Geeta Dutt

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tt lived at Dadar and studied at Bengali Education Society School but more than studies she was passionate about music.

1940

Geeta Dutt got her first break by divine's blessing

Geeta Dutt displayed her passion for music from the age of 6 years. Though she went to school but her heart lay in music. When she lived at Kolkata, she would go crazy by the songs sung by the boatman. Later when she shifted to Mumbai, she would run to the neighbor house and listen to music on the gramophone. Fortunately, her parents were progressive they understood her passion for music. Hence they hired Music Master Harendranath Nandi as her music teacher. However, due to the monetary issue, they had to discontinue her music classes. After heartbroken at her music teacher abandoning, little Geeta did not lose heart. She cajoled herself and started practicing herself alone without a guru!!

Call it divine's blessing famous music director Pandit Hanuman Prasad heard her melodious voice. Incidentally, Pandit Hanuman lived in the same building where Geeta lived. Panditji stayed on the third floor and Geeta on the first floor. One day, Geeta was doing her regular Riyaaz in the morning at home while Panditji was moving down the staircase and was left dumbfounded to hear a soul-stirring voice of a young girl on the first floor. He stood silently and after Geeta finished her Riyaaz, Panditji knocked on the door and hugged the 14-year-old Geeta. He was so impressed by her extraordinary voice that he not only offered to give free music training but also signed her to sing in the mythological film 'Bhakta Prahlad' (1946). The song was a success and turned music directors head.

Geeta Dutt won stardom with first hit song Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya

Impressed by Geeta's voice music legend Sachin Dev Burman gave a major break in his film Do Bhai. The song particularly, Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya.... became a huge hit and Geeta became famous.

1950

S.D. Burman made Geeta Dutt a Star Singer

Later, with another super hit song Tadbir Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer (Baazi – 1951) S.D. Burman brought more laurels in the lap of Geeta Dutt. In fact, Burman used her earthy voice quite effectively in Bhajans like Aan Milo Aan Milo..... (Devdas – 1955), Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo (Pyaasa – 1957). Interestingly, after using her voice as Bhajan, Burman used Geeta's voice in the tragic classic Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam (Kaagaz Ke Phool – 1959). Burman also used Geeta in romantic songs like "Hum Aap Ke Aankhon Main........(Pyaasa – 1957) with Mohd. Rafi.

O.P. Nayyar gave impetus to Geeta Dutt's career

Music director exposed the versatility of Geeta Dutt's voice under his music direction. The duo started with Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le (Baazi) in  1951) and went together with a long way giving a chain of hit songs. O.P. Nayyar gave tapped her voice in different styles be it soft, sultry, happy, snappy, romantic, teasing or tragic. The duo gave some of the most peerless music in the ‘50s like  "Babuji Dhire Chalna……. (Aar Paar – 1954), Thandi Hawa Kali Ghata… (Mr. & Mrs. '55 – 1955), "Aye Dil Hain Mushkil…….. (CID – 1956), Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu……….. (Howrah Bridge – 1958).

Besides, S.D. Burman and O.P.Nayyar, Geeta Dutt shared a good relation with music director Hemant Kumar and gave some timeless songs like Na Yeh Chand Ho Ga……… (Shart – 1954) and Na Jao Saiyaan Chhuda Ke Baiyaan……….. (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – 1962)

In the late ‘50s, Geeta ruined her career due to rough marriage

After her marriage went kaput, Geeta ruined her singing career by drowning herself in alcohol. Few know that in 1957, S.D. Burman had a tiff with Lata Mangeshkar, hence Burman reached to Geeta but alas Geeta was disheartened and had lost interest in life. She turned down the offer of S.D. Burman, which ultimately went to upcoming singer Asha Bhosle.

After Guru Dutt committed suicide on October 10, 1964, Geeta could bear the shock and suffered a nervous breakdown.

1960

Geeta Dutt tried to review her career as Singing Star

After coming out of the nervous breakdown, Geeta decided to revive her career as Singing Star for the sake of children, Hence she produced a Bengali film, Gouri (1957), launching herself as a Singing Star. The film was being made on a huge scale. It was to be India's first film in CinemaScope film in Bengali but alas due to some circumstance the film was shelved!

1970

Geeta Dutt made another attempt to come back as a singer

In the ‘70s music composer, Kanu Roy gave her new lease of life in the Basu Bhattacharya directed film Anubhav (1971). All the songs of the film were super hits like Meri Jaan Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan, Koi Chupke Se Aake and Mera Dil Jo Mera Hota….

Geeta Dutt Died in 1972 at the age of 41 years

Though the songs of Anubhav (1971) made Geeta Dutt immortal in the annals of Indian film music but due to mental trauma and obsession for alcohol, Geeta's health deteriorated rapidly and on July 20, 1972, Geeta Dutt died of cirrhosis of the liver at the young age of 41 years!