Geeta Dutt (born Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri; 23 November 1930 – 20 July 1972) was an Indian classical and

playback singer A playback singer, as they are usually known in South Asian cinema, or ghost singer in Western cinema, is a singer whose performance is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and the performers lip-sync the ...

. She found particular prominence as a

Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

and Bengali cinema and is considered as one of the best playback singers of all time in Hindi films. She also sang many modern Bengali songs in the non-film genre.

Early life

Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhuri was one of 10 children born to a wealthy

zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...

family in a village named Idilpur, Madaripur Subdivision under Faridpur district in

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

presently under Gosairhat Upazila of

Shariatpur District Shariatpur District () is a district in Dhaka Division of central Bangladesh. Shariatpur is named after the Islamic revivalist, Haji Shariatullah. Etymology Shariatpur was named after Haji Shariatullah (1781–1840), who was the founder of Faraiz ...

, Bangladesh. Her family moved to

Calcutta Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...

and

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

in the early 1940s, leaving behind their land and properties. In 1942, her parents moved to an apartment in

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

. Geeta was twelve and continued her schooling at the Bengali High School.

Singing career

K. Hanuman Prasad took Geeta under his patronage, trained and groomed her in singing and later launched her into singing for movies. In 1946, she got the first break with an opportunity to sing in the mythological film '' Bhakta Prahlad'' for which Prasad was the music director. She was given two lines to sing for two songs. She was sixteen at that time.

Personal life

During Geeta's recording of songs for the movie ''Baazi'', she met its young up-and-coming director,

Guru Dutt Guru Dutt (born Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone; 9 July 1925 – 10 October 1964; also known as Gurudatta Padukone) was an Indian film actor, director, producer, choreographer, and writer.Rajadhyaksha, Ashish, and Paul Willemen. 9941998 ...

. Their romance culminated in marriage on 26 May 1953. Together they had three children: Tarun (1954–1985), Arun (1956–2014) and Nina (b. 1964). She also cut a number non-film discs, singing to the tune of notable music directors like Sudhin Dasgupta and Anal Chatterjee. In 1957, Guru Dutt launched the film ''Gauri'' with Geeta Dutt as its singing star. It was to be India's first movie in

cinemascope CinemaScope is an anamorphic format, anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its cr ...

but the project was shelved after just a few days of the shooting. By then, Guru Dutt had got romantically involved with

Waheeda Rehman Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress. Regarded among the most accomplished actresses of Hindi cinema, she has worked in more than Waheeda Rehman filmography, 90 feature films, in a career spanning over five decades. Her ac ...

and Geeta had taken to drinking. The break up of their marriage affected Geeta's singing career. In 1964, Guru Dutt died from a combination of alcohol and an overdose of sleeping pills. (His death was widely perceived as a suicide following two earlier attempts). This shattered Geeta, who then suffered a serious

nervous breakdown A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...

and ran into financial problems. She tried to resume her singing career, cutting discs at Durgā Pujā and giving stage shows. She performed a leading role in a Bengali movie, ''Badhu Baran'' (1967), and sang admirably in '' Anubhav'' (1971), to the music of Kanu Roy. Geeta Dutt's final performance was for Midnight in 1972 (unreleased) Two duets, one of which was with Talat Mahmood.

Death

Geeta Dutt died on 20 July 1972 due to

cirrhosis Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure or chronic hepatic failure and end-stage liver disease, is a chronic condition of the liver in which the normal functioning tissue, or parenchyma, is replaced ...

aged 41, in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

Notable songs

She has sung over 1417 songs in Hindi films. In addition, she has sung songs in many other Indian languages including Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Maithili, Bhojpuri and Punjabi. She has sung in Nepali evergreen movie ''Maitighar''.'The Geeta Dutt Website'
. Geetadutt.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018. Some of the songs sung under S. D. Burman's direction: * "Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya" ('' Do Bhai'' – 1947) * "Woh Sapne Waali Raat" (''Pyaar'' – 1950) * "Tadbir Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer" (''Baazi'' – 1951) * "Aan Milo Aan Milo" ('' Devdas'' – 1955 ) With Manna Dey * "Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo" ('' Pyaasa'' – 1957) * " Jane kya tune kahi" ('' Pyaasa'' – 1957) * "Hum Aap Ke Aankhon Main" ('' Pyaasa'' – 1957) with Mohd. Rafi * "Hawa Dhire Aana" ('' Sujata'' – 1959) * "Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam" ('' Kaagaz Ke Phool'' – 1959) * "Janu janu re" ('' Insaan Jaag Utha'') with Asha Bhosle Some of the songs she sang under O. P. Nayyar's direction: * "Zara Saamne Aa" ('' Baaz'' – 1953) * "Babuji Dhire Chalna" (''

Aar Paar ''Aar Paar'' () is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language Film noir, noir comedy film. Directed by Guru Dutt, it has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. ''Aar-Paar'' stars Johnny Walker (actor), Johnny Walker, Shyama (Hindi actress), Sh ...

'' – 1954) * "Thandi Hawa Kali Ghata" ('' Mr. & Mrs. '55'' – 1955) * "Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji" ('' Mr. & Mrs. '55'' – 1955) * "Jab Badal Lehraya" (''Chhoomantar'' – 1956) * "Mere Zindagi Ke Humsafar" (''Shrimati 420'' – 1956) * "Jaata Kahan Hai" ('' CID'' – 1956) * "Aye Dil Hain Mushkil" (Aka "Bombay Meri Jaan") ('' CID'' – 1956), With

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice ...

* "Chor, Lutere, Daku" (''Ustad'' – 1957) * " Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" (''

Howrah Bridge The Howrah Bridge is a balanced steel bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the both ...

'' – 1958) * "Kaisa Jadoo Balam Tune Dara" (''12 O'clock'' – 1958) Some of the songs sung under

Hemant Kumar Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (16 June 1920 – 26 September 1989), known professionally as Hemanta Mukherjee and Hemant Kumar, was an Indian music director and a playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, along with several other India ...

's direction * "Jai Jagadish Hare" Composed By A Sanskrit Poet

Jayadeva Jayadeva (; born ), also spelt Jaideva, was a Sanskrit poet during the 12th century. He is most known for his epic poem ''Gita Govinda'' which concentrates on Krishna's love with the ''gopi'', Radha, in a rite of spring. This poem, which presen ...

Circa 1200 AD ('' Anand Math'' - 1951) * "Na Jao Saiyaan Chhuda Ke Baiyaan" ('' Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'' – 1962) * "Kaise Roko Ge Aise Toofan Ko" (''Anandmath'' – 1952 ) With Talat Mahmood * "Madbhari Hain Pyar Ki Palken" (''Fashion'' – 1957) * "Na Yeh Chand Ho Ga" (''Shart'' – 1954) * "Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaye Gayo" ('' Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'' – 1962) * "Chale Aao Chale Aao" ('' Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'' – 1962) Madan Mohan's direction * "Aye Dil Mujhe Bata De'"('' Bhai Bhai'' – 1956) For movie ''Anubhav'' (1971) * "Mujhe Jaan Nah Kaho Meri Jaan" ('' Anubhav'' – 1971) Music: Kanu Roy * "Mera Dil Jo Mera Hota" ('' Anubhav'' – 1971) Music: Kanu Roy * "Koi Chupke Se Aake" ('' Anubhav'' – 1971) Music: Kanu Roy Several songs from '' Jogan'': * "Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol" * "Mein Tou Girdhar Ke Ghar Jaon" * "Mat Ja Mat Ja Jogi" * "Dag Mag Dag Mag Dole Naiya" * "Mein Tou Prem Diwani" Some Bengali songs: * 'Shachimata Go Char Juge Hai' (1950) * Baalo (1951) ( Punjabi Film ) : Kothe Kothe Aa Kudiye : Music N Dutta : L Sahir Ludhiyanvi * 'Ekhan-O Dustar Lajja' (1952) * 'Ei Sundar Swarnali Sandhyay' (Hospital, 1960; Music: Amal Mukherjee) * 'Katha Achhe Tumi Aj Asbe (Kanu Ghosh 1960) * 'Ei Mayabi Tithi' (Shonar Horin, 1959; Music: Hemant Mukherjee) * 'Tumi Je Amar' ( Harano Sur, 1958; Music: Hemant Kumar) * 'Nishi Raat Banka Chand Aakashe' ( Prithibi Aamare Chaay, 1957; Music: Nachiketa Ghosh) * 'Jhanak Jhanak Kanak Kankan Baaje' (Indrani, 1958; Music : Nachiketa Ghosh) * ' Sundar, jano na ki.....' ( Indrani, 1958; Music : Nachiketa Ghosh) * ' Nir chhoto kshati nei ' uet with Hemanta Mukherjee Indrani, 1958; Music : Nachiketa Ghosh) * ' Kancher churir chhata' ( Dak Harkara; Music : Sudhin Dasgupta) A few Bengali songs of non-film genre: * ' Kato gaan haralam tomar majhe ' (Music : Anal Chatterjee) * ' Krishnachura aagun tumi ' (Music : Sudhin Dasgupta) * ' Ektu chaoya, ektu paoya ' (Music : Sudhin Dasgupta) * '..Aay aay moynamotir ganye ' (Music : Kanu Roy)

Government recognition

Postage stamps featuring Dutt were issued by

India Post The Department of Posts, d/b/a India Post, is an Indian Public Sector Undertakings in India, public sector postal system statutory body headquartered in New Delhi, India. It is an organisation under the Ministry of Communications (India), Minist ...

in 2013 and 2016.

References

External links

* *
Geeta Dutt: Hindi cinema's skylark who enthralled millions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutt, Geeta 1930 births 1972 deaths Deaths from cirrhosis Indian women playback singers Indian film actresses Bengali playback singers People from Madaripur District Bollywood playback singers Bengali singers Nepali-language singers from India 20th-century Indian actresses 20th-century Indian singers Alcohol-related deaths in India 20th-century Indian women singers Actresses from Mumbai Singers from Mumbai Guru Dutt hif:23 November