Selecting just seven songs of Geeta Dutt is not easy so I looked for a hook by which I could narrow this down to a lesser-known array of her songs. The hook was easy to find and I decided to focus on seven different music directors who she has sung for. The difficult part was the decision to not add S D Burman, O P Nayyar or Hemant Kumar to the list of MDs. It may feel like sacrilege to most as she has sung so many beautiful songs for them. Any reference of Geeta Dutt and our mind moves to ‘Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam’ or ‘Babuji Dheere chalna’ or ‘Piya aiso jiya mein samaye gayo re’. However, today we will take a look at her somewhat lesser talked about gems for other famous music directors.
1. Music Director: Bulo C Rani
Ghoonghat ke pat khol re Jogan 1950
The film Jogan had 15 songs, out of which 12 songs were sung by Geeta Dutt. Jogan is a beautiful showcase of true gems in Geeta Dutt’s voice. Ten out of the twelve songs are her solos. The film is based on a complex love story where an atheist falls in love with a jogan, and most of these songs are bhajans by Kabir and Meerabai. The music was so popular that it was said that Jogan had three major stars: Dilip Kumar, Nargis and the songs of the film. Ghoonghat ke pat khol is the one most likely to be known to all as is Mat ja mat ja jogi. Nargis has listed this film as among her best, similarly Geeta Dutt counts Mat ja jogi from this film as one of her ten best songs. Bulo C Rani’s (Bulo C Rani’s real name was Bulochand Chandiramani) association with Geeta Dutt lasted over 10 years from late forties to late fifties and it gave us nearly 70 beautiful songs with their combination.
Trivia: Jogan was actor Rajendra Kumar’s debut film where he plays the role of Dilip Kumar’s friend.
2. Music director: Roshan
Khayalon mein kisike 1950 Bawre Nain
Sung by Geeta Dutt and Mukesh, this song was a part of this successful film which was the second Kedar Sharma film that Roshan composed for. This film established Roshan as a thriving music director. All the songs for the heroine of this film were sung by Rajkumari Dubey but this one song for the second lead Vijayalakshmi was given to Geeta Dutt. This song now has pride of place in every Geeta Dutt compilation CD.
3. Music director: Chitragupt
Naachti jhoomti muskurati aa gayee pyar ki raat Miss Mala 1954
Unknown to most, Geeta Dutt has sung close to 100 songs for Chitragupt. This duet with Kishore Kumar is a rare occasion where Geeta Dutt provides playback for Vyjayantimala who stars with Kishore Kumar in this film. This film also has a very sweet lullaby sung by Geeta Dutt ‘Nanhe so ja re’.
Trivia: From all her duets, Geeta Dutt has sung maximum songs with Mohd. Rafi. Out of around 155 duets of Geeta Dutt and Rafi, Chitragupt has composed around 30 of them!
4. Music director: Vasant Desai
Meri aan Bhagwan Toofan aur diya 1956
V Shantaram's Toofan aur Diya had three songs of Geeta Dutt. She gave the playback to Nanda’s kid brother played by Satish Vyas. "Meri aan bhagwan kan kan se ladi hain to tum se bhi aaj ladegi, meri baat tumhein rakhni padegi” is a song with some of the most powerful lyrics by Bharat Vyas and has been sung by Geeta Dutt with such elan and emotion.
5. Madan mohan
“Aye dil mujhe bata de tu kis pe aa gaya hain" Bhai Bhai 1956
This is a delightful solo picturised on Shyama. The lyrics written by Rajinder Kishen are playful and laced with mischief, “Ae dil mujhe bata de tu kis pe aa gaya hai, Woh kaun hai jo aakar khwabon pe chaa gaya hai”. Madan Mohan composed this delightful tune which Geeta Dutt sang in her distinct style.
Aankhon mein tum Half Ticket 1962
Geeta Dutt has sung only seven songs for Salil Choudhury in his 19 year career in Hindi films. These were three solos and four duets, where the duets were one each with Mohd. Rafi, Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar. Aankhon mein tum is a chirpy duet filmed on Madhubala and Kishore Kumar, written by Shailendra in his classic style.
7. Kanu Roy
Koi chupke se aake Anubhav 1971
Many are mistaken that Kanu Roy was her brother. (Her brother was actually Mukul Roy who was a music composer and producer, her famous ‘Do chamakti aankhon mein’ was sung for his film Detective.) Geeta Dutt has sung just four songs in total for Kanu Roy but these songs are always part of everybody’s list while thinking of their favourite top ten songs of this singer. Anubhav was the quintessential swan song of this erstwhile singer as she passed away in 1972. The velvety smooth tones of her dulcet voice in the songs of Anubhav show us how much she still had to offer even at the fag end of her days.
Born as Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri in a zamindar’s family in Faridpur, East Bengal in 1930, and going on to be known as Geeta Roy, then Geeta Dutt, her voice and music has remained timeless for all of us to treasure forever.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse at Geeta Dutt’s songs with seven composers over the years. Do write in the comments below with your favourite Geeta Dutt song!
