Helen and Geeta Dutt : A scintillating combo

Helen and Geeta Dutt

Myth : Only Asha Bhonsle sang great songs for the dancing diva Helen.

Fact : Geeta Dutt has sung not as many in number, but some really nice songs for Helen. One of the most popular song filmed on Helen (Mera naam chin chin choo) is sung by Geeta ji

Thats another myth-buster!

Helen:

Helen, the Hindi Film top star in the 50s and 60s who very famous for playing vamps and dancer roles, was born as Helen Richardson in Burma to Indian parents on October 21, 1939. Her father died during the Second World War. The family migrated from Burma to Mumbai in early forties. Helen had to quit her schooling to support the family.

According to Helen’s biography on wikipedia the famous dancer actress Cukoo helped Helen get the chorus dancer jobs in Shabistan and Awara.IMDB reports Aawaara (1951) as Helen’s first film as chorus dancer.
In 1958, she performed in the superhit song “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” in Shakti Samanta’s film, Howrah Bridge, which was sung by Geeta Dutt.

It is true that Asha Bhosle frequently sang for Helen, particularly during the 60s. During her initial career Geeta Dutt sang many songs for her. It appears that Geeta ji was preferred voice for Helen till around 1961. Its of course well known that Helen’s first hit which made her career was “Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo” and would be a reason for the preferred choice of the singer.

Here are Helen’s films which has one or more song by Geeta ji – Shabistan, Badnaam, Laal Pari, Miss Coca Cola, Jagadguru Shankaracharya , Ab E Hayat, Shrimati 420, Sailaab, Nayaa Aadmi, Khul Ja Sim Sim, Guru Ghantal, Baaghi Sardaar, Sipahasalar, Mister Lambu, Inquilaab, Chaar Minaar, Yahudi ki Ladki, Neelofer, Mr X, Coffee House, Night Club, Yahudi, Milan , Howrah Bridge, 12 O’Clock, Gali Theke Rajpath (Bengali), Oh Tera Kya Kehna, Mr John, Love Marriage, Kangan, Guest House, Commander, Bus Conductor, Bedard Zamaana Kya Jaane, Baazigar, Naache Naagin Baaje Been, Road No 303, Police Detective, Dr Shaitaan, Chhabili, Baghdaad, Warrant, Saaya, Pyaar ki Daastan, Mr India, Passport, Sacheche Moti, Neeli Aankhen, Dr Vidya, Ek Tha Alibaba, Awaara Abdullah , Bidesiya (Bhojpuri)

These are the songs sung by Geeta Dutt filmed on Helen which we could find so far. In case you find more, please let us know.

1. Mera naam chin chin choo – Howrah Bridge

Film – Howrah Bridge 1958 MD – O.P.Nayyar, Lyricist – Qamar Jalalabadi, Singer(s) – Geeta Dutt

This was the only song Geeta Dutt got to sing for Madhubala, Ashok Kumar starrer thriller Howrah Bridge. All the songs filmed on Madhubala were sung by Asha Bhonsle, still Mera naam chin chin choo proved to be the most popular song of the film. In spite of giving such superhit song, Geeta Dutt soon disappeared from the recording room of composer O P Nayyar.

2. Dil se dil takarayein – Love Marriage

Film – Love Marriage 1959, MD – Shankar Jaikishan, Lyricist – Shailendra, Singers – Mohd.Rafi & Geeta Dutt

Shankar Jaikishen, who tasted super success with their debut film “Barsaat” in which Lata Mangeshkar sang all the songs, never gave much songs to Geeta Dutt. This film has 2 of her songs, this duet filmed on Helen and “Kareeb aao na tadapaao”. The latter is the only solo song composed by Shankar Jaikishen for Geeta Dutt.

3. Bechain dil khoyi si nazar- Yahudi

Film – Yahudi 1958, MD – Shankar Jaikishan, Lyricist – Shailendra, Singers – Lata Mangeshkar & Geeta Dutt

In this song, Helen danced with her senior partner (and mentor) Cuckoo. Lata Mangeshkar sings for Cuckoo and Geeta sings for Helen in this song.

4. Kahan Phir Hum Kahan – Night Club

Film – Night Club 1958, MD Madan Mohan, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri, Singer – Geeta Dutt

Night Club is an unusual film for composer Madan Mohan, where he had to compose club songs (as against Ghazals). Geeta Dutt, sang this breezy number for Helen. Madan Mohan must have repeated Geeta Dutt based on the super success of the song “Aye dil mujhe bataa de” from the film Bhai Bhai (1956).

5. Maara Re Maara – Aab-e-hayat

Film – Aab-e-Hyaat 1955, MD – Sardar Mallik, Lyricist – Hasrat Jaipuri, Singer – Geeta Dutt

Sardar Mallik composed three songs for Geeta Dutt, which were filmed on three different actresses (Helen, Smriti Biswas and Amita all trying to woo the hero Premnath). This film was a costume drama and this “club” song was filmed on Helen. Even in the Arabic set up, the director managed to have a semi-classical club song!

6. Oonchi edhi walon ne – Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane

Film – Bedard Zamaana Kya Jaane 1959, MD – Kalyanji Veerji Shah, Lyricist – Bharat Vyas, Singers – Mohd.Rafi & Geeta Dutt

This foot tapping number was composed by Kalyanji Veerji Shah (of Kalyanji Anandji). Its great to see Bharat Vyas pen such playful and rhythmic dance number. The chemistry of Mohd.Rafi & Geeta Dutt in this song is so perfect.

7. Arey Tauba Yeh Teri Ada – 12 O Clock

Film – 12 O’Clock 1958, MD – O.P.Nayyar, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri, Singer – Geeta Dutt

This song came the same year as that of the superhit “Mera naam chin chin choo”. Most of the songs in this Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman starrer were sung by Geeta Dutt.

8. Aaye Haaye Dilruba – Dr Vidya

Film – Dr. Vidya 1962, MD – S.D.Burman, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri, Singers – Geeta Dutt & Asha Bhonsle

We recently discovered one more very great and wonderful song sung by Geeta Dutt for Helen. The song is none other than Aye Haaye Dilruba from Dr. Vidya. The song is set in an old students get together in the college. Helen and Vyjyanthimala have an argument. Then Helen breaks into this song. The song begins with Helen dancing to Geetaji’s lovely voice. Vyjyanthimala joins later and Asha Bhosle sings for her!

A lovely song and dance is also great with them dancing in competition to each other!Its as much a competition of their dance skills as it is for the singing skills of the two singers. Both come up in flying colours although due to film reasons one has to be shown to lose but it is quite lamely done at the end.

The heroine has to be shown as a winner, so without giving any logical reason/explanation Vyjyanthimala is shown as the winner!

This song was never released on the records, so can only be seen in the film.

9. Tere Liye Aaya Hai Le Ke Koi Dil – Gali Theke Rajpath (Bengali movie)

Film: Gali Theke Rajpath (1959) Music: Sudhin Dasgupta , Lyricist – Gulzar, Singer: Geeta Dutt

This is Hindi song in a Bengali film picturised on Helen and sung by Geeta Dutt. The film stars Uttam Kumar. This is a very rare song and an exceptionally sweet one for sure!

10. Ja Raha Hai Kyun Deewane – Passport

Film – Passport 1961, MD – Kalyanji Anandji, Lyricist – Qamar Jalalabadi Singer(s) – Geeta Dutt

The film Passport (1961) has some nice songs by Geeta Dutt, too bad very few people have heard them. Composer Kalyanji Anandji give this breezy and seductive song to Geeta (who was not at her prime by this time) and she does full justice to the song.

11. Tauba Tauba Tauba O Tauba Meri Maan – Passport

Film – Passport 1961, MD – Kalyanji Anandji, Lyricist – Qamar Jalalabadi Singer(s) – Geeta Dutt

The film Passport (1961) has some nice songs by Geeta Dutt, too bad very few people have heard them. Composer Kalyanji Anandji give this breezy and seductive song to Geeta (who was not at her prime by this time) and she does full justice to the song.

12. Majnu Ke Chhilke – O Tera Kya Kehna

Film – O Tera Kya Kehna 1959, MD – Kalyanji Virji Shah, Lyricist – K L Pardesi, Singer(s) – Geeta Dutt & Chorus

Another foot tapping number by the team of Kalyanji, Geeta Dutt and Helen!

13. Dekha Na Jaaye Socha Na Jaaye – Mr India

Film – Mr. India 1961 MD – G.S.Kohli, Lyricist – Jaan Nisaar Akhtar, Singer – Geeta Dutt

G.S.Kohli had a very long stint as assistant to O P Nayyar. Mr. India was his second film as independent composer. Geeta Dutt got to sing two songs for Helen in this film.

14. Main Machis Ki Teeli – Mr India

Film – Mr. India 1961 MD – G.S.Kohli, Lyricist – Jaan Nisaar Akhtar, Singer – Geeta Dutt

G.S.Kohli had a very long stint as assistant to O P Nayyar. Mr. India was his second film as independent composer. Geeta Dutt got to sing two songs for Helen in this film. We could not find the video of this song, but we have a belief that it was also filmed on Helen. A rare song where the dancer is comparing herself to matchstick!

15. Bees Baras Tak Laakh Sambhala – Kangan

Film – Kangan 1959, MD – Chitragupta, Lyricist – Rajendra Krishan, Singer – Geeta Dutt

Helen as a village belle for this family drama film. The stylist/makeupman has tried to show her as the village belle with a decent job. She looks different than her typical club dancer looks.The way Geeta sings “Dil ho gaya chori haaye…” is too much!

16. Dekhiye na iss tarah – Neeli Aankhen

Film – Neeli Aankhein 1962, MD – Dattaram, Lyricist – Gulshan Bawra, Singers – Geeta Dutt & Chorus

Dattaram was a long time assistant to Shankar Jaikishen and composed music for a few films as an indpendent composer. This would probably one of the handful songs penned by Gulshan Bawra and sung by Geeta Dutt.

17. Khadi Re Khadi Re Kab Se – Naache Nagin Baaje Been (with Mohd.Rafi)

Film – Naache Nagin Baaje Been 1960, MD – Chitragupta, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri, Singers – Mohd.Rafi & Geeta Dutt

A typical low budget film of the early sixties with music by Chitragupt has this song filmed on Helen.

18. Kiya yeh tune kya ishaara arre abhi abhi – Duniya Rang Rangeeli (1957)

This is probably the best non-club song filmed on Helen. The situation seems to be like this. A character in the film is trying to get Johny Walker into drinking and being seduced by Helen. Johny is shown to be smart and shown to be throwing the drink away without being noticed by any one. Geeta ji’s voice is smoothly flowing and alluring yet seducing. A music lover has commented on this song that “There is so much intoxication in Geeta Dutt’s voice that I wonder why the patrons in the scene need the bottle at all !”

Thanks to Rajeev ji for posting the video of this extremely rare and melodious song!

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13 Responses to “Helen and Geeta Dutt : A scintillating combo”

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