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Remembering Geeta ji’s Western Style Songs Part 1

Friday, November 17th, 2023

Seeing the upcoming Birth Anniversary of Geeta ji, I, Gajendra Khanna am starting a series of programmes on Geeta ji’s Western Style songs. Here is the first programme for your listening pleasure:-

Audio:

Hope you like my presentation. Do share it with other fans of Geeta ji and western style songs.

Remembering Geeta ji on Her Death Anniversary

Thursday, July 20th, 2023

Today 20th July 2023 is the 42nd Death Anniversary of our beloved Geeta ji.

On this occasion, here is a rare picture of Geeta ji shared by avid Geeta fan Priya Pakanati Gaaru.

A Rare Picture of Geeta ji shared by Priya Pakanati Gaaru

Today Radio Ceylon paid tribute to her by playing her songs for nearly one and a half hours. This programme was compered by Jyoti Parmar ji, veteran announcer of SLBC.

From 6:30 to 7 am, they played her solo songs. In this segment, they played eight lovely solos of hers. Each of them was for a different composer and lyricist!

Here are the details of this segment called Aaj Ke Kalakaar:-

  1. 12 O’Clock (1958) – Geeta Dutt – kaisa jaadoo balam tu ne Daara, kho gaya nanha sa dil hamaara – OP Nayyar (Majrooh Sultanpuri)   कैसा जादू बलम तूने डारा, खो गया नन्हा सा दिल हमारा
  2. Saahib Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962) – Geet Dutt – piya aiso jiyo me.n samaa gayo re – Hemant Kumar (Shakeel Badauyani)   पिया ऐसो जिया में समाय गयो रे, कि मैं तन मन की सुध बुध गवाँ बैठी
  3. Pyaasa (1957) – Geeta Dutt – jaanay kya tunay kahi jaanay kya maine suni – SD Burman (Sahir Ludhianvi)   जाने क्या तूने कही जाने क्या मैने सुनी
  4. Son of India (1962) – Geeta Dutt & chorus – mujhay hazoor tum se pyaar hai, tumhi pe zindagi nisaar hai – Naushad (Shakeel Badauyani)   मुझे हुज़ूर तुम से प्यार है, तुम्ही पे ज़िन्दगी निसार है
  5. Neelofar (1957) – Geeta Dutt – jal gaya bahaar me.n meray dil ka aashiyaa.n – Avinash Vyas (Pandit Madhur)   जल गया बहार में मेरे दिल का आशिआं
  6. Anubhav (1971) – Geeta Dutt – merii jaa.n mujhay jaa.n naa kaho meri jaa.n meri jaa.n meri jaa.n – Kanu Roy (Gulzar) मेरी जाँ, मुझे जाँ ना कहो, मेरी जाँ, मेरी जाँ, मेरी जाँ
  7. Malika (1956) – Geeta Dutt – idhar dil hai udhar duniya, kidhar jaaye.n, kahaa.n jaaye.n – Hans Raj Behal (Tanvir Naqvi)  इधर दिल है उधर दुनिया, किधर जायें, कहाँ जायें
  8. Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) – Geeta Dutt – waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam, tum rahay na tum – SD Burman (Kaifi Aazmi)   वक़्त ने किया क्या हसीं सितम, तुम रहे ना तुम हम रहे ना हम

This segment can be heard below thanks to D S Rathi ji:-

Aaj Ke Kalakaar : Tribute to Geeta ji with Her Solos

In the Next Segment of Film Sangeet, Duets of Geeta ji were played with various singers. Here are the details of this segment:-

  1. Johny Walker (1957) – Asha & Geeta Dutt – la la la … Thandi Thandi hawa poochhey un ka pataa – OP Nayyar (Hasrat Jaipuri)   ला ला ला … ठण्डी ठण्डी हवा पूछे उनका पता, लाज आए सखी कैसे दूँ मैं बता
  2. Mr & Mrs 55 (1955) – Rafi & Geeta Dutt – udhar tum hasee.n ho idhar dil jawaa.n hai – OP Nayyar (Majrooh Sultanpuri)   उधर तुम हसीं हो इधर दिल जवाँ है, ये रंगीन रातों की इक दास्ताँ है
  3. Chhoo Mantar (1956) – Rafi & Geeta Dutt – garib jaan ke (2), hum ko tum na miTaa denaa – OP Nayyar (Jan Nisar Akhtar)   ग़रीब जान के (2), हम को तुम ना मिटा देना, तुम्हीं ने दर्द दिया है तुम्हीं दवा देना
  4. Apna Ghar (1960) – Mukesh & Geeta Dutt – tum se hi meri zindagi meri bahaar tum – Ravi (Prem Dhawan)   तुम से ही मेरी ज़िन्दगी मेरी बहार तुम
  5. Duniya Jhukti Hai (1960) – Geeta Dutt & Hemant Kumar – gum sum sa ye jahaa.n – Hemant Kumar (Rajendar Krishan)   गुम सुम सा ये जहाँ, ये रात ये हवा, एक साथ आज दो दिल धड़केंगे दिलरुबा
  6. Ziddi (1964) – Manna Dey & Geeta Dutt – mai.n teray pyaar me.n kya kya na banaa (2), dilbar, jaanay ye mausam – SD Burman (Hasrat Jaipuri)   मैं तेरे प्यार में क्या क्या ना बना (2), दिलबर, जाने ये मौसम
  7. Bahu (1955) – Geeta Dutt & Talat – Thandi hawaayo.n me.n taaro.n ki chhaayo.n me.n – Hemant Kumar (SH Bihari)   ठण्डी हवाओं में तारों की छाँव में, आज बलम मेरा डोले जिया
  8. Shararat (1959) – Kishore & Geeta Dutt – dekh aasmaa.n me.n chaa.nd muskuraye – Shankar Jaikishan (Hasrat Jaipuri)   देख आस्मां में चाँद मुस्कुराऐ, देख वो सितारे गगन में झिल मिलाए

Here is the Film Sangeet programme once again courtesy D S Rathi ji:-

Film Sangeet programme: Tribute to Geeta ji with her solos

In their popular Purani Filmon Ka Sangeet programme from 7:30 am to 8 am, all the songs except the last mandatory K L Sehgal song, all were wonderful songs of Geeta ji being played. Interestingly, a majority of these were from her Geeta Roy phase and ended aptly with Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya. Here are the details of the programme:-

  1. Baazi (1951) – Geeta Roy & chorus – o la la la … suno gajar kya gaaye, samay guzarta jaaye – SD Burman (Sahir Ludhianvi)   ओ ल ल ला … सुनो गजर क्या गाए समय गुज़रता जाए
  2. Jaan Pehchaan (1950) – Talat & Geeta Roy – armaan bharay dil ki lagan teray liye hai – Khemchand Parkash (Shakeel Badauyani)   अरमान भरे दिल की लगन तेरे लिए (2), नज़रें मेरे जीवन की सजन तेरे लिए है
  3. Aasmaan (1952) – Geeta Roy – dil hai, dil hai diwaana jawaa.n hai zamaanaa – OP Nayyar (Prem Dhawan)   दिल है, दिल है दीवाना जवां है ज़माना, बना दूँगी तुझ को नज़र का निशाना
  4. C.I.D. (1956) – Geeta Dutt – jaata kahaa.n hai n diwaanay, sub kuchh yahaa.n hai sanam – OP Nayyar (Majrooh Sultanpuri)   जाता कहाँ है दीवाने, सब कुछ यहाँ है सनम, बाकी के सारे फ़साने झूठे हैं तेरी क़सम
  5. Baawre Nain (1950) – Mukesh & Geeta Roy – khayalo.n me.n kisi ke iss tarah aaya nahi kartay – Roshan (Kidar Sharma)   ख़यालों में किसी के, इस तरह आया नहीं करते, किसी को बेवफ़ा आ आ के तड़पाया नहीं करते
  6. Baaz (1953) – Geeta Roy – ai dil ai deewaanay (3) aag lagaa lee kyo.n daaman me.n – OP Nayyar (Majrooh Sultanpuri)   ऐ दिल ऐ दीवाने (3) आग लगा ली क्यों दामन में, ओ ज़ालिम चाहत के बहाने
  7. Do Bhaai (1947) – Geeta Roy – mera sundar sapna beet gaya, mai.n prem me.n sub kuchh haar gayi – SD Burman (Raja Mehdi Ali Khan)   मेरा सुन्दर सपना बीत गया, मैं प्रेम में सब कुछ हार गई

Here is the programme audio (courtesy D S Rathi ji) for your listening pleasure:-

Purani Filmon Ka Sangeet : Tribute to Geeta ji with songs from her pre-marriage Years (except one from CID)

This programme was a great example of the kind of gems Geeta ji has left behind as her legacy.

There are many more aspects of her career which are yet to be elaborated on our website and blog. I would like to invite all her fans to write articles on her career and share other material with us for the website (write to us at anmolfankaar [AT] GMAIL [DOT] [COM].

It was a real pity that She passed away in July 1971, few months before Anubhav released in November. Had her health been good, we would have perhaps got so many more gems in the 1970s and later from her. Let us appreciate her legacy and spread her gems to the coming generations too. Such special singers and their memory need to be preserved for them to appreciate. Thank you.

Gajendra Khanna Remembers Geeta ji on Her 90th Birthday

Monday, November 23rd, 2020

Geeta ji was a wonderful soul who sadly left us very early. On 23rd November 2020, She would have turned 90 years old.

The date also marks completion of 12 years of this website. We thank all those who have contributed to this website over the years and request all her fans to share more material with us.

Here is a programme dedicated to her memory by Gajendra Khanna, the administrator and maintainer for this site. Let’s keep enjoying her songs and spreading the joy of her voice with Everyone.

Audio:

Geeta ji’s Funeral

Monday, July 20th, 2020

By Lakshmi Priya ji

Geeta ji’s early demise was a huge loss for her fans. On her death anniversary, thinking about all that could have been is a source of deep anguish for her fans.

I hereby present an Urdu magazine (probably Shama)’s photo which documents her extremely sad funeral. She was merely 41 years when She left for her heavenly abode due to cirrhosis of the liver.

It’s written ….playback singer Geeta Dutt Ka inteqaal 20 july ko bambai mein ho gaya”.. Aditya Pant had translated what is written for me . The headline is bulbul hamesha ke liye khamosh ho gayi.. ppl are offering flowers and her elder son is having the last darshan….can see SDB and RDB…

Geeta ji may have passed away but She continues to live in her songs. Lets keep spreading her songs to the new generations and keep her alive. May She be at peace, wherever She is.

Additional Inputs by Taiyeb Shaikh ji on the picture: I can’t make out magazine or new paper name. Usually Shama was Urdu monthly magazine with all Bollywood pictures & News. Kahkashan from Bombay was weekly Urdu Filmi news paper like Screen in English.
Anyways the lines are clear
Bulbul Hamesha ke liye khamosh ho gayi.
I can read also “Khush Gulu play back singer Geeta Dutt ka inteqal ho gaya” Khush Gulu mean Harmonious or Melodious voice. Khush is generally Sweet if used for voice & Gulu is voice. Never expected to see this. Salutes to you all.

She can never be replaced. Shyamal Chatterjee, a fellow Geeta fan sums it up aptly, “There will never be another Geeta Dutt . A comparatively short career but what she gifted us is never fading Diamonds “.

Geeta ji sings for Ustads and Pandits

Friday, July 17th, 2020

By Gajendra Khanna

During her career, Geeta ji had the opportunity to sing for quite a few Ustaads and Pandits, Master instrumentalists and vocalists of the classical arena when they composed for light songs or films.

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan with stamp released in his honour.

Humsafar (1953) made under the Navketan banner, had Ustad Ali Akbar Khan as the music director. here’s a gem tuned by him and rendered by Geeta Dutt. Enjoy listening to it.

Pandit Ravi Shankar who is a world renowned sitarist was also a composer. He is the one who composed for Satyajit Ray’s famous Apu Trilogy. In hindi films also he composed on a few occasions. One of those movies, Godaan (1963) had Geeta ji recording a duet, O Bedardi Kyun Tadpaaye, with Mahendra Kapoor. Its lyrics were by Anjaan. Here’s the song for your listening pleasure:-

Famous Tabla maestro, Allah Rakha also gave music to Hindi and Punjabi films by his full name A R Qureshi. One of his most famous movies was the Raj Kapoor starrer Bewafa (1952) where Geeta ji also sang for him. Enjoy this sweet song written by Sarshar Sailani :-

Another famous Tabla Maestro, Pandit Nikhil Ghosh also composed two non-film songs for Geeta ji. They are a real treat for fans of Geeta ji. They had been written by Pandit Bharat Vyas.

The first one is Jamuna Ke Teer Kanha Aao, which has a similar famous bhajan by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Geeta ji has sung it very sweetly and one would get to hear it on Radio Ceylon during its Devotional song programme.

Enjoy listening to it :-

The second song is also quite delightful which takes you to a feeling of calm and serenity. Enjoy this rendition of Haule Haule Hawa Dole by Geeta ji :-

It is interesting to note that She was also introduced by ‘Pandit’ Hanuman Prasad. Here is one of her renditions for him in her debut Bhakt Prahlad with Kalyani:-

Of course, we music lovers know that there are Pandits of the literary variety too, who wrote lyrics for many of Geeta ji’s songs. We have already come across one, Pandit Bharat Vyas above.

There was a lyricist in the 40s and 50s by the name Pandit Madhur (whose real name was Buddhichandra Agarwal). Here is a song, Kaali Kamali Odh Ke Aaye which Geeta ji sang for him under the composition of Avinash Vyas, the Gujarati maestro for whom Geeta ji sang nearly a 100 songs during her career. It is from the movie Bhakt Dhruv (1957).

Last but not the least, Geeta ji has worked in movies with ‘Ustad’ in them and songs with ‘Pandit’ or ‘Ustad’ in them too probably.

She sang two songs for the movie Ustaad (1957). Both were composed by O P Nayyar and written by Jaan Nisaar Akhtar. Here’s the first one which is a duet with Mohd Rafi Sahab, Kya Kya Dil Mein which is quite sweet:-

And this second one is quite a popular one for Radio lovers, Chor Lutere Daaku which is a delightful listen:-

Here’s a duet of hers with Mohd Rafi sahab, Pandit Ho Ya Lala for the movie Rickshawala (1960). It is composed by N Dutta and lyrics are by Jaan Nisaar Akhtar.

For us Geeta ji was a ‘Pandit’ of her art and ‘Ustaad’ in conveying the mood of the songs. May her songs reach the coming generations and keep delighting them all.

Geeta Bali in Sailaab

Wednesday, June 24th, 2020

Thanks to Lakshmipriya ji for this post.

Geeta Bali in Sailaab – 1956

Geeta Bali in Sailaab (1956)

Enjoy listening to Geeta ji’s rendition of Ye rut ye raat jawan for the movie.

Music by Mukul Roy, Lyrics by Shailendra

Geeta ji In Her Element At The Recordings

Wednesday, June 24th, 2020

Thanks a lot to Anish Raj Pandit ji for this post on Geeta ji at various Recordings, Functions and Mehfils.

Geeta ji is one singer who could convey emotions of all kinds and switch effortlessly between them. When one hears to her songs, one can’t but help notice how She gives her all to the song. Each word She sings has her stressing at the right places and giving just the right emotions. Singer Talat Mahmood had rightly observed in an interview that Geeta ji was the best at catching the mood of the song.

It is a pity that we do not have any videos of Geeta ji doing her recordings which would have given us a bird’s eye view of all her recording efforts. Again, videos of her stage shows, TV/Radio/Media appearances would be great too. We certainly hope that such videos will turn up one day. However, fortunately for us, thanks to various fans and magazines there are quite a few photos that are available of Geeta ji at the studios where She is definitely in her element!

So fellow fans, sit on your rocking chairs and enjoy seeing Geeta ji giving her mellifluous renditions at the studios and with audiences!

Geeta ji with Composer Mohd Shafi
Geeta ji at a Recording Studio
Geeta ji at a function with her Harmonium (Baaja) which She would take to her Mehfils sometimes accompanied by her brothers on the Tabla!
With Hemant Kumar- probably early 1960s based on how Geeta looks. Most likely rehearsing one of the many beautiful Bengali songs they recorded in 60-61 – movies like Sathi Hara, Swaralipi, Madhyarater Tara and others
Geeta ji performing at Eden Gardens, Kolkata!
Doing a live performance at the at the BBC London headquarters in 1957, where Geeta and Guru had traveled for the UK premiere of their film “Pyaasa.” Geeta also have a concert at the Asian Film Institute, to great acclaim. Unfortunately BBC cleared much of its records and this recording has been lost.
A famous picture of Geeta rehearsing in the mid-1950s with composer Sachin Dev Burman.
Geeta ji With Madan Mohan and Team
At Khar Ramakrishna Mission, where Geeta would perform annually up until the late 50s.
Geeta giving a live concert with her brother on tabla – early 1950s. (You can tell this from Geeta’s hairstyle- she wore those short tight curls on either side of her forehead until about 1955/56. After this she did not curl them as much, though she retained the bangs.
Geeta performing with live orchestra in a stage show with Madan Mohan – mid 1950s.
Geeta ji Rehearsing With Hemant Kumar – mid 1950s.
During a recording session for “Aar Paar” (1954) with Mohd. Rafi and O. P. Nayyar

In a recording session with Mohd. Rafi and composer Chitragupt

Performing the Indian National anthem at Asia’s first ever International Film Festival in 1952, with Lata Mangeshkar, Anil Biswas, and C. Ramchandra.
With Salil Chowdhury and Mohd. Rafi – mid/late 1960s.
At a stage show : Geeta was known for her charismatic performances.

While we wait for such pictures and photos, I, Anish sign off leaving you with two of her rare colour photographs probably taken in her UK stage show visit with Rafi sahab.

Geeta ji and Mohd Rafi Sahab visiting a family in UK (Photo had been shared by the boy on Hamaraforums long back!)
Geeta ji looking elegant in a Saaree

Geeta ji: The One and Only Very Special Singer

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020

This article is written by Fellow Geeta Fan and Enthusiast Anish Raj Pandit ji. Thanks a lot to him for sharing this with us. We look forward to more posts by him for the blog in the future also!

“Her voice conveys the sweetness of honey and the pain of the bee sting.”🩸- Subhash K. Jha, film critic.

What is it about Geeta Dutt that is so special? Why does a musician like me love her songs so much? Her beautifully balanced voice and sincerity of expression are quick answers, but there are deeper societal and spiritual connections as to why her singing evokes something special in me, and so many other lovers of her singing. Here is a compilation of the words of myself and my dear friend Sounak Gupta, from a recent conversation. I have noticed that the younger generation of people who still love old Indian music are less biased and reverent to only the most prolific singers – so I have no fears, regrets, or qualms in posting such a conversation. Our generation is going back to a kind of discernment of old Indian music that is totally heart-based, and not just fame and power-based.❣️

Geeta wasn’t limited by any archetypes and stereotypes. I feel this could have upset many people of her time period, that felt a woman should either be seen as “respectable” (the meek heroine in a white sari) or not (the childish rebel, the vamp, the social outcast). The stereotypical woman was not supposed to be too otherworldly or internally liberated – using whatever training, and whatever they had been told by others, to achieve their goals- more like Lata- instead of someone whose voice had an ethereal, irreplaceable, and emotionally evocative nature to its expression. Geeta’s physical beauty challenged notions of the time as well, without her trying at all. Her dark, dusky, “saanwili” complexion and kind, expressive eyes warmed the hearts of those she met, as did her elegance and gentle, thoughtful disposition.

I really think the heart and freedom in Geeta’s self and singing shattered a lot of preconceived notions, and caused some discomfort to many in society. It had an otherworldly and not-calculated beauty to it, and a sort of unforced adaptability to it, that made it hard to pin down and categorize emotionally. Everyone wants to be able to reduce and simplify themselves and others to some set of characteristics, out of fear. Yet, Geeta humbly and effectively defied all of this societal nonsense just by being true to herself, and nothing more. She didn’t try to forcefully embody masculine characteristics to defy her surroundings (which would just be another way of conforming oneself to expectations), and instead embraced her inner freedom, femininity, and every facet of her nature and gifts. The acclaimed singer Jagjit Kaur had said that Geeta was the singer who could express the full range of feminine emotions. Geeta’s expression challenged the assumption that a woman had to be either the childish vamp or the meek heroine-in-white in Indian cinema. She showed us that we can be anything that we sincerely want to be, if we stay internally free and undisturbed.

I feel many preferred Lata and gave her more work partially because she didn’t disrupt their emotionally fixed notions of what women should be like in Indian society. That they shouldn’t sing from the heart in a way that makes others feel that a woman may have something truly special and transcendent to them – true sincerity, humility (being comfortable with yourself), authenticity, confidence, and beauty. That a woman should be prude, hard-headed, conservative, and stick to the status quo. Lata may have been outspoken and quick-tempered about matters of money, ego, and recognition, but in a stereotypical and business-like way — a way that resonated with and reinforced many men and their temperaments. She was therefore still this stereotypical person in every other way, who just worked hard at what she was told to do, and was reliable and dutiful. This is not only what men, but also what most women, wanted to see in other women- as they had also suffered such fate and pressure from society, and would find it annoying if someone didn’t also take seriously or adhere to what expectations they had suffered.

For this and other superficial reasons, there have been many Lata and Asha imitators in the singing world (conscious or not), and many people who can do justice to their songs- because there is an expressive predictability, or formula, in them. There is a conditioning. However complex the composition may be makes absolutely no difference, and may even prove the point further. Their expression is coming from the place of an arbitrarily defined identity and ego – and therefore creates predictable results. Yet, there are no Geeta imitators- no people who say they can sing exactly like Geeta, or do the same special justice to her songs. This is because Geeta’s singing defies description. It was captivating, expressive, soulful, unique without trying to be, sensual, romantic, passionate, loving, raw, refined, sincere, delicate, powerful, endearing, sorrowful, pure, authentic, all rolled into one. There was something unearthly and mysterious about her singing when her voice warmed the hearts of the heartless world and cast a spell on her listeners.

This was possible only because of the purity and authenticity with which Geeta approached everything. She approached every song with that essential constituent, that common factor! A devotional song sounds devotional by virtue of its words, but when a vamp’s song pleases the devotee, and a devotional song pleases a non-believer, it is the authenticity in whatever is being expressed that touches the soul! Geeta’s songs are pure in their feeling, regardless of their content. Geeta challenged the notion that a woman (or anyone) had to limit themselves to any single identity – that you didn’t have to choose or label yourself at all to find meaning in life, and that by doing so you were actually limiting yourself, whether that identity challenged society or not (many could still take note of this today). She showed us that a person could genuinely and freely (not just reactively) be the lover, the vamp, the lamenter, the comedian, and the devotee. Geeta did more than merely rebel and fix her identity in yet another arbitrary place. Instead, she just ignored all of the potential boundaries around her, as if they didn’t exist and were mere illusions, and sang purely from the heart – the place of ultimate freedom.

Photo: Geeta Dutt with Gaurishankar at the BBC India Studios in 1960.

Geeta ji in Delhi

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020

Geeta Fan Lakshmipriya ji has dug up a photo from the Internet of Geeta ji. As per her, this beautiful pic of Geeta Dutt ji was taken in Delhi on September 18, 1959.

Faces of Geeta ji : Chitra

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020

Post by Lakshmi Priya ji

Chitra in Son of Alibaba – 1955 .

Hear Geeta Dutt sing Sanam Tu Aaja composed by Sardul Kwatra and written by Prem Dhawan for this movie Son of Alibaba (1955)