Golden Era of Bollywood: The Magic of Geeta Dutt-Some of my Favourite songs

We all remember the song "Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya" with this song Geeta Dutt became famous That was in 1947 with the release of Do Bhai music was given by S D Burman. Disc sales of the song rocketed to new heights. 1947-1949 saw Geeta Roy rule as the number one playback singer in the Mumbai film industry as she moved from strength to strength.

In 1949 released the film Mahal and its song 'Aayega Aane Wala' from Mahal soared to heights of till then unseen popularity. ( It remains an all time favourite even today ) The singer was Lata Mangeshkar. Lata went on to become the greatest playback singer the Indian screen has ever seen. Only two singers managed to survive the Lata onslaught in the 1950s Shamshad Begam and Geeta Dutt.Though relegated to the second spot, Geeta managed to hold her own against Lata for more than a decade and she and Lata were the premier two female playback singers of the 1950s.

The first thing that strikes one when you hear Geeta Dutt sing was that she never sang. She just glided through a tune. She was perfact in Bhajan as well as western songs.The sex appeal in her voice and the ease with which she went western was marvellous to behold.

She was at her best when she sang under the baton of two music directors, S.D. Burman and O.P.Nayyar.

She was the only singer with whom Lata was really feared during her career Raju Bharathan, Music critic in Filmfare February 1-15, 1985 wrote "In training and technique Lata was way ahead but neither training nor technique was of much use when pitted against Geeta in the recording room........This put Lata on the defensive and I think she avoided singing with Geeta as far as possible. "

Mera sundar sapna beet gaya