Remembering Geeta Dutt

(23rd November 1930- 20th July 1972 )

जाने क्या तुने कही जाने क्या मैने सुनी बात कुछ बन हि गई.......

Geeta Dutt got the first opportunity to sing for the film Bhakta Pralhad...in fact it was not a song but only two lines.But the sixteen years old Geeta mesmerised the entire studio by the liveliness she could bring in those two lines. Her first full song was for the film ' Do Bhai 'मेरा सुंदर सपना बित गया (which we still hear in Bhoole Bikhare Geet.) But Geeta Dutt and Geeta Bali both rose to the heights of popularity by the song तदबीर से बिगडी हुई तकदीर बना ले , a club song composed by S.D, Burman for the film Bazi. The film Bazi also happened to be the turning point in the life of Geeta Dutt as on the sets she first time met Guru Dutt, the director of the film with whom she tied the marriage knot afterwards.

Getta Dutt's ability to put in the required emotions and feelings in the song was just supreme. On the strength of this ability she could hold the fort against the Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar for about ten years. The logic for opting Geeta against Lata was simple. ...Lata was faultless but Geeta was marevllous....

Geeta Dutt's mainly sang for S.D. Burman, O.P Nayyar and for Hemant Kumar. वक़्त ने किया क्या हंसी सितम, नन्ही कली सोने चली ,बाबूजी धिरे चलना , मेरा नाम चिंचिंचू , हम आपकी आंखोमें , न जाओ सैया are some of her songs which portrays the emotions of the lyrics as well as of the situation.

Guru Dutt's behaviour and his involvement with Waheeda Rehman resulted in a discord between the couple. This also affected the professional life of Geeta Dutt. She refused to sing for Waheeda Rehman in Sahib Biwi aur Gulam and that paved the way for upcoming Asha to sing the song भंवरा बडा नादान है which was picturised on Waheed Rehman while all other songs of the film are delivered by Geeta Dutt. Guru Dutt's untimely death made the life worse for Geeta Dutt as Guru Dutt has contracted huge debts and Geeta had to rear three children. The Mangeshkar sisters are also getting too strong now to hold the fort any longer. Geeta started cracking.. turned to alcohol for solace and died at the age of 41....But before leaving , by her swan song .... मुझे जां ना कहो मेरी जान she caused everyone to remember that her talent to convey the feelings and passions will remain unmatched for ever !