On her death anniversary, we bring you 10 Geeta Dutt numbers that should be on top of your listening list...
Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol
Jogan (1950) Music: Bolo C rani
This Meera Bai bhajan was brought to life so perfectly by Geeta Dutt. She got known later for lightweight, fun numbers, as also cabaret songs but this early track proves she had a versatility and range that went largely unexplored thanks to the popularity of her frothy numbers.
Tadbir se bigdi hui taqdeer bana le
Baazi (1951) Music: SD Burman
This number could have been played in Moulin Rouge and not looked out of place. The fun thing was that it was originally a ghazal that music maestro SD Burman magically transformed into a cabaret piece. The song brought out the gist of the film and Geeta did full justice to it.
Babuji dhire chalna
Aar Paar (1954) Music: OP Nayyar
It was the perfect tavern piece and Geeta’s naughty voice suited this seduction piece to a T.
Jaata kahan hai deewane
CID (1956) Music: OP Nayyar
It was said to be such a sultry number reportedly that the censors insisted on it being taken off from the final cut of the film. Smokin’!
Aye Dil Mujhe Bata De
Bhai Bhai (1956) Music: Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan is said to have given his best to Lata Mangeshkar but the present song shows that he could have done wonders with Geeta too. No one remembers the other numbers from the film but this remains evergreen.
Aaj sajan mohe ang lagalo
Pyaasa (1957) Music: SD Burman
This vaishno bhajan set to Rabindra Sangeet serves as a turning point for Gulabo (Waheeda Rehman), who realizes that her love for the poet Vijay (Guru Dutt) is pure and real.
Mera naam chin chin chu
Howrah Bridge (1958) Music: OP Nayyar
Helen dressed up as a Chinese girl still looked smoking hot and Geeta’s voice was just the right touch to make this item number ethereal. It still hasn’t lost its fresh appeal even after all these years.
Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam
Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) Music: SD Burman
Guru Dutt was married to Geeta but was allegedly in love with Waheeda Rehman. That relationship was also said to be in turmoil at the time of the film’s release so perhaps Geeta was singing for all three of them, bringing out irony of life, love and relationships in her pathos-filled voice.
Na jao saiyaan chhuda ke baiyaan
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) Music: Hemant Kumar
This complaint by a wife towards her wayward husband has both seductiveness and pathos aplenty and Geeta caught on both the moods expertly, making it one of her best songs ever. It never fails to give you goosebumps every time you hear it.
Mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan
Anubhav (1971) Music: Kanu Roy
She may not have been one of the reigning voices by this time and was said to be suffering from alcoholic depression at that point but none of that is evident in this flawless rendition. She showed that she still had got the goods. If only more music directors had understood that…
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