Posts Tagged ‘Geeta Roy’

Geeta Roy turns Dutt

Monday, July 20th, 2015

Publicity poster

We have already talked a lot about the huge popularity of Geeta Roy in various posts on our website. Post marriage when She adopted the name Geeta Dutt, people had to be told both names were the same person. This label scan from the collection of our dear friend Gajendra Khanna proudly labels her as Geeta Dutt (Roy) informing the filmgoers about this fact on the record of Toofan Aur Diya.
Meri aan bhagwan

Her name along with Lata ji on this record label for the duet song also appears in the same format.

Meri chhoti si behen

Till 1950 during their female duets, it was Geeta Roy whose name came first before Lata Mangeshkar. It indicates the popularity she enjoyed. Things did change the reverse way in the later years but the fact remains that while she was Geeta Roy she ruled the Hindi film singing world.

This clearly proves what a rage ‘Geeta Roy’ had been! Even all her Bengali records between 1953 and 1956 mentioned ‘Geeta Dutt (Roy)’ says our friend Sounak Gupta. The ‘Harano Sur’ record with ‘Tumi Je Amar’, was the last to mention her name in this way. Even most of the mid 50s (Bengali) film magazines used to mention ‘Smt. Geeta Dutt (Roy)’. That was because of the stature Geeta Roy had attained.

Here are labels of some of her 78 rpm records of Bengali songs graciously shared with us by our dear friend Sounak Gupta.

The first record with her credited is GE 24702 – Padma amar kohe kende kende (Lyrics & Music – Kanu Ghosh) & Aay Re Chhute Aay (Lyrics & Music – Kanu Ghosh).

Disc

Another one which credited as ‘Geeta Dutt (Roy)’ GE 30372 Film – Harano Sur Song – Tumi Je Amar (L- Gouriprasanna Majumdar, M – Hemanta Mukherjee)

Disc

Another record from the same film – N 76032. Songs – Suray Dube Thakle Pore (L – Shyamal Gupta, M – Anil Bagchi) & Pujite Maheshe Heri Pranodhone (L – Girish Chandra Ghosh, M – Anil Bagchi).

disc

N 76034. Film – Mahakabi Girishchandra. Song – Akulo Basante Aaji (L – Shyamal Gupta, M – Anil Bagchi)

disc

Here is one more 1956 basic disc. N 82701, with songs – Othho Othho Maa Gouri (L – Bhaskar Bose, M – Sudhin Dasgupta) and Kajol Kajol Kumkum (L – Miltu Ghosh, M – Sudhin Dasgupta).

disc

1957 non-film disc – N 82731. Songs – Rum Jhum Jharnar (L – Anal Chatterjee, M – Kanu Ghosh), Tomay Dekhechhi (L – Anal Chatterjee, Kanu Ghosh).

disc

Another 1957 basic disc – N 82764. Songs – Krishnachura agun tumi (L – Batakrishna Dey, M – Sudhin Dasgupta), Jhiri Jhiri Chaitali Batase (L & M – Sudhin Dasgupta)

disc

Great fan of Geeta ji and our dear friend Mahesh Sagar recalls that many 78 rpm records continued to have her name as Geeta Roy till the year 1956-1957 . Even the famous Bhai Bhai song ‘ae dil mujhe bata de’ is also credited to Geeta Roy on 78 rpm records. Mahesh distinctly remembers an interview of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle ji where she mentioned about R D Burman discouraging her from changing her surname to Burman ( Asha Burman) giving example of how Geetaji’s Career took a hit after she changed her surname from Roy to Dutt.

Tributes to Geeta ji..by her fans in their own voices

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Geeta Dutt

With the popularity of the video sharing sites like Youtube, a lot of music lovers have sung their favorite songs and shared them with the world. Here is a compilation of such tributes of some of the very melodious and lovely songs of Geeta ji. Most of the singers have done commendable job and their affection towards Geeta ji is evident in the way they have presented these songs. We are grateful to all for these tributes and for sharing them with us.

1) Ja ja ja bewafa : Aar Paar (1954) , MD : O P Nayyar, Lyrics: Majrooh — Tribute by Sudha Rao

This is a very lovely sad song (in a crime thriller film with lot of fast paced songs). Sudha ji has very nicely captured the mood of the song.

2) Mera sundar sapna beet gaya : Do Bhai (1947), MD: S D Burman, Lyrics: Raja Mehendi Ali Khan — Tribute by Jayanthi Nadig

A song more than 60 years old has not lost its charm. This is an eternal favorite of any one who likes songs from old Hindi films. Jayanthi ji has beautifully sung this melody.

3) Hoon abhi main jawaan : Aar Paar (1954) , MD : O P Nayyar, Lyrics: Majrooh — Tribute by Kaplana Desai

Another popular song from Aarpaar, this one, though a fast paced one, has a touch of sadness. Nice singing by Kaplana ji in this song.

4) Na yeh chaand hogaa : Shart (1954), MD: Hemant Kumar, Lyrics: S H Bihari — Tribute by Kusum Sharma

This has to be one of the most emotional songs of Geeta ji. Kusum ji has put her heart and soul in this song.

5) Jaane kya tune kahin : Pyaasa (1957), MD: S D Burman, Lyrics: Sahir — Tribute by Sudha Rao

A light romantic number from otherwise dark film. A great composition by Burmanda, sung so nicely by Sudha ji. Great job.

6) Piya aiso jeeya mein : Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam (1960), MD: Hemant Kumar, Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni — Tribute by Jayanthi Nadig

This is a perennial favorite of many music lovers (even though the most popular song from SBG is “Na jaao saiyaa”). Jayanthi ji has nicely captured the mood of the song and sung it very well.

7) Tadbeer se bighadi : Baazi (1951), MD: S D Burman, Lyrics: Sahir — Tribute by Mona Gajjawala

The song that proved to be a milestone in Geeta ji’s (and many other people’s) career. Mona ji has done a great job in singing this seemingly simple yet captivating tune.

8 ) Mera naam chin chin choo : Howrah Bridge (1958) , MD : O P Nayyar, Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi — Tribute by Rajjulaxmi

Another rock and roll number, one of her most favorite songs, a favorite of many musical programs. Rajjulaxmi ji has sung it with a lot of energy and zing.

9) Aye dil mujhe bataa de : Bhai Bhai (1956), MD: Madan Mohan, Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan — Tribute by Sudha Rao

A passionately romantic sweet song. Once again Sudha ji has done a great job in singing this.

10) Mujhe jaa na kaho : Anubhav (1971), MD: Kanu Roy, Lyrics: Gulzar — Tribute by Manisha Jambotkar

This is the song from a film which proved to be bright flicker of the lamp before it extinguished. All the 3 songs of Geeta ji from this film are marvelous. It is a difficult song to sing, but Manisha ji has again sung it so well.

11) Thandi hawa kaali ghata : Mr and Mrs 55 (1955) , MD : O P Nayyar, Lyrics: Majrooh — Tribute by Krithika Jeyaraman and Sudha Rao

The magic of Madhubala, Geeta Dutt, O P Nayyar and Majrooh is simply amazing. Many music lovers use the opening lines of this song to describe the voice of Geeta ji. Krithika ji and Sudha ji has sung this in perfect team effort. Great singing.

12) Jaata kahaan hain deewane : CID (1956) , MD : O P Nayyar, Lyrics: Majrooh — Tribute in a program dedicated to Geeta ji

Another sizzler song from OPN sahab’s treasure. Though the song was deleted from the film due to censor problems, it has not lost its charm. The singer has done a great job in singing this one.

* This post was originally posted on January 15th, 2011. We lost some pages due to technical issue. Now we are in the process of re-publishing these articles.

Facebook group dedicated to Geeta ji

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Geeta Dutt

We have been trying to promote the legacy of Geeta ji through our website, this blog section and various other platforms on internet. Facebook has become on of the most popular social networking sites in recent times. We have created a group dedicated to Geeta ji on Facebook. The URL to the group’s page is given below

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=180989355175

We encourage music lovers to join the group and participate in sharing songs of Geeta ji and also discussing about her.

Looking forward to see you all there.

Thanks in advance

Another rare gem discovered..well..almost !

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Young Geeta Roy

Waheed Dehwar ji is a good friend of us and another fellow Geeta ji fan. He hails from Quetta, Pakistan and has a great collection of many rare songs of Geeta ji, especially from the early phase of her career. He has recently shared a short snippet of a lovely song ‎”Madhuban mein mohe na bulaao Shyaam” of young Geeta Roy. It seems like this was a non-film song recorded some time in the 40s.

We request music lovers to share full audio of this rare song.

Thanks in advance.

* This post was originally posted on December 20th, 2010. We lost some pages due to technical issue. Now we are in the process of re-publishing these articles.

Tadapta Chhod Kar Mujhko Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare … Geeta ji, Where Are You?

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Geeta Dutt

It may have been nearly four decades since Geeta ji silently left for the heavenly abode but She has indeed never left our thoughts. Such was her mastery over her art that She can never disappear from our collective consciousness. Her voice had multiple facets and that rare ability to convey all merely by inflecting its pitch or tone. Her range is immense which can mesmerise anyone, totally capturing one’s attention and finally giving the listener an adrenaline rush like no other singer can. It is often that the nectar in her voice has had that effect on me.

Today was one such day,Yet Again.

I have a special fascination for the phase when She was still Geeta Roy, the singer who rose like a meteor and captured the imagination of a generation gone by.

And the song I listened to is by this very seductress.

The song stopped playing long ago but its strains still reverberate in my ears.

The honey of her voice will stay with us for ever.

After all, this was sheer magic. Hearing the song makes me miss her so much. And it is indeed ironic, that the song I heard is from a movie called “Kisi Ki Yaad”. The lyrics, composition and her singing have created a gem to cherish.

The mellifluous lyrics are by another genius long buried in the sands of time. He is the one who’s name means Pearl. Yes, it is Moti B.A. and his work complements another half-forgotten genius Hansraj Behl, who gave us many gems.

The song is “Tadapta Chhod Kar Mujhko Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare”.

It was probably picturised on Sulochana Chatterjee’s character in the movie who is lost in the memories of her beloved. This kind of thoughts were to be Geeta’s life in the years to come. But Geeta didn’t need to go through that to lend her magic touch to the song. Come, lets see her glide through this tune.
The wonderful prelude doesn’t give half an inkling of what’s to come. The Young Geeta Roy takes charge of the situation from the word go, as She intones.

Tadapta Chhod Kar Mujhko Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare, Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare

Waah, Waah! Trust Geeta to give the right stress to each word and conveying the thoughts going on in the deep recesses of the heroine’s mind.
There is this discomforting ‘tadap’ in Tadapta and the feeling of separation in ‘chhod’. When She says Mujhko, it feels that all this is happening to me and when She inquires ‘Kahaan’, the mind wanders searching for where the beloved is. And the beautiful way in which She sings Pyaare. Oh, how in a word She manages to convey how deeply loved is he!

Chale Aao Bulaate hain Yeh Aansoo Dard Ke Maare, Yeh Aansoo Dard Ke Maare

With what elegance and sweetness She calls the beloved. Which beloved wouldn’t come if She called like this, with tears spawned by supreme sadness. The ‘pain’ in dard is unmistakable.

Oh Mujhko Bhoolne Waale O Mujhse Roothne Waale,

How elegantly She refers to the one who has forgotten her, probably angry over some small lovers’ tiff.

Tumhaari Yaad Mein Rote Bechaare Chaand Aur Taare, Bechaare Chaand Aur Taare

How innovatively,here, She conveys how the beloved is missed. Yes, indeed on listening, one can’t fail to realise how miserable are the poor moon and even the stars.

And again She goes in the same adorable tone,

Chale Aao Bulaate hain Yeh Aansoo Dard Ke Maare, Yeh Aansoo Dard Ke Maare

before She sings,

Mohabbat Karne Waalon Ko Nahin Kyon Chain Milta Hai

These kinds of lines would have been in so many songs but the effect She produces here has to be seen to be believed. One actually wonders, why the ways of love take away the peace.

Wahaan Tum Ho Yahaan Hum Hain Jeeyen Kaise Bata Jaa Re, Jeeyen Kaise Bata Jaa Re

Its absolutely heart rending, the manner in which She questions the separation, asking how can She live with this. It is even more amazing how She conveys how far apart the two are. ‘here’ and ‘there’ were never felt so “far” before.

No one will doubt on hearing this line that indeed life is not worth living in this state.

Tadapta Chhod Kar Mujhko Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare, Kahaan Tum Reh gaye Pyaare

Dreamily, She calls him yet again. He mustn’t have heard else he would be here in a trance, I am sure.

Lagaaye Aas Baithi Hoon, Jalaaye Hoon Shamaa Dil Ki,

The heart burns as She narrates how the hope of return still burns in her mind and the fire burns. The way She stresses on Lagaaye, Jalaaye, Shaama, Dil all in the same breath is a sorceress at work!

O Mujhko Bhoolne waale Iddhar Bhoole Se Aaja Re, Iddhar Bhoole Se Aaja Re

Another awe-inspiring line. Nobody can show such a ‘bhool’ in two ways when She sings Bhoolne and Bhoole. Oh, won’t the beloved come by mistake just once?

Tadapta Chhod Kar Mujhko Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare, Kahaan Tum Reh Gaye Pyaare

And suddenly comes this last line of the song filled with the same jamboree of emotions, one calling the beloved, another showing the pain and worry about where the beloved is.

Finally, I am left wondering thoughtfully, My life would have been incomplete without listening to this. This rainbow of talent alone could have produced this magic of a song. If only, She had sung this song to her real-life beloved and brought him back before it was too late. The film world would have been different perhaps.

By- Hildebrand

P.S. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to M.L. Kapur ji for taking the song out of his “vault” and Prof Surjit Singh ji for sharing it with us on his website. You both are one in a million.

Discovery of a “Chhupa Rustom”

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Bulo C Rani

Bulo C Rani must be probably one of the most talented yet the most unsung composer. We have a detailed write up about him on our main website here. All these days we were thinking that the last song by the Bulo C Rani – Geeta Dutt combo was from the year 1964 (a duet from Badshah Salamat and a quartet from Haqdaar). Only recently we discovered an extremely rare and lovely song of Geeta ji under the baton of Bulo C Rani sahab for the film Chhupa Rustom (1965). The song is “Ek dil thaa mera, joh teraa ho gaya”.

The Hindi Film Geet Kosh doesn’t mention the name of the lyricists for any song of the movie. In fact, it doesn’t mention which singer sang each song individually. It just gives list of playback singers at the end.
We don’t know if Geeta ji sang any other song for the movie too for this reason.

(The movie has six songs in all. Mahendra Kapoor, Suman Kalyanpur, Asha Bhosle, Jaani Babu and Usha Mangeshkar are other attributed singers for the movie).

This song must be shown to all those who claim her voice had deteriorated in the 1960s. (This is a 1965 song! of course, it could have been recorded a bit earlier, but how early could it be).

Those “bad voice” songs are few only. She just had some bad days and some good days, which is expected of someone who faced tragedies like her not to mention constrained finances and ill health.

All in all, it is a great discovery of a hidden one (“Chhupa Rustom”), a lovely one on top of it!

Million thanks to Shalini ji for sharing this gem of a song with all of us.

The debut..which one is it?

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

Geeta Roy with her father

As per the available information, young Geeta Roy sang her first song for the film Bhakt Prahlad(1946).
The composer was Pandit Hanuman Prasad. Not much is known about the composer Pandit Hanuman Prasad except that he was married to the famous actress Lalita Pawar and the fact that he discovered the singing talent of young Geeta Roy (who later on became Geeta Dutt after marrying Guru Dutt). If any one has more info on him do post it.

Geeta’s family had moved to Bombay (now Mumbai). In the building she lived in, the famous Pandit Gowri Shankar had his Kathak dancing school. Pandit Hanuman Prasad was a regular visitor to this dancing
class. One day while on a visit he heard Geeta practicing. He traced the voice and thus the composer went to her flat. After discussing with her father, he gave her a song (actually a couple of lines in a
song) in his film Bhakta Prahlad (1946).That is how Geeta Roy was discovered at the age of 16.

Pandit Hanuman Prasad gave her few lines in as many as four songs in the film Bhakta Prahlad. The songs were –

1) Suno suno binti hamari prabhuji bhool hui mujhse bhari
2) Ab jani re,pehchani re mana.
3) Suno suno hari ki leela sunayein,
4) Jaag uthe hum jaag uthe

Two of these have been shared on youtube thanks to music lovers.

and

Some individuals have claimed that she sung before this as well (including on radio according to one claim and a line or two for Gaali (1944) for the same composer according to another claim), but it has not been substantiated with presentation of actual songs or other evidence. The Geet Kosh doesn’t formally attribute singers for the songs for the film Bhakt Prahlad(1946) but Geeta ji’s voice can be clearly heard.

==

Author:
This post has been compiled by our dear Gajendra N. K. (aka “Hildebrand”). Thanks buddy.

==

The pic:

Young Geeta Roy with her father. Thanks to Haimanti Banerjee ji , author of the book “Geeta Dutt : The Skylark” for sharing this rare pic with us.

Jahaan jaahan khayaal jaata hai, wahaan wahaan tumhiko paata hain..

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

OPN

This song is so fitting for the composer Rhythm King O P Nayyar sahab and our beloved singer Geeta ji (who sang this song with the one and only one great Mohd Rafi sahab).

And now we have more reasons to be happy. Mr Siraj Khan, who has been closely associated with the legendary composer has launched a website dedicated to his idol Nayyar sahab. The website is http://opnayyar.org/
Though the site has been launched a few months ago, we came to know about it recently, thanks to a post by Mr Irfan on RMIM. We are truly grateful to Siraj ji for making this website on the great composer Nayyar sahab.

We have now added a link to Nayyar sahab’s website on our blog section http://www.geetadutt.com/blog/
You can see it under the resources section on the right hand side.It is also added on to our main website under the “Links” section here
http://www.geetadutt.com/links.html

From our homepage, scroll down all the way to the bottom. On the footer, you will find a link to sections called links, contact, sitemap etc. Once you click on the “Links”, it will take you to the page http://www.geetadutt.com/links.html

Though Geeta ji sang a good number of songs for Nayyar sahab, not many photos featuring the singer and the composer are available on the net. Here is one from our own collection, thanks to our friend Shri Shashank ji.
Rafi OPN Geeta

As it was the case with our own website http://www.geetadutt.com/ this website on Nayyar sahab is still work in progress. A lot of features are planned to be added to it in the coming days as Siraj mentioned. He is looking forward to constructive suggestions, comments, feedback on the site to make it more appealing. As with any website on an artist, it is purely a “labor of love”.

We urge all the music lovers to visit this site and appreciate the work done by Siraj Khan and his team. Thanks Siraj for the wonderful work you have done so far! The music lovers all over the world will surely appreciate your sincere efforts in making of this website.

Sweetness of Pooran Poli in this melodious love song !

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Avinash Vyas - Geeta Dutt
Not many music lovers are aware of the fact that Geeta Dutt has sung close to a hundred songs in Gujrati. Her association with Gujrati film (and some non-film music) is not as prolific as with the Hindi film songs. Still it is a fact that she has sung more songs in Gujrati as compared to her mother tongue Bengali. She was the number one playback singer for Gujrati films for 3-4 years and many of the films starring Nirupa Roy had songs by Geeta Roy, many of which had music composed by the great Avinash Vyas. The reason behind this is that the Gujrati films were being made in Mumbai (then Bombay) and young Geeta Roy was a favorite singer of composer Avinash Vyas.Young Geeta was extremely talented and very good at picking up new languages. She must have picked up Hindi, Gujrati and Marathi during the initial years
of struggling life in Mumbai before getting the break in the year 1946. This part is described very aptly and in great details in the book “Geeta Dutt : The Skylark” written by Haimanti Banerjee.

Coming back to this song “Oh rang rasiya”! It is more like the celebration of womanhood where she describes how she is going to shower her love on the man she wishes to chose her life partner. This song is all about the declaration of love this lady has for the man she wishes to marry, to be a wife and homemaker. it is about how she will take care of him. For her, it is not about the riches and materialistic joys of the world but the simple little pleasures of life and care she desires to give to her “prince of dreams”.

The simplicity of Avinash Vyas’s lyrics coupled with his mesmerizing tune makes it a memorable song. The song is so traditional (note the references to the “Ghoonghat”, fetching water from the river, singing like a Koyal) yet so contemporary (expressing the feelings for her would be life partner, weaving dreams of her lover, serving Paan). The reference to pooranpoli (which are the sweet rotis made with tuar dal and jaggery/sugar) is the highlight of this song. The universal truth “A way to man’s heart goes through his stomach” is used here to describe how she will take care of her man. In general a young man will relish this sweet made by his mother, and this girl is promising to her lover that I will take care of you just like your mother used to. Serving freshly made hot pooran poli with ghee
(clarified butter) is (or at least was) considered the best treat! The lyricist is so musically inclined that he has captured the feelings of a young (probably teen aged) girl with so much of ease. Though not a native Gujrati speaker, Geeta glides through the tune leaving her magical touch to the song.

We are thankful to our friend Bhavita for help with understanding the meaning of this lovely song and the transliteration.

Original song in Gujrati script:

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને
હું તારી શું છઉં
તું મારો વર ને હું તારી વહુ

નથી થવું મારે રાજાની રાણી
મારે મન આટલું બહુ
કે હું તારી વહુ

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

બની તારા ઘરની રાણી
ઘૂંઘટડો તાણી હું પનઘટ
પાણી ભરવા જઈશ રે

તુજને ભાળી નૈના ઢાળી
મારા એ આવ્યા, એ આવ્યા
એવું કહીશ રે

છાનું રે છપનું સપનું સરજું
તને કહું કહું ને રહી જઉં
કે હું તારી વહુ

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

પૂરણપોળી ઘીમાં ઝબોળી
તને જનની જેમ જમાડીશ

થઈ નટખટ નારી
લ્યો પાનસુપારી,
કહી સંગે રંગ રમાડીશ

તારા મન ઉપવનની કોયલ થઈ
તને ટહુકી ટહુકી કહું
કે હું તારી વહુ
ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

English transliteration :

O rang rasiya
keh ne hoon tari shu thau?
Tu mharo war ne hoon tari wahu

O rang rasiya
tell me – what am I to you?
You are my beloved
and I your wife…

Nathi thavu mhare
rajani raani
mhare man aatlu bahu ke
hoon tari wahu

I do not wish to be a king’s queen
as for me it is enough that I am your wife

Bani taari gharni raani
ghunghatdo taani
hoon panghat paani bharwa jaish re

As the queen of your house
donning the veil
I will go to the river bank
to fetch water

Tujhne bhali naina dhali
mhara ‘e avya, e avya’
avu kahish re

And when I see you
through my downcast eyes
I will softly utter “he has arrived, he has arrived”

Chanu re chapnu sapnu sarju
tane kahu kahu ne rahi jau
ke hoon taari wahu
o rang rasiya

Secretly I weave a dream that I will be your wife,
and I try, my beloved, to share it with you
but refrain…
O rang rasiya

pooranpoli ghee ma jhaboli
tane janani jem jamadish
thayi natkhat naari
lyo paan supari
kahi sange rang ramadish

pooranpoli (a dessert), dipped in ghee (clarified butter)
I shall feed you like a mother
and then, like a naughty lass
playfully serve you paan supari…

Thara man upavanni koyal thayi
tane tahuki tahuki kahu
ke hoon taari vahu

In the gardens of your heart / soul / mind
I will become the koyal (cuckoo)
and like the koyal I will sing
that I am your wife / beloved…

Chalk and Cheese? (Part-2)

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Geeta Dutt with RK

This is the continuation on the earlier post “Chalk and Cheese?” which received a lot of mixed responses from a wide range of music lovers on the net. Since this topic (songs of Geeta ji in RK films) has not much talked about, I felt like continuing the discussion by adding more angles to the story.

One correction to the earlier statement that Geeta ji sang just one song for films made by Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor made a smaller budget film titled “Ab Dilli Door Nahin” which was released in the year 1957. It was based on children and his regular composers (Shanker Jaikishen) supposedly refused to compose the music for this low budget film. They advised Raj to give the responsibility of composing music for this film to their long time assistant Dattaram. (Dattaram is a person who is very much different from K. Dutta (or Datta Korgaonkar) or N Dutta (Dattaram Naik) and continued to assist Shanker Jaikishen.)

This film features as many as three songs which have been sung by Geeta Dutt, but all three of them are heavily chorus based songs. Geeta accompanies Asha Bhonsle and Sudha Malhotra (and of course the chorus singers) in these songs. Out of the three songs, one song (“Yeh chaman hamara apna hain”) is relatively known to music lovers.

At least, being a Geeta devotee, I would not dare to call these 3 songs as “songs of Geeta Dutt”. She is merely used as a supporting voice in all the 3 songs. The melody scale, situation and filming of the songs is equally common place. Hence one would not truly “count” these 3 songs as “songs of Geeta Dutt” sung for Raj Kapoor films per say!

Ab Dilli Door Nahin – Hum Raghuvar Ke Gun Gaave Re – Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt & Chorus

Ab Dilli Door Nahin – Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi – Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt & Sudha Malhotra

Ab Dilli Door Nahin – Yeh Chaman Hamaara Apna Hai – Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt & Chorus

Now coming to the main topic of discussion: Why we do not see much of Geeta Dutt’s voice in Raj Kapoor films? Not that we are obsessed with Raj Kapoor, but one can not deny that most of his films and their music has survived over 50 plus years and sounds melodious till date. Again, at least I have not read much about this topic anywhere, hence wanted to explore it further. One of the strongest reasons (as pointed out earlier by our friend Dr Mohan Dev ji) is that Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt (whom Geeta Dutt was married to) were professional rivals. It seems to be natural that Raj Kapoor did not invite the wife of his professional rival to sing songs for his films.

Composer duo Shankar Jaikishen made their debut with Barsaat which was released in the year 1949. Earlier they had worked as assistant to Ram Ganguly who had composed the music for Raj Kapoor’s first film Aag (1948). The point to be noted here is that Geeta Roy was the number one female playback singer when the music for the film Barsaat was being composed. The only element that continued from the team of Aag to Barsaat was singer Mukesh. The composers, the other singers, lyricists all were roped in fresh with Barsaat. It was like taking a fresh guard for Raj Kapoor and his team.

Many websites indicate that Guru Dutt did not want his wife to sing for banners outside his own films (due to various reasons). This in a way did not help Geeta becoming the first choice of the composers. With the responsibilities coming via the married life and motherhood, Geeta was also cutting down on her assignments. In fact, in one of the interviews she gave in the year 1957, she was planning of taking retirement from her singing career.

Even outside Raj Kapoor films, Shankar Jaikishen rarely gave quality songs to Geeta Dutt. In fact, the total number of songs she has sung for them is just 11. Most of them are duets, trio and group songs. As a matter of fact, the only solo song they gave to her is “Kareeb aao, na tadapaao” filmed on Kanchanamala.

We will continue to explore such rarely talked about areas related to Geeta Dutt’s singing.