Geeta Dutt would have made huge difference had she survived in the 70s.

Geeta Dutt would have made huge difference had she survived in the 70s.

Singer Geeta Dutt, was born in a zamindar family as Geeta Roy Choudhury in Faridpur in Bangladesh in 1930. She married Guru Dutt and after his death left singing leading to an end of her career at a premature stage.

She had sung bhajans and other types of songs in the early 50s. Her song “sachimata go ami” became very popular among Bengali community in the early 50s. Her other notable modern Bengali songs in the 50s included “akashjure shapnamaya” and “tomay dekhechi tandrabihin ratero chayay” composed by Kanu Ghosh, which were related to the early creations of IPTA. She also sang successful songs composed by Sudhin Dasgupta like “jheeri jheeri choitali batashe”, “ektu chaowa”, “otho otho magouri”, “krishnachura agun tumi”, “kajol kajol kumkum”, etc. Her songs in pensive mood included “koto gaan haralam” composed by Anal Chatterji, “ektu chaoya ekto payoa”, “oi shur bhara dur nilimay”, composed by Kanu Ghosh, etc. Her songs composed by Binod Chatterji included “hridoy amar kichu Jodi bole”. Kanu Ghosh also composed a fast number for Geeta Dutt titled “ogo amar moner chiro udas anmona”. Salil Choudhury composed for Geeta Dutt “jaak na muche jaak” and sonay dekhe ango”.

Geeta Dutt’s songs in Bengali films stormed the tollywood as most of them were related to actress Suchitra Sen. Her successful songs included “tumi je amar” sung in Harano Sur, “ogo sundoro” sung in Uttam Kumar’s film Indrani, “ei shundo sarnali sondhay” in Hospital, to name a few. Her songs in other films included “banshi bujhi se” in the film Saathihara, “ke dake amay” in Swaralipi, “oi mayabi tithi” in the film Sonar Horin, to name a few.

In the mid-50s, Geeta Dutt sang notable songs in bollywood films as well. Some of her successful songs included “mera naam chinchin cho” in Howrah Bridge, composed by OP Nayyar, “ai dil mushkil” with Rafi in CID composed by OP Nayyar, “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” in Kagaz Ka Phool composed by SD Burman, “khayalon me kisiki" in Bawre Nain composed by Roshan, “hum bhi hai tum bhi ho” in Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, composed by Shankar Jaikishan, to name a few.

But from the time Guru Dutt died in the mid-60s, Geeta Dutt stopped singing and sang back in the film Anubhav, titled “meri jaan”, “mera dil jo mera hota”, etc. That was the period when composers in Mumbai like Shankar Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, C. Ramchandran, Salil Choudhury experimented the most with westernized compositions. In that respect the listeners were deprived because, had Geeta Dutt seriously continued her singing most of the upcoming composers would have experimented with her.

Happy birthday to Dev Anand

Happy birthday to Dev Anand.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to evergreen star Dev Anand. Along with Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar he was one of the most popular stars of bollywood films of the 50s and 60s.

He acted opposite most of the leading actresses of the 50s and 60s and most of his romantic of the golden age remained hits. Some of his successful films include Taxi-Driver with Nalini Jayant, CID with Wahida Rehman, Kalapani with Madhubala, Kalabazar with Wahida Rehman, etc. His production banner Navketan was the pivot around which his brothers Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand contributed a lot.

In the 60s, Dev Anand acted in successful films like Guide, Jewel Thief, etc. Guide was based on the epic literature of RK Narayan. Dev Anand received the filmfare award for the best actor for his performance in the film Guide. In Jewel Thief he successfully acted in the role of a detective to combat the group of burglers led by Ashok Kumar.

From the 70s Dev Anand started directing his films including Prem Pujari, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, etc. Even as a director he showed his class. As an actor he was known for his stylish andaz as he emulated the mannerisms of Hollywood actor Gregory Pegg. Another factor for which Dev Anand is still remembered is the quality music given in his films.

Composers like SD Burman, Shankar Jaikishan, Jaidev, OP Nayyar, gave everlasting music with Rafi’s songs like “tujhe jeevan ki dorme”, “khoya khoya chand”, “tere mere sapne”, “hum bekhudi me tumko bulaye” still remaining immortal. Even Kishore’s songs “jeevan ki safar me rahi”, “gata rahe mera dil”, “phulon ke rang se” had not lost their colour even today.

Dev Anand received Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his excellence in Indian cinema. The viewers expect him to continue the great work that he started 60 years ago.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday on 9th July, 2009. He had died more than 40 years ago, yet his reference comes whenever history relating to thoughtful films is revisited. Guru Dutt was innovative as a director and from the time he created Baazi with Dev Anand in 1951, he showed his spark. As an actor his films Aarpar with Shyama gave a new team in bollywood films with OP Nayyar, Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Johny Walker and others. The song in the “kabhi aar kabhi paar” became super hit.

From that time onwards Guru Dutt created his identity in picturising song sequences and was regarded by the film community after Raj Kapoor. In CID, all the songs of the film like “ay dil mushkil jeena yahan”, “ankhon hi ankho me ishara ho gaya”, “leke pehla pehla pyar” became super hit. Johnny Walker became a leading comedian in the 50s, due to his brilliant relationship with Guru Dutt and Mohammad Rafi and their combination gave numerous hits for the next ten years.

Mr and Mrs 55 was Guru Dutt’s super hit project opposite Madhubala. All the songs in the film became successful including “thandi hawa kali ghata”, “jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji”, etc. Rafi’s songs for Johnny Walker and Guru Dutt like “sun sun sun sun zalima”, “muhobbat karlo aji karlo”, “dil pe kiya aisa jadu” remained everlasting hits and still is considered as some of the most innovative creations of OP Nayyar. The songs of the film 12 O Clock were also hit including “mai kho gaya” sung by Rafi.

From 1957, the viewers saw thoughtful Guru Dutt in films like Pyaasa and Kagaz Ka Phool. Both the films were based on eternal truth. Pyasa was related to recognition of a poet in a materialistic world. Kagaz Ka Phool was related to story of directors and performers in celluloid, their rise and their fall due to ungratefulness of opportunists in society. The music composed by SD Burman in both these films were of high standard. Also the lyrics of Sahir Ludhiyanvi were very meaningful. The notable songs included “yeh mahalon yeh takhton yeh tajon ki duniya”, “sar jo tera”, “bichar gaya bari bari” sung by Rafi, “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” sung by Geeta Dutt, to name a few.

Guru Dutt and Wahida Rehman’s onscreen chemistry was accepted by viewers in the film Chaudavi Ka Chand. The title song “chaudavi ka chand ho, ya aaftab ho” sung by Rafi and composed by Ravi can be considered as one of the ten best ghazals composed in the history of bollywood music. Guru Dutt bought colour in the song sequence. The film did great business. Guru Dutt as an actor did great job in films like Bharosa, Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam, Saanz Aur Sawera, etc. His early demise in the mid-60s led to huge loss in the film industry as his works were filled with deep thoughts. The viewers pay respect to the departed soul on his birthday and want the restoration of his works to acknowledge his creativity as a director, producer and actor.

Rafi and Guru Dutt.

Rafi and Gurudutt.

Rafi became a living legend in the mid-50s after dominating bollywood films over ten years and singing for nearly all the giant productions and leading actors of bollywood. He had very strong combination with thinking actor Guru Dutt.

Guru Dutt had created his image in bollywood films in different categories being a thoughtful director and producer, dynamic actor, good choreographer. One of the numerous reasons for which his films became super hit in the 50s and 60s include the brilliant songs sung by Rafi during the golden age.

Rafi’s songs in Guru Dutt’s Aar Paar, composed by OP Nayyar became super hit. It was followed by Mr and Mrs. 55 released in 1955. Songs picturized on both Guru Dutt and Johnny Walker had melody and sweetness. Rafi’s songs like “dil pe kiya aisa jaadu”, “muhobbat karlo aji karlo”, “sun sun sun sun zaalima”, composed by OP Nayyar, created landmark in the mid-50s and Rafi emerged as the greatest singer of bollywood films during that time.

The same combination of Guru Dutt, OP Nayyar and Rafi gave everlasting hit in the film 12 O Clock with songs like “mai kho gaya”. When Guru Dutt used SD Burman for composing songs in the film Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ka Phool, Rafi was used brilliantly for the legendary music of those films. Both the films won national and international awards and remain a landmark in the field of story-telling. Rafi’s songs “sar jot era chakrae” picturised on Johnny Walker and “hum aapke aankho me” and “yeh mahalon yeh takhton yeh taajon ki duniya” picturised on Guru Dutt had emotions, passions, comedy, tragedy everything embedded in them. Rafi’s duet combination with Geeta Dutt was bolstered in the film. The lyrics were outstanding as well. The films marked the best music given by SD Burman in his entire lifetime.

Guru Dutt can boast himself to have given lips in one of Rafi’s best ghazals sung in the history of bollywood films titled “chaudavi ka chaand”. Guru Dutt picturised the song sequence with colour, showing his passionate relationship with Wahida Rehman in the film Chaudavi Ka Chand. Ravi’s music in the film showed the pardanashin culture of muslims in India during the early 60s.

Rafi also sang songs for Guru Dutt in the film Saanjh Aur Sawera, composed by Shankar Jaikishan. The title song “yehi hai who saanjh aur sawera” sung by Rafi became very popular. Meena Kumari balanced the powerful performance of Guru Dutt in the film. The other films where Rafi had contributed for Guru Dutt include Bharosa where Ravi composed melodious tunes including “yeh jhuki jhuki naina” picturised on Guru Dutt and Asha Parekh.

Guru Dutt’s music in the film Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi composed by OP Nayyar, created sensation in the mid -60s. It was a tragedy, that Guru Dutt died before the release of the film and could not see the success of the film. The songs sung by Rafi and picturised on Dharmender mesmerized the audience and still haunts people all over the world. One of those brilliant songs include “aap ki haseen rukh me aaj naya nur hai, mera dil machal gaya to mera kya kasoor hai”.

The uniqueness of Guru Dutt’s relationship with Rafi lies in the fact that whether the composer was OP Nayyar or Shankar Jaikishan or SD Burman or Ravi, the music composed for whom had philosophical thoughts embedded in them and Rafi gave expression to the mesmerizing lyrics of evergreen tunes which had become immortal over a period of time. The films and the songs should be preserved and restored.

The use of folk songs in bollywood films

The use of folk songs in bollywood films.

Folk songs which had originated from the rural areas and villages of different parts of India had been one of the indispensable source of music for more than 500 years. The leading composers of bollywood films had used the folks songs in successful films and popularized them.

Shankar Jaikishan’s composition “ramaiya vasta maiyya” in Raj Kapoor’s successful film Shree 420, was based on marathi folk song. Naushad had experimented with bhojpuri folk song in the film Ganga Jumna. Rafi’s hit song “nain lad jaihe woh manwama kasak oi bekari”, and Lata’s hit song “dhundo dhundo re sajna” was based on the folk songs of Bihar and Hindi high belt. Dilip Kumar and Vaijayantimala had given quality lips in the film.

SD Burman had a very colourful background in respect of his own basic discs which were based on folk songs of Tripura and East Bengal (modern Bangladesh), including “paddar dheu re”, “jhilmil jhilmil jhiler jole”, “bangladesher dhol”, “mono dilo na bodhu”, etc., and he used to be addressed as Sachin Karta ( the head of Hindu Undivided Family). The major folk songs used by SD Burman in bollywood films include “jane kya tune kaha” sung by Geeta Dutt in Pyasa, “dil ka bhanwar kare pukar” sung by Rafi in the film Tere Ghar Ke Samne, “o janewale ho sake to”, sung by Mukesh in the film Bandini, “mitwa” sung by Talat Mehmood, in the film Devdas. The list is very long and articles after articles can be devoted on his work.

Salil Choudhury had merged Assamese Bihu folk music with westernized folks. His notable songs include Lata’s “daiya re daiya re jangal papi bichua” in Madhumati, “zindagi kaisi hai peheli” sung by Manna Dey in the film Anand, “ai mere pyare watan” sung by Manna Dey in the film Kabuliwala, “janeman janeman” sung by Yeshu Das in the film Choti Si Baat, “tasveer teri dil me” sung by Rafi and Lata in the film Maya, “ganga aye kahan se” sung by Hemant Kumar, to mention a few. Salil Choudhury’s westernized creations stormed bollywood films to such an extent that his folk songs got unnoticed.

Shankar Jaikishan had used folk songs and blended western music in many films. His notable creations include “aa aab laut chale” sung by Mukesh and Lata in the film Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, “chalet musafir” sung by Manna Dey in the film Teesri Kasam, “dil ka haal sunewala” sung by Manna Dey in the film Shree 420, to name a few.

Roshan, Madanmohan, Laxmikant Pyarellal, Khayyam, Jaidev, etc., also used folk songs to a big extent in bollywood films. Some of the other landmark folk songs include “ohre taal mile nadi ke jal me” sung by Mukesh,

SD Burman and Dev Anand.

SD Burman and Dev Anand.

Just as Shankar Jaikishan had been instrumental in the musical success of Raj Kapoor’s films and Naushad was associated with Dilip Kumar, in the same way SD Burman had great contribution in the musical success of Dev Anand’s films. His music in the film Kala Pani was successful with Rafi’s songs “hum bekhudi me tum ko pukare”, and “acha ji mai hari”. The songs in Kala Bazar were equally successful with songs like “khoya khoya chand”.

In the film Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, all the songs were melodious including “tere ghar ke saamne”, “tu kahan yeh bata”, etc. Rafi and Lata had sung sweet songs in the film which were picturised on Dev Anand and Nootan. The songs of the film Teen Deviyan were successful including “aise to na dekho” sung by Rafi and “are yaar mera dil bhi hai gazab” sung by Kishore Kumar.


Probably SD Burman gave his best in the film Guide. The song “kya se kya ho gaya”, “tere mere sapne” and “din dhal jaye” sung by Rafi, “gata rahe mera dil” sung by Kishore and “piya tose naina lagere” and “katon se kheech ke who aanchal” sung by Lata were landmarks in Indian film industry. The songs were as popular as the film.


SD Burman also contributed well in the film Jewel Thief. Asha’s song “raat nashili hai” was as successful as Lata’s song “rulake gaya sapna mera” and Rafi’s song “dil pukare are are are” was as successful as Kishore’s song “yeh dil na hota bechara”. The film was a crime thriller and the powerful performance of Ahsok Kumar and Vaijayantimala was matched by the quality music composed by SD Burman.


The other successful films of Dev Anand where SD Burman contributed with quality music include Prem Pujari, Taxi Driver, Baazi, etc. SD Burman gave good songs to Geeta Dutt, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood and other singers as well.

The songs and the films should be restored for the next generation.