Posts Tagged ‘Fan’s’

Tributes from music lovers

Tuesday, July 21st, 2015

Geeta Dutt

Today on 20th July, some music lovers on social networking site Facebook offered their tributes to Geeta Dutt ji. The tributes were from songs different languages, film and non-film songs. Some were songs from the 40s and some were from early 70s. The moods of the songs ranged from sad, club, romantic, devotional, lullaby and so on. Many were rare songs and some others were very popular ones. All this clearly indicates the wide range and versatility of Geeta ji’s singing. We are sharing some of such tributes here.

Lakshmi Priya:

Do we need to know the language to enjoy such songs. This is the 1st bengali song my father made me hear. Decades later I found it again on you tube . Those days doordarshan used to now and then air such songs
My father was derilious with joy hearing this.Eai Nishi Raat…… Bengali film song By Geeta Dutta from the movie Prithibi Amarey Chai

Sudarshan Pandey:

Dedicating this song to Geeta ji. It is like Gangaajal se Ganga Pooja. If you listen to this song either in afternoon or in night it is more powerful and heart piercing voice of Geeta Dutt ji which will take you to another world of pain. She was the lady who felt the brunt of Guru Dutt’s unfolded moods. None of us can find a better answer for Guru Dutt’s state of mind to be in such mysterious mood. But it is really easy to understand her mental position to live with a genius and mysterious Guru Dutt. I always feel that there is very real Geeta ji in this song, instilling her passion, her agony, her confusion or state of mind into this song.

Parag Sankla:

First post on this theme dedicated to my most beloved voice, Geeta ji. The very touching melodious song expresses my feelings. Jab tum nahin toh chaand sitaare main kya karun, yeh phool yeh chaman yeh nazaare main kyaa karu , Film – Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan 1957, MD – Hemant Kumar, Lyricist – S.H.Bihari, Singer – Geeta Dutt

Parag Sankla:

Third post. True magic in less than 3 minutes long audio. The maestro composer Pandit S N Tripathi ji, lyricist Ramesh Chandra Pandey, actress Meena Kumari and singer Geeta Roy creates this near perfect melody for the film Laxmi Narayan (1951). Gayi birhaa ki raat aaya hain naya prabhaat

Deepa Buty:

I wonder why this song & how a song like this can be deleted from the movie. Each time you listen to it & you feel the power in her voice as well as the intoxication she spreads through singing.

Meeta Mukherjee:

My third post is a mujra sung by Geeta Dutt from the movie Savera (1958) penned by Prem Dhawan which was composed by my father in law Shree Sailesh Mukherjee…She used to come to my in law’s residence for rehearsals.

Rajendra Bora:

This song of Geeta Ji is full of pathos. The words, the music and top of all her voice goes straight to deep in your heart. It is from unreleased film ‘Bhool Na Jaana’. The song was written by Ghanshyam Aacharya and melodiously composed by late Daan Singh, both belonging to Jaipur (Rajasthan).

Kailash Mundra:

CID : I dedicate this song to Geeta Duttji & Bombay (Mumbai) . I have been visiting Mumbai since the 50’s and feel nostalgic whenever I see such songs depicting Bombay ! The old clear roads, the royal feeling of riding in Victoria (buggie).
This is a fantastic song which was on top of Binaca Geetmala in 1956 and love the rhythm of this memorable song . Majroohsaab’s words are applicable in Mumbai even today ” beghar ko awaara yahan kehte has has, khud katey galey sabke kahe isko business”. Thing to note is Geeta ji makes an appearance only at the end of the song but leaves her impact

Nikhil E Iyer:

Geeta ji sang so many wonderful duets with Hemant Kumar from which their best song cannot be easily categorized..This is one such song from Bhagwat Mahima(1955) composed by Hemant Da and penned by Pt Madhur…’Har Dukh Ka Savera Hai, Par Shaam Nahi Hai,
Bhagwan Teri Duniya Mein Aaram Nahi Hai’..

Gajendra Khanna:

Another adored non-film by Geeta ji which I can never get over is “Hum Ban Rahe The Jinke Woh Ban Gaye Hamaare”. I discovered this few years back and have been enamoured ever since.
Its composed by Kanu Ghosh and the lyrics are by Madhukar Rajasthani. Just give a listen to this song. Can anyone sound sweeter!

Gajendra Khanna:

Geeta Roy was a singer par excellence and its not surprising that Sajjad Hussain used her singing in quite a few of his films. Enjoy this delightful song, one of my favourites, from movie Sangdil picturised on the lovely Madhubala (who are a great combination!). Enjoy Darshan Pyaasi Aayi Daasi Jagmag Deep Jalaaye to appreciate the pathos that Geeta Roy could deliver, seemingly effortlessly (but try singing it!)

Gajendra Khanna:

I am quite fond of her songs as some of you know. This non-film Hindi song is one of my favourites. It was composed by V Balsara and is called Gaayein Gaayein Naye Tarane Gaayein. Its a quite delightful song.

Nikhil E Iyer:

My first song for the Theme is this soothing melody rendered by Geeta Dutt from Husn Ka Chor(1953)..There was a time when I heard these songs continuously for hours and hours. Even now when i listen this song, I get tears. Though this is a wonderful composition by Bulo C Rani and penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, but for me this song is only Geeta Dutt song..Its been made for her.. God gifted her a beautiful voice, but it was she who made that divine gift eternal.

Aditya Pant:
Sharing a recent discovery of an extremely rare song on Geeta Dutt’s death anniversary… based on a popular folk tune.
Naach Rahi Naach Rahi Champakali – Awara Shahzadi (1956) – Geeta Dutt & Chorus – Jimmy – Khawar Zaman

Suman Vinod:

Two Voices that will Always Vibrate in our hearts—Two Lovely Singers—Two Careers Cut Short due to different reasons—yet what we Got will last us Many Lifetimes—

Archisman Mozumder:

A song of Geeta Dutt, on her death anniversary, with the lady who operated in a somewhat similar domain of song-genre – Asha Bhonsle.

This sprightly song is a visual treat as well. Vijay Anand’s deft camera-work, Shashikala’s fetching expressions & most importantly, Helen’s ebullient yet graceful movements.

The crisp musical orchestration & arrangement (most probably) is Anthony Gonsalves’… An indication of how vital they are, to enhance the beauty of a song. Lovely and crooning accordion for the languid and sensual part of Geeta ji and the bubbly brass /trumpets for busy part of Asha ji.

Lalita Chidambaram:

Remembering Geeta Dutt on her death anniversary.This particular song happened to be sung by me for the next two generations.Still it is as fresh as it was when I heard it for the first time!

Amitabh Nigam:

Remembering Geeta Dutt today on her death anniversary. Sad songs conveyed the pain more effectively in her voice. This Shailendra song composed by Mukul Roy is a case in point. The yearning in her voice made songs pathos-laden and has been unmatched.

Darkndusky Hoon (Bharathi):

batao kya karungi mai jab gham ki raat aayegi
jo ghum ki raat aayegi mai chaand banke aaunga
tamam rat khwab me tumhare jagmagaunga

dikha sakoge khwab kya jo nind hi na aayegi
na aaye nind ghum nahi mai neend ban ke aaunga
aur aake in gulabi ankhdiyon ko choom jaunga

and so it goes ….Sweet lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and SDB’s dhun . Geeta and Rafi saab’s voices just tug at your heart strings…Have been wantign to post this song for an eon now ….Long Live GD ….

Archana Gupta:

Lovely, rarer song and reminds me very strongly of “Tum to dil ke taar chhed kar” – not just music, not just lyrics, not just the “style” but the complete package. Mukhda also took me to this one for some unexplicable reason though there is no real similarity beyond GD smile emoticon (and maybe I was simply in the mood to post this one today and am too lazy to write a real post – yes I should and pay a fitting tribute to the lady but for now will add this one here smile emoticon ) Love this song and the effect of longing and anticipation that Geeta Dutt produces with her inflection as she sings

Venkata Raman G:

The Banner depicting a Naiyya in the Sea inspires me to Post this song as a tribute to the one and only GEETA DUTT nee Geetā Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri (23 November 1930 – 20 July 1972) Prolific & Prominent Indian Playback singer, on her Death Anniversary today

Maaji Albele (Pyaar Ka Kanta Man Ki Machariya)
Geeta Dutt
O P Nayyar
Majrooh Sultanpuri
Baaz (1953)

Vijay Kumar:

Remembering Geeta Dutt. Hoon abhi main jawan ai dil..

Geeta’s voice chases as no other voice, leaving one soaked in the song sentiment for a while longer. A few instances : the pining in a climbing resonance of koi door se awaj de chale aao….., the ‘sobbing’ rendition in mera sunder sapna toot gaya…. or the resignation inherent in waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam……My post though is live-the-moment number – hoon abhi main jawan ai dil. But please give another look to the lyrics. It seems to be summing up the pain, the poignance or even the ecstasy in Geeta’s life. Perhaps, Geeta-Guru was a classic case of complementing tragedies !

Hoon Abhi Main Jawaan Ae Dil, Hoon Abhi Main Jawaan

Dibyendu Dey:

My Tribute to the immortal Singer on her death anniversary…A less-heard song from the bengali movie Sathihara
lyrics- Gouriprasanna Mazumdar, Music- Hemant kumar.

Arvinder Sharma:

Of Jogan songs, there’s not much to say for me, as countless pages must have been devoted by Geeta Dutt fans, who are prolific writers, and understand the music better than me.
But if initially I was swept over by the great Bhajans of this film, it was later on that other Geeta Dutt songs, the playful ones, caught my attention. And I find them no less beautiful.
Odhni pe bijliyon Ki kook, a stanza, I used to rewind my cassette player just enough to listen to it again, still can’t get over. What a rendering. RIP GEETA DUTT !

Acknowledgments:

1) Geeta ji’s son-in-law Naushad Memon ji (who is married to Geeta ji’s daughter Neena ji) shared this wonderful photo today. Thank you Naushad ji for this lovely photo.

2) We are grateful to all the music lovers for their tributes.

A fan’s tribute: Vol.7

Friday, November 23rd, 2012

OPN GD cassette
OP Nayyar-Geeta Dutt:-

The lady who graced the earth with her sweet voice and the king of melody when both of them met together, there were subtle songs that touched the inner soul through these soft melodies.

Yes, I am talking about Geeta Dutt and OP Nayyar. Both were closely associated with each other right from the start of OP Nayyar’s career. I am sharing few of my favorite songs of this immortal combination:-

1) Dil Hai Deewana Jawan Hai Zamana
The 1st song which is my evergreen favorite is the fantabulous number from Aasmaan(1952), which was Nayyar Saheb’s first movie as an independent composer. Nayyar Saheb has indulged himself in light orchestration for this great number and the gentle use of harmonium and accordian pieces makes it an enlightening and sweet melody. The Sarangi played in the antras makes it a divine melody Geeta ji was very well equipped with Nayyar Saheb and understood his compositions very well and sung this song very well.

She has sung the antras in a low tone and the alaaps, that she has added in it makes it more fascinating. Also, great lyrics written by Prem Dhavan, making the song an immortal one. The song is “Dil Hai Deewana Jawan Hai Zamana” and only Geeta ji could have sung it so well.

Here is the link for this song:-

2) Kaisa jaadu balam tune

My 2nd most favorite song is one of those gems from 12’O Clock(1958) that they created together, A song gives a smile on our face when we listen it..Geeta Dutt ji has excelled herself in this number and establishes a kind of “Nasha” in this song that indebts our mind..I don’t think any other singer could have done justice for this song other than Geeta Dutt, her voice modulation for Waheeda is also great, I am completely sunk in it, and its impossible to come out when We start listening it..The way Geeta Dutt sings “Nanha Sa Dil Hamara..”, is simply marvelous..

Guru Geeta OPN

Nayyar Saheb’s composition is just out of the world…Starting with a light sound of Sitar and flute, with the effective use of Dholaks and flute in the antras, He has incredibly used a brilliant orchestration for this song…
Great lyrics by Majrooh Saheb..Nayyar Saheb and Majrooh worked together for many movies and gifted us some of the best numbers, that are popular and effective even today…Overall, an immortal classic…

Here is the link for this song:-

3) Aye watan ke naujawaan

Baaz(1953), was not very successful in the Box-Office, but each and every song was classic and had its own class…This song can fall under the category of a patriotic song. We are facing so much injustice in our country, no water for the poor people still in many villages, there is limited supply of electricity, people are facing unbearable difficulties..Its time for all of us to unite and fight together for what is happening towards our motherland…

This song gives us the message that Its We who are not coming together, arrange social meetings and private gatherings and do not allow any external elements to enter our country and be faithful towards the motherland and work together to achieve the goal….Hats off to Majrooh…

Nayyar Saheb has composed this patriotic song so well, with the use of violins showing us to go forward and speak against the injustice, with the help of flute he has explained us we are so sad…With the light sitar tunes, he has taken us to the path where many people are beaten, They are not allowed to raise their voice…An excellent composition with the help of heavy orchestration composed beautifully by Nayyar Saheb from which we can take it as an inspiration..

Geeta Dutt ji has sung the song absolutely brilliantly for Geeta Bali, starting with the alaap, taking it furthur and singing the Mukhda in the high notes, singing some part of the antra in lower notes, but in a fast pace and the Mukhda again in lower notes..At the end, The way She sings the high pitch, The song enters straight in our heart and takes us to another world…She has done perfect justice to this incredible number..

The chorus of this song is also marvelous, also the humming and the alaap part of the chorus is simply exquisite…A perfect ending for the song by the chorus and Geeta Dutt ji….Superbly penned by Majrooh Saheb, gifting us one of the best melody from Baaz(1953).

Here is the link for this song:-

4) Raat Nasheeli Rang Rangili

My next favorite song is “Raat Nasheeli Rang Rangili” from Choomantar(1956). Geeta ji has taken this song to a completely different level. I always say this song can be considered as a duet of Geeta ji and the Sarangi which is played in the background. Both of them are in a perfect collaboration.

Especially in the antras, where Geeta ji has sung “Man Mein Nache Rhimjim Saare” and the sarangi is played. Really, “Man Naach Uththa Hai Aise Gaano Ko Sunkar”..
Here is the link for this song..

5) Pom pom pom , baaja bole

From the last many years, when somebody’s birthday arrives and on my each birthday, I never fail to listen this song, This is a kind of celebration song from Aasmaan sung by Geeta ji, She could sing any genre of songs.

Geeta Dutt and OPN

This is the one of the finest example of her versatility. I am assuming this song to be picturized on Asha Parekh as it was her first movie and she must have been a child artist at that time, but no confirmation as video is not avaiable. But, this song is one of the finest melody of the combination of Nayyar Saheb, Pren Dhavan ji and Geeta ji..

Here is the link for the song…

There are many more favorites of the immortal combination of Nayyar Saheb and Geeta ji, but these 5 solos hold a special place for me.

Acknowledgements:

We are grateful to our dear friend Nikhil Iyer for writing this special tribute.

A fan’s tribute: Vol. 5

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Geeta Dutt

Having been brought up in a middle class Bengali family in a small township of Assam, listening to Hindi songs was a taboo in our house for a long time. So, quite naturally, I became familiar with Rabindrasangeet and Modern Bengali songs of Hemanta, Manna, Dhananjay, Shyamal, Manabendra, Sandhya and others first and then, much later I started exploring the Hindi singers, who then gradually became more obsessive for me over the years. Recalling my childhood days, I remember, my father used to bring cassettes of Bengali songs of different artists every now and then, and whenever a new cassette used to come at our house, we used to listen to that repeatedly for 2-3 days! Difficult to believe such days existed in today’s world of i-Pods and mp3 players. Anyways, one day we got an ensemble cassette of Geeta Dutt (in Bengali, it was written “Dutta”, whether it was goofed up with the Bengali surname or done intentionally, I don’t know) and remember, Lata, Asha, Kishore and Rafi had yet to make their entries in our house by that time.

So came my first reception to the songs of Geeta Dutt- the immortal creations like Nishi raat banka chand aakashe, Ei sundar swarnali sandhyay, Tumi je aamaar, Shudhu ektukhani chawa etc etc. First impression is the last impression, they say, and it was for me as well. Geeta Dutt sketched out to be a singer of soft, melodious and sometimes slow songs for me for a long time. And trusting my father to the full, I had confirm belief that Geeta Dutt must be one of those “good singers” like Hemanta or Shyamal and not a “notorious lot” like the Hindi film singers ☺

Of course, in 1996, after listening to the first Geeta Dutt Hindi film songs collection, things changed. But, surprisingly, for many music lovers, Geeta Dutt is remembered more in Bengal for her soft, slow and soothing melodies and quite contradicting to her popular, club song singing image (especially in the fifties) in Hindi movies.
Geeta Dutt’s Bengali repertoire is indeed very different from her Hindi image. When you listen to her in songs like “Koi door se awaz de” or “ Mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan”, you might sometimes desperately wish why but why the music directors did not give her more of such songs?

Whereas, in Bengali, I sometime really miss more of her peppier and foot tapping numbers which she sang in Hindi. (Though she has the distinction of singing the very first cabaret song in Bengali film.) Even in Hindi, the sober, serious shade of Geeta Dutt was utilized more by the lot of Bengali MDs like Hemant, Salil, Timir Baran,Kanu Roy and S D Burman; with a big exception from Avinash Vyas who gave some sparkling gems of deep emotional songs to Geeta Dutt. Pankaj Mullick never worked with Lata or Asha, but he gave as many as five songs to Geeta ji in Zalzala(1952). The forties and the early fifties really belonged to this marvellous lady. She even bettered Kishore Kumar in the latter’s strong forte- naughty songs- in “De bhi chuke hum” for the film Jaal (1952); she was as if dominating the male singer with sheer confidence there! The kind of confidence with which she used to pull off those numbers those days, are beyond expressing in words.

Geeta Dutt’s Bengali work has that sharp distinction of being in a different segment altogether. Of course, she was very busy in Mumbai (then Bombay) in those days of the fifties, but still could manage to find times to record for Bengali non film albums and some highly memorable movies like Harano Sur, Hospital, Luko Churi. Guru Dutt started making a Bengali movie called Gouri in around 1954 for launching Geeta as a heroine, but the movie was never completed. S D Burman was the music director and some songs were recorded. Very recently, the song “Jaani bhromara kaino” (which was never released on records) was discovered through great contribution by SIRC.

S D Burman also used Geeta in other Bengali films like Samar(1950)- which was a remake of Bombay Talkies’Hindi movie Mashal released in the same year.

This 23rd November would be Geeta ji’s 82nd birth anniversary. A lady with great talent and versatility introduced so many concepts those days which were beyond imagination. One of her song in Jaal Saaz was banned also those days for being too bold. She broke traditions and orthodox in Hindi and stuck to them with equal ease in Bengali- amazing!!
The brand of Geeta Dutt is just like her- blend of spirit and soberness- excelling in each of them!
My salute to the Original Queen of Playback Singing in India.

Acknowledgements:

We are grateful to our dear friend and a huge fan of Kishoreda, Shri Arghya Dutta for writing this special tribute on our request. Arghya has his own blog page here.
He has also written articles on Kishoreda on our sister website dedicated to the great singer/actor/composer Kishoreda.

A fan’s tribute: Vol. 4

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Geeta Dutt

Geeta Dutt ji’s songs are often played at our house. The songs are an integral part of our lives. For me it was always the voice that appealed to me, than the melody. Much later I saw the picturarisation of those songs. I was pleasantly surprised to notice that whoever did the lipsync of the songs all performed it well. For me there were no mismatch with faces and voice.

Geeta Dutt has an unique voice, a seductive touch in her voice, especially the first start in her one of my fav songs.
Aye Dil mujhe bata de tumhein kis pe aagaya hai.

In most of her songs there is a kinda chedd chaad / teasing way imbedded. the playfullness in her voice the on screen acting and the music what a song the lyrics do comes alive. There is something with her voice which you could not easily hear in other voices there was something so familiar so trusted so as if it was our own voice. Altough She sung marvelous still we could identify our self with her voice.

The song Na jao Saiyan Chura Ke Baiyan kasam tumhari main roh paroongi..again you hear that teasing way so endearing the way she sings this song. As if the face expressions are hearable in the voice.

The song Aaj Sajan mohe ang lagale janam saphal ho jaye..so much sincerity in her appeal the actress on the screen to me very much able to express the voice and the feeling and depth the voice carries .

There is a big cute factor in the voice of Geeta Dutt ji she could easily become a voice of a kid and in this song you can hear that very well. This is a rare song “Haath pasaare raste raste” from the film Ek ke Baad Ek.

The song. Aaja chhaye kaare badra.I love so much. An old film song which has to me such a modern outcome, a melodious voice doing different things with her voice in this song. She sings for both the dancers in this song.

Very recently I was introduced to this song. She sings this soothing and sensuous song in her sexy voice. so beautiful no need for music, powerful voice very mature and again such a good example of a voice that we could identify our own voice with.

while thinking about just a few favorites, I had to drop many other songs,, so I decided to mention only solo’s and still there were too many good fav solo’s of her. I feel like mera Sundar sapna beet gaya lo khatam kahani hogayee and I had to stop with this beauty of a song playing in the background while I am writing this article.

Acknowledgements:

We are extremely grateful to our dear friend Arati ji for writing this article on our special request.

A fan’s tribute: Vol.3

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Geeta Dutt

Why one likes or remembers a song is a question which can have multiple answers. One can remember or like a song for its melody, for its composition or for the voice or for the lyrics and the thought it may project and convey to the listener. All these are valid and important reasons to remember ,like and appreciate a song but the most important reason and requisite of a song for which one likes and remember a song is the emotional content of the song. In my personal view, if a singer’s voice is able to communicate, express and emote the inbuilt thought in the lyrics in a manner that the listener can connect and visualise the thought of the song at emotional level without any visual prop , the song becomes immortal.

Geeta Dutt’s is such a voice which gives the complete emotional graph of the song in the most vivid manner that the listener does not need any visual prop to live the song with the singer. If I may use the expression ‘ Bhaav Gayaki’ as the yardstick then Geeta Dutt’s voice is without a parallel in Indian film songs.

Her’s is certainly not a voice that has gone broad or heavy on account of continuous and rigorous practice of classical music. It carries a slight or minute trembling effect in such an accurate proportion that it makes her singing sweet, lilting, full of emotion and it also helps in creating that complete emotional graph of the song covering the widest spectrum of emotions.
Geeta Dutt’s voice certainly covers the widest emotional spectrum in her singing. Be it the shade of resigned in ‘thehero zara si der…’ in Savera 1958, plaintive and accepting in ‘Waqt ne kiya kya haseeen sitam…’ in Kagaz ke phool, soft and tender in ‘ hawa dheere aanna…’ in Sujata, Buoyant and enthusiastic in ‘ do camakti aankhon mein…’ in Detective, light-hearted and coquettish in ‘ kaisa jaadu balam tune ….’ in 12 o’clock , childlike with a sense of wonder and love in ‘ phulwa ban mehake…’ . I can go on and on to illustrate the various emotional shades which Geeta Dutt’s voice has covered as the variety of emotions her voice gave shape to is countless.

But let me specially mention two emotional shade of Geeta Dutt’s voice which are specially close to my heart and which I personally feel she excelled beyond words in bringing these shaded live through her voice. The first one is ‘Shringaar’ the way Geeta Dutt created a complete and one of the best and most melodious graph of this emotion in ‘Piya aiso jeeya mein samay gayo re …’ in Sahib Bibi Ghulam is just matchless. I am yet to come across a musical rendering which can surpass this song as far as depicting and expressing ‘Shringaar’ through the voice and melody is concerned.

The second emotional shade which Geeta Dutt’s voice gave shape to is the feeling or emotion is Divine, sublime or the emotion to express the wish to merge once soule with the ultimate sublime through Shrinagaar and Bhakti at the same time. Now this is a very difficult feat to achieve. Because this is rather one unusual emotive state and singing tone which is required to sing Indian non- ritualistic or devotional music. Compositions of this class described loosely as Bhajans are melodically simple but complex at the expression level as content wise these compositions are not directed at anybody in particular and hence become relevant to all. Such songs are inevitably addressed to a power or a force which is outside and beyond confines of human world. The consequence is that such compositions require an involved singing that is not ’emotional’ in the usual sense of the world. Through her renderings, Geeta Dutt is very often, and successfully able to evoke this mercurial psychological state. And ‘Aaj sajan mohe ang lagale…’ from Pyasa is the finest example of this expression.

I salute to this voice who always lived the song she rendered in its totality , Geeta Dutt Ji we really miss you !

Acknowledgements:

1) We are extremely grateful to our dear friend Arun Mudgal ji for writing this article on our special request.

2) Certain inputs for this article were from Shri Ashok Da Ranade ji’s book and the rest is Arun ji’s listening analysis.

A fan’s tribute: Vol. 2

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Geeta Dutt

Song: Koi dil ko sambhalo mera dil chalaa
Film : Grihasthi (1963)
MD : Ravi
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Singer: Geeta Roy Dutt

Geeta Dutt – the name evokes memories of an era of classical romance in Hindi cinema. When it was a soft melodious number, her voice glided through like “Thandi Hawaa”. When it was a mischievous number, it felt like the “Kaali Ghataa” had really broken up and the pitter patter of rain drops had “Aa Hee Gayee Jhoom Ke”. She had a remarkable repertoire and her voice spanned the entire gamut of human emotions, effectively and effortlessly.

Earlier this year, I had a chance to catch up on the 1965 Tamil movie “Motor Sundaram Pillai”, starring the thespian Sivaji Ganesan. The movie was a remake of the 1963 Hindi movie “Grihasti”, starring Ashok Kumar. What caught me by surprise was that the Geeta Dutt number “Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Lala” (music composed by Ravi and lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni) was retained in the Tamil version in its entirety. I am not aware of too many instances where a full-length Hindi song featured in a Tamil movie (“Kaise Kahoon Kuchh Keh Na Sakoon” from the 1981 Tamil movie “Nandu” is another one that comes to mind).
Apart from this statistical rarity, what caught my attention was the contagious joi-de-vivre that Geeta Dutt brought to the song. The vibrancy of her singing could make even a leaden-footed non-dancer get a spring in his step. Her voice, flitting along with the “bhanwara” on his flight of fantasy, truly “kaanon mein ras ghole”. It leads to an exultation of the spirit, making “mera dil chala”. The song pulsates with her uninhibited phenomenal energy that comes through in a caressing understated manner.

This is my humble tribute to Geeta Dutt whose beautiful singing could open out a way for the imprisoned splendour within the listener to escape. The voice of Geeta Dutt may have been stilled but her music lives on for all eternity….

The film version (which is less than two minute long) is here

Acknowledgements:

We are extremely grateful to our dear friend Ambrish Sundaram ji for writing this article on our special request.

A fan’s tribute: Vol. 1

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Geeta Dutt with Pankaj Mallik

This is a tribute to Geeta ji by one of her fans. We will be publishing several tributes over the next few days.

Song: Mujhe dekhkar woh jab muskuraayenge
Film : Zalzala (1952)
MD : Pankaj Mullick sahab
Lyrics: Ali Sardar Jafri
Singer: Geeta Roy Dutt

Zalzala

Whenever I see these pictures or hear this song from the film Zalzala (1952), I have this fantasy of my darling singer GEETAJI and the musicians gathered around a large microphone, which must have funneled the sounds they produced down to a diaphragm, which vibrated and moved the cutting needle & translated that acoustical energy into a groove in the wax master recording. Oh! What a rare combination of angelic delicacy and extraordinary power, that was capable of such a bravura moment as this rendering ,of my most favorite song of hers composed by my most favorite composer, the one and only Pankaj Mullick –the great !!!

Listen to the way she starts off the song…..MUJHE VO DEKHKAR JAB MUSKURAYENGE , TO KYA HOGA… tenderly ,achingly romantic, pure of voice with lush musical arrangements by the genius composer, she is so emphatically sentimental, & with such emotional singing style….she stands apart for me because ,as they say about “STYLE”…..“you’ve either got it or you haven’t got it, [and] if you’ve got it ,you stand out a mile” ….oh! that she does,…several miles apart !…in my opinion .
Already full of confidence & impeccable sense of timing, she glides effortlessly into MERI DUNIYA PE BIJILI SI GIRAYENGE TO KYA HOGA …at the end of this kya hoga ,….her voice became deeper and even richer, with her phrasing cleaved more closely to the emotional demands of the song….

With apparent frailty, innocence and a vulnerability that evokes deep passions, casual and unpretentious — almost self-deprecating….she sings… MAI UNKE SAAMNE AAYI [2] AAYI TO HU JEE KO KADA KARKE
Such articulated words of a personal anguish…ISHARON SE JO PAAS APNE BULAYENGE, TO KYA HOGA…wah!
A singer can have a note-perfect high range and no flexibility at all. What counts is the capacity to negotiate the tricky intervals, and listen to Geeta do an instantaneous jump here that can leave the words ringing as clear and open as the previous lyrics …
MERI NAZARON SE GHABARAKAR , VO [NAZARE KHUD CHUPALENGE ]-2,
what an angelically soaring journey…..

Geeta Dutt

The standard item of praise for any singer is ‘breath control’ but certainly every professional singer has a certain amount of that. What Geeta ji really had was enunciation control….please listen to her start the next line thus….JHUKA KAR APNI NAZARE PHIR UTHAYENGE TO KYA HOGA

For me GEETA ji , is literally my heartbeat singer-of a persona who can make every song a story, with her characteristic signature style, so much so that her songs become more than stories rather they became epics or anthems to me…..plz listen to the rest of the song to understand my feelings……

YE MAANAA [2] UNKE AAGE APNA HAAL-E DIL CHUPA LUNGI..DIL CHUPA LUNGI
JO VO ALHAD JAWANI KO JAGAYENGE TO KYA HOGA….
UJALA HAI[2]…ANDHERI SHAB ME AANSOO KE CHARAGON SE AANSOO KE CHARAGON SE
AGAR PALKO SE AANSOO TOOT JAYENGE TO KYA HOGA…What an original sound she brought forth to the world ,memorable and undeniably addictive……..GEETA ROY/DUTT-is the kind of singer who comes along once in a lifetime—a vocal brand with a powerful style that is NONPAREIL….period!!!

Acknowledgements:

1) The photo of Geeta ji with Pankaj Mullick sahab has been taken from the official website http://pankajmullick.org/

2) We are extremely grateful to our dear friend Priya for writing this article on our special request.