Symphonies of Yore
31 July 2013 1:48 AM IST
Capital's music enthusiasts got together to pay a tribute to the yesteryears singing sensation Geeta Dutt on her 41st Death Anniversary at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi.
Team Svarpana, a Delhi-based group of 10 classically-trained, passionate music enthusiasts of all age groups and walks of life. Pawan Naidu, the fountainhead for the group designed this very presentation weaving the great singers’ story alongwith her songs. The rather melancholic life that she lead with untold events that marked her career and personal journey. The evening titled Geeta Dutt…Aik Adhoora Sapna will have 17 ever green, joyful and melancholic songs of the veteran including Ai Dil Muje Bata De, Babuji, dheere chalna, Koi Chupke se aake, Na jao saiyya, Mera sundar Sapna beet gaya, Vaqt ne kiya, Janoo Janoo Re, Meri jaan. These songs will be sung mainly by Shetal accompanied by Jyoti and Stuti in duets – all classically trained singers.
When asked why a tribute to Geeta Dutt, Pawan replied ‘because no one remembers her,’ he has devoted 25 years to present a ‘no nonsense live concert of Geeta Dutt by a solo artist to make his dream come true. Who remembers that this week on July 20th was Geeta Dutt’s death anniversary?,’ he asks adding that they had been paying tribute to her every year since 2007 to packed houses across the country. ‘We have taken special care that the songs have same expressions as she would ingrain in her intoxicating voice. Since she was not deeply trained in classical, expressions dominated most of her songs which struck the right chord with all and sundry, everyone could sing her songs.’
Adds Shetal, the lead vocalist for evening, ‘I read in Geeta Dutt’s blog maintained by her daughter in which she says that ‘no one pays tribute to my mother’ so she had prepared Pal a music CD dedicated to her some time ago. We are trying to contact her to say that we have not forgotten her.’
The evening is called Aik Adhoora Sapna to indicate at the loneliness the versatile singer lived almost all through her life. Says Mr. Naidu,
‘Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhury, a highly qualified woman hailing from an aristocratic zamindar family of Faridpur (before Partition) was at the peak of her career when she married Guru Dutt to become Geeta Dutt – then a struggling assistant to different directors. Dutt hailed from a Saraswat Brahman family and their union was a taboo affair in their families.’
He adds, ‘If a person of Guru Dutt’s sensibilities could fall for Geeta Dutt, she must have had some tremendous qualities, yet he could not sustain respect for this relationship. He fell for Wahida Rehman, and Geeta was left alone’.
Team Svarpana, a Delhi-based group of 10 classically-trained, passionate music enthusiasts of all age groups and walks of life. Pawan Naidu, the fountainhead for the group designed this very presentation weaving the great singers’ story alongwith her songs. The rather melancholic life that she lead with untold events that marked her career and personal journey. The evening titled Geeta Dutt…Aik Adhoora Sapna will have 17 ever green, joyful and melancholic songs of the veteran including Ai Dil Muje Bata De, Babuji, dheere chalna, Koi Chupke se aake, Na jao saiyya, Mera sundar Sapna beet gaya, Vaqt ne kiya, Janoo Janoo Re, Meri jaan. These songs will be sung mainly by Shetal accompanied by Jyoti and Stuti in duets – all classically trained singers.
When asked why a tribute to Geeta Dutt, Pawan replied ‘because no one remembers her,’ he has devoted 25 years to present a ‘no nonsense live concert of Geeta Dutt by a solo artist to make his dream come true. Who remembers that this week on July 20th was Geeta Dutt’s death anniversary?,’ he asks adding that they had been paying tribute to her every year since 2007 to packed houses across the country. ‘We have taken special care that the songs have same expressions as she would ingrain in her intoxicating voice. Since she was not deeply trained in classical, expressions dominated most of her songs which struck the right chord with all and sundry, everyone could sing her songs.’
Adds Shetal, the lead vocalist for evening, ‘I read in Geeta Dutt’s blog maintained by her daughter in which she says that ‘no one pays tribute to my mother’ so she had prepared Pal a music CD dedicated to her some time ago. We are trying to contact her to say that we have not forgotten her.’
The evening is called Aik Adhoora Sapna to indicate at the loneliness the versatile singer lived almost all through her life. Says Mr. Naidu,
‘Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhury, a highly qualified woman hailing from an aristocratic zamindar family of Faridpur (before Partition) was at the peak of her career when she married Guru Dutt to become Geeta Dutt – then a struggling assistant to different directors. Dutt hailed from a Saraswat Brahman family and their union was a taboo affair in their families.’
He adds, ‘If a person of Guru Dutt’s sensibilities could fall for Geeta Dutt, she must have had some tremendous qualities, yet he could not sustain respect for this relationship. He fell for Wahida Rehman, and Geeta was left alone’.
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