-9730154/}} Jason Beaster Jones quotes him more than once in his book;{{Cite book |url=https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/Bollywood%20Sounds%20_%20the%20cosmopolitan%20mediations%20of%20hindi%20film%20song.pdf |title=Bollywood Sounds - The Cosmopolitan Mediations of Hindi Film Song}} Rachel Dwyer uses Premchand's book on Hemant Kumar to talk about Hemant Kumar's love for Rabindra Sangeet in her published article,{{Cite web |title='Aa jaa re pardesi': why I am haunted by Hindi film songs |url=https://www.india-seminar.com/2021/741/741_rachel_dwyer.htm}} and Shikha Jhingan's paper on classical ragas in film songs{{Cite book |url=http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/64106/1/FEM%202015%2040IR.pdf |title=Harmonic Progressions of Hindi Film Songs Based on North Indian Ragas}} refers to his book Yesterday's Melodies Today's Memories.

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. It took almost seven years to complete and was released in 2003. In his research he interviewed several people including singer Manna Dey, poet Majrooh and lyricist and composer Prem Dhawan. He estimated that 4,334 Hindi films made between 1930 and 1970 depicted around 36,000 songs.{{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|isbn=978-1-84169-646-1|location=Hove|page=69|language=en|issn=0076-5465}} The book was described as having "excellent short sketches of the major composers, singers, lyricists, and arrangers" in Global Bollywood: Travels of Hindi Song and Dance.{{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 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19JBf6oDOy0C&pg=PA57|language=en |chapter=Introduction}} In 2018, the book saw its third reprint with enhanced content.{{Cite book|title=Yesterday's Melodies Today's Memories|publisher=Notion Press|year=2018|isbn=9781644298763}} While Gregory D Booth, the author of Behind the Curtain: Making Music in Mumbai's Film Studios (Oxford University Press, 2009),{{Cite web |title=Z-Library single sign on |url=https://1lib.domains/?redirectUrl=/book/904613/7e75be&dsource=recommend |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=1lib.domains}} mentions Premchand's book several times in his own book, it has also been cited as a reference point for Booth's book.{{Cite web |date=2009-07-13 |title=Six songs and three dances |url=https://www.himalmag.com/six-songs-and-three-dances-behind-the-curtain-by-gregory-d-booth/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=Himal Southasian |language=en-GB}} It was followed by Musical Moments from Hindi Films (2006), released by Hema Malini.

In 2010 Mohammed Rafi's son Shahid Rafi launched the Mohammed Rafi Academy with Premchand as part of the academy's governing body.{{Cite web |title=Mohd Rafi's Son to Launch Music Academy in Father's Honour |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/index.php/news/newsDisplay?newsID=82205 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.daijiworld.com |language=en}} Two years later Premchand produced Romancing the Song (2012), a large book that plots the journey of lyrics over 80 years of cinema, in which he clarifies who really was the male voice in Kismet's "Dheere dheere aa". He wrote a third of the 2014 book Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music,{{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|date=15 October 2014 }} a biography of Shivkumar Sharma, alongside a piece by Pandit Vijay Kichlu.{{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}}{{Cite news|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|date=24 September 2015 }}

In 2015, he released a biography of Talat Mahmood, published by Manipal University. It contains chapters written by Mahmood's daughter Sabina Talat Mahmood Rana, and son Khalid Talat Mahmood.{{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}} 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'." The following year he produced Hitting the Right Notes (2016), which reveals who blew the whistle in Kati Patang's "Ye shaam mastani". The book focusses on songwriters and composers, the difference the music made and the trends they produced.

His 2018 The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs devotes one chapter to Mubarak Begum.{{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}}{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Granville |date=2024-07-18 |title=Singer Mubarak Begum went from poverty to Bollywood & Lollywood. Then her 'wings were cut' |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/singer-mubarak-begum-went-from-poverty-to-bollywood-lollywood-then-her-wings-were-cut/2179148/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} In 2020, he released the biography of Hemant Kumar in a book titled The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar. Gulzar has written the Foreword for two of Manek Premchand's books – Romancing the Song (2012) and The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar (2020). In his foreword to Premchand's book Romancing the Song, Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, filmmaker-lyricist Gulzar has compared the work with Jawaharlal Nehru's The Discovery of India. For his book The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar, santoor maestro Padma Vibhushan awardee Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma has called Manek Premchand the Munshi Premchand of Hindi cinema.{{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}}

His book Majrooh Sultanpuri: The Poet for all Reasons on the work of the Hindi film lyricist and poet, was published in December 2021. When asked why the word Reasons instead of the generally used Seasons, the author said, "While there are only 4 seasons, there can be far many more reasons. A poet for happiness and misery, but also for hope and despair, spirituality and love, dignity and doom, the whole range of human emotions. Majrooh offers us nuances of all these and more. I felt Reasons was more apt here."{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|first4=|last5=|last6=|first6=|last7=|first7=|date=2022-01-21|title=Majrooh Sultanpuri: The Poet For All Reasons — 'I Would Rate It As My Best Work,' Says Manek Premchand|url=https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/majrooh-sultanpuri-the-poet-for-all-reasons-manek-premchand-interview/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Silhouette Magazine|language=en-US}} The book offers clarity on the often misunderstood poetic forms of the ghazal, rubai and nazm. "There are detailed chapters on ghazals and nazms (in both of which Premchand does an excellent job of explaining the technicalities around these two forms of Urdu poetry.)"{{Cite web |last=dustedoff |date=2022-03-02 |title=Book Review: Manek Premchand's 'Majrooh Sultanpuri: The Poet for All Reasons' |url=https://madhulikaliddle.com/2022/03/02/book-review-manek-premchands-majrooh-sultanpuri-the-poet-for-all-reasons/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=Dustedoff |language=en}} A review of the book: "...the meat of the book for those who love the world of words, is dissection, interpretation of the poetry, imagery, detailed description with reference to the scene of the film, for hundreds of songs in a number of chapters on different themes."{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Book Review: "Majrooh Sultanpuri: The Poet For All Reasons" {{!}} Songs Of Yore |url=https://www.songsofyore.com/book-review-majrooh-sultanpuri/,%20https://www.songsofyore.com/book-review-majrooh-sultanpuri/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=www.songsofyore.com |language=en-GB}} Another review declares the book "a joy forever".{{Cite web |title=Majrooh Sultanpuri: The Poet For All Reasons, Enlightening and entertaining |url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/majrooh-sultanpuri-the-poet-for-all-reasons-enlightening-and-entertaining}}

Released in January 2022, Windows to the Soul: and other essays on Music,{{Cite book|title=Windows to the Soul: and other essays on Music|publisher=Notion Press|year=2022|isbn=9798885031523}} a collection of essays on music, tells us why the tambourine cannot play sad music, presents singer Mukesh's fascination for Raag Darbari, explores the music-inspiring "popular charmer Marine Drive", and urges the I & B Ministry to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna on composer Madan Mohan.

His book, Director's Chair: Hindi Cinema's Golden Age, was released at the Mangalore Litfest in January 2024 and is a study of the work and lives of most of the notable film directors from Hindi cinema during the 1930-1980 period.{{Cite web |title=Event Schedule 2024 |url=https://mlrlitfest.org/event-schedule-2024 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Mangaluru |language=en-US}} Describing the process of writing this particular book in an interview, the author said, "This book was a departure from my other work, and it was tough deciding whom to take, and whom not to...Resource matter had to be found, and old films had to be watched and rewatched. I had to make perhaps three dozen changes in virtually every para of the book to offer a sharp focus on the people who needed to be saluted."{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=Director's Chair – Hindi Cinema's Golden Age {{!}} Interview with Manek Premchand {{!}} By Jyoti Babel |url=https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/directors-chair-hindi-cinemas-golden-age-in-conversation-with-manek-premchand/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Silhouette Magazine |language=en-US}} Here are some of the reviews of this book: “…do get this book: it’s not just a very good tribute to the directors who made all those films, but also, in its way, a guide to the cinema of those decades.”{{Cite web |last=dustedoff |date=2024-02-28 |title=Book Review: Manek Premchand's 'Director's Chair: Hindi Cinema's Golden Age' |url=https://madhulikaliddle.com/2024/02/28/book-review-manek-premchands-directors-chair-hindi-cinemas-golden-age/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Dustedoff |language=en}} and “Director's Chair fills up an important gap, and is a worthwhile acquisition. You would like to browse through it again and again.”{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Book Review: DIRECTOR'S CHAIR {{!}} Songs Of Yore |url=https://www.songsofyore.com/book-review-directors-chair/,%20https://www.songsofyore.com/book-review-directors-chair/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=www.songsofyore.com |language=en-GB}} as also ‘Sui generis’, A Book in a Class of its Own’.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Director's Chair, 'Sui Generis': A Book in a Class of Its Own {{!}} Book Review by Ramendra Kumar |url=https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/directors-chair-sui-generis-a-book-in-a-class-of-its-own/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Silhouette Magazine |language=en-US}}

His most recent work was as the editor of Shyam - A Star Forgotten, a book that outlines the journey of a Bollywood actor who passed away tragically in May 1951.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-12 |title=Shyam As Forgotten Star |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/12-Jul-2024/shyam-as-forgotten-star |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}

• Yesterday's Melodies, Today's Memories, (2003), including a guest article by MV Kamath{{Cite web|title=The Last Supper|url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/the-last-supper|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Cinemaazi|language=en}} and a foreword by Ameen Sayani
• Musical Moments from Hindi Films (2006){{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}}, including Foreword by Khayyam
• Romancing the Song (2012), with a foreword by Gulzar, a Keynote by L K Advani, Curtain Raiser by Ameen Sayani and Last Word by Shivkumar Sharma{{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}}{{Cite book|last=Premchand|first=Manek|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/823655477|title=Romancing the song: Hindi cinema's lyrical journey|date=2012|publisher=Jharna Books |isbn=978-81-924931-0-7|oclc=823655477}}
• Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music (2014). (Contributor){{Cite book|title=Shiv Kumar Sharma: The Man and His Music|publisher=Niyogi Books|year=2014|isbn=978-9383098149}}
• Talat Mahmood: The Velvet Voice (2015){{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/|website=apnnews.com}}{{Cite book|title=Talat Mahmood: The Velvet Voice|publisher=Manipal University Press|year=2015|isbn=978-93-82460-23-7}}
• Hitting the Right Notes: Hindi Cinema's Golden Music (2016){{Cite book|title=Hitting the Right Notes: Hindi Cinema's Golden Music|publisher=Manipal University Press|year=2016|isbn=978-93-82460-44-2}}
• The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs (2018){{Cite book|title=The Hindi Music Jukebox: Exploring Unforgettable Songs|publisher=Notion Press|year=2018|isbn=9781643247595}}
• Yesterday's Melodies, Today's Memories (Revised Third Edition, 2018)
• The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar (2020){{Cite book|title=The Unforgettable Music of Hemant Kumar|publisher=Blue Pencil Publishers|year=2020|isbn=978-81-939555-3-6}}
• Majrooh Sultanpuri, The Poet For All Reasons (2021){{Cite book|title=Amazon.in| id={{ASIN|8195297846|country=in}} }}{{Cite book|title=Majrooh Sultanpuri The Poet for All Reasons|publisher=Blue Pencil Publishers|year=2021|isbn=978-81-952978-4-9}}
• Windows to the Soul: and other essays on Music (2022)
• Director's Chair: Hindi Cinema's Golden Age (2024)
• Shyam - A Star Forgotten (2024) (Editor){{Cite web |date=2024-01-30 |title=SHYAM — A Star Forgotten {{!}} A Biography by Bimal Chadha {{!}} Cinema Books |url=https://www.bluepencilpublishers.com/product/shyam/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.bluepencilpublishers.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=Book Extract: Shyam – A Star Forgotten |url=https://upperstall.com/features/book-extract-shyam-a-star-forgotten/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Upperstall.com |language=en-US}}
• And The Music Lives On (2024){{Cite web |title=Notion Press |url=https://notionpress.com/read/and-the-music-lives-on-hardcover}}

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{{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:Indian music historians

Category:21st-century Indian biographers

Category:University of Mumbai alumni