Geeta Dutt : A journey through picture memories

Geeta at 16
Young Geeta Roy, migrated from Faridpur in East Bengal to Mumbai (Bombay in those days). She was just 16 year old when veteran composer Pandit Hanuman Prasad spotted the magic in her voice. Geeta practicing her “Riaaz” is seen here.

Young Geeta singing in a group

No other female playback singer would have achieved the heights of popularity which Geeta Roy did in the first three years of her career. After making debut in 1946, in the next coming three years she sang close to one hundred songs per year. Here we see young Geeta performing for a group of composers, lyricists, musicians and others. Her father is seated behind her.

Geeta Roy surrounded by her fans

A melodious and talented singer with grace, beauty and charm! No wonder she was popular among her fans.

Meena Kapoor, Lata and Geeta Dutt

Meena Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Roy (from Left to right) were good friends in those days.

Geeta Bali and Geeta Roy on the set of Baaz

Geeta Roy and young struggling director met on the sets of Baazi (1951) and fell in love. Later Guru Dutt made Baaz (1953) in association with actress Geeta Bali. Here we see Geeta Bali and Geeta Roy on the set of Baaz.

Sketch by R K Laxman

She was very popular and ruled the female playback singing from 1947 till 1949. Even in the early fifties she was one among the top three singers. Here is a sketch of her made by none other than the famous artist R K Laxman!

Dev Anand, Johny Lever, Guru Dutt, Geeta Dutt

Dev Anand was a close friend of Guru Dutt who is seen in this pic with Johny Walker, Guru Dutt and Geeta Dutt.

Guru and Geeta Dutt with Geeta Bali and Mohd Rafi and others

The occasion seem to be some kind of “pooja” being performed on buying a new car! On the left side we have actor Rashid Khan and Geeta Bali (leaning on the car). On the right side we see playback singer Mohammed Rafi (who sang for Guru Dutt in most of his films), Guru Dutt and Geeta sitting down. What a lovely pic with smiles all over!

Geeta Dutt Bharat Vyas and Kishore Kumar

Geeta Dutt , lyricist Bharat Vyas and Kishore Kumar recording for a song.

Geeta Dutt during a recording in London at BBC radio station

Geeta Dutt during a recording in London at BBC radio station, indicating her popularity!

Shyama Guru Dutt Geeta Dutt

Geeta sang some amazing songs for Geeta Bali and Shyama, even before they acted in Guru Dutt’s films. Here is a pic of Shyama , Guru Dutt and Geeta Dutt.

Mukul Roy and Geeta Dutt

Geeta rehearsing a song with her brother composer Mukul Roy.

Geeta Dutt singing

Geeta Dutt singing in some musical concert.

Mohd Rafi O P Nayyar Geeta Dutt
Composer O P Nayyar gave Geeta some of her most popular and melodious songs. Here we see Mohd Rafi and Geeta Dutt with him during the recording of one of such songs. Incidentally, among her duets, Geeta sang maximum (more than 160) songs with the one and only one Mohd Rafi.

Geeta Dutt with Lata and Raj Kapoor

Composer duo Shankar Jaikishen did not work much with Geeta Dutt for some unknown reasons. Here is a rare pic of Geeta singing for them for a Raj Kapoor film along with RK himself and Lata Mangeshkar. The song “Hum bhi hai, tum bhi ho” is a group song with Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Manna Dey and chorus for the film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960).

Geeta Dutt reading a magazine

Geeta Dutt reading a magazine dedicated to music!

Geeta Dutt in her kitchen

A singer, a proud mother and a good cook too! Geeta Dutt in her kitchen in a rare photo!

Geeta Dutt posing for a cassette cover

Geeta Dutt posing for a cassette cover, what a grace and poise this lady has. Wow!

Geeta Dutt and Mohd Rafi during recording of duet from Pyaasa

Geeta Dutt and Mohd Rafi during recording of duet “Hum aap ki aankhon mein” from Pyaasa (1957).

Geeta Dutt S D Burman Guru Dutt

A rare pic of the mentor S D Burman with his protege Geeta and her husband Guru Dutt, taken at the premier of the film Kaagaz Ke Phool.

Geeta Dutt and Mohd Rafi in London

Geeta Dutt and Mohd Rafi in London staying at a family’s place. The smile on her face is so radiant!

Geeta Dutt with Talat Mahmood

Geeta Dutt with co-singer Talat Mahmood, the photo taken in a car.

Geeta Dutt Guru Dutt with their pet and Neena

Geeta Dutt Guru Dutt with their pet and daughter Neena.

Geeta Dutt seeing photo of Guru Dutt

Geeta Dutt seeing photo of Guru Dutt after his untimely death in 1964.

Geeta Dutt with Neena

Geeta Dutt with Neena.

Geeta Dutt acting in Bengali film Badhu Baran

Geeta Dutt acting in Bengali film Badhu Baran with Pradeep Kumar and Raakhi.

K Asif, Meena Kumari and Geeta Dutt in 1969

Movie Mughal K Asif, Meena Kumari and Geeta Dutt in the year 1969. The party was hosted by Asif when he re-started the shooting of his film “Love and God”. This film had Guru Dutt as the leading star earlier. After his death, Sanjeev Kumar was chosen to play the role. Young Sanjeev Kumar is also seen in the pic.

Tarun and Arun remembering their mother

Tarun and Arun remembering their mother after she left us in the year 1972.

Note:
Most of the photos used in this blog are collected from various resources on the internet including those from the book “Geeta Dutt: The Skylark” with permission from the author Haimanti Bannerji. We sincerely thank all the contributors, specially our friend Shashank Chickermane for these wonderful and rare photos of Geeta ji.

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22 Responses to “Geeta Dutt : A journey through picture memories”

  1. nasir says:

    Great pictures, great memories of Geeta Roy Dutt.

  2. Punya says:

    Well…these pics really touching.. sply, the ones where she is with her family..
    Thanks sooooo much for providing these rare pics!!!

  3. parag says:

    @ Nasir ji

    Many thanks for visiting our blog page. The pics are all courtesy of various resources on the internet and friends. Please keep visiting this blog for more interesting posts on regular basis.

  4. Sounak says:

    Really wonderful! I had never seen five of the given pictures before. Please send more also. Thanx a lot. In every picture, the maestro’s presence makes a special appeal.

  5. bakulesh says:

    emotional geeta’s diffrant expressioontels lot about her. asspecialy her eyes are telling what is in side her she ‘s so transperant

  6. ruby says:

    If a film was to be made on Geeta Ji’s life, I think Madhuri Dixit would be brilliant as in some pics GD Ji looks so stunning in MD style…with boundless energy and a zest for life and strong character…I wonder if you agree..?

  7. Nagen says:

    All this stirs up the emotional turmoil that we the admirers and fans of Geeta Dutt Roy experience – a turmoil that sweeps us away into a world of dreams.

  8. Moumita says:

    Great collection. I am a fan of Geeta Dutt, I have all the songs she sang in her lifetime. Man, you have some rarest of rare pictures. The enchantress is fondly remembered by all her fans and will continue to be so in many more years to come. Great work !!!

  9. parag says:

    Moumita ji

    Many thanks for your very encouraging response. We are glad that you liked our website and this blog section

  10. N R Purohit says:

    During browsing internet, came across this web page on Geeta Dutt
    I did not much about Guru Dutt ji and Geeta Dutt ji family. Today
    first time, came know that they have two sons Tarun and Arun and dtr Neena
    MAY GOD BLESS THEIR KIDS. BOTH HAVE RECORDED THEIR NAMES IN INDIAN FILM IND IN GOLDEN LETERS. On remembering them, tears start flowing automatically.
    May God grant peace to their souls always.

  11. sudeshna basu says:

    I am a great fan of both guru n geeta dutt. Loved the pics of geeta as we do not get to see too many of her pics- usually the same kind. Thanks a lot.

  12. Anil kumar sinha says:

    Iam a great fan of geeta dutt and guru dutt .I think they will not return again.

  13. Anita says:

    A great collection of rare photographs…I am a fan of Geeta Dutt and would appreciate a book by one of her kids..Thanks

  14. Iam a greet fan of gurudatt and geeta dutt unforgetable them

  15. rajeev shukla says:

    Swargiya Geeta Ji’s voice is so enchanting ! aap us se door nahi reh sakte ! that’s the wonderful thing which brought me closer to hear her songs, especially ‘yelo mai hari piya’
    I am not a music lover but whenever I had stress and down / depressed, something made me search for her voice !!
    One reason today, 22nd Oct, 2013 I looked for her.
    Just wish she was among us even today……
    May God give ‘Mukti’ & ‘Shanti’ to her AATMA !!

  16. joyanti chaudhuri says:

    what a wondrful cllection of pictures about the two legends.Geeta dutt’s mesmerising voice will remain in our heart and soul till death.

  17. GURUDATT says:

    Thanks for great memories preserved in class photos..bravo!

  18. hanif says:

    very sweet voice which i always hear every morning through songs of Geeta Dutt. b 4 i ws alwys gettng confused wd Geeta Bali but latr discvrd Geeta Dutt ws wife of Guru Dutt. thnx fr great memories presrvd in phtos. hanif kericho kenya

  19. Raja Sekhar says:

    Very Nice.Is there any chance to get any recorded version of Smt Geeta Roy’s interview from any radio station 🙂

  20. Shuaib says:

    Feeling so happy 2 c such heart touching pixz of belated personalities ( all including GUru & Geeta Dutt)

  21. Prof. K. Srikant says:

    I am a great fan of both Guru Dutt ji and Geeta ji,

    The Song “Babuji dheere chalna” by Geeta ji , was a classic, is a classic and will remain a classic for ever,

    The song is a great mind relaxing magic,

    We are very unfortunate that such great singers disappeared so very early,

    I pray god to recreate another Geeta ji for the benefit of the present generation,

    Prof. K Srikant

  22. B.Madhusudan says:

    I can,t stop crying while wondering if we should God is great for creating Geeta Dutt or He is mean for snatching her away so early and so cruelly! A true Angel who did the mistake of marrying another Angel. A mortal would have loved and cared for her till his death. Heartfelt thanks for the moving pictures!

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