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(1930 - 1972)
 
Kanu Roy
 

Kanu Roy was a music composer in Hindi and Bengali films. Contrary to the popular belief, he is not a brother of Geeta Dutt. Mukul Roy who composed the music for Detective and Sailab is her brother. Kanu Roy gave music for most of Basu Bhattacharya’s films. His major work was for films Uski Kahani (1966) , Anubhav (1971) , Avishkaar (1973) and Griha Pravesh (1979). Interestingly, Kanu Roy never used the voice of Lata Mangeshkar. For his films after Geeta’s demise, he used the voice of Asha Bhonsle.

Geeta Dutt sang a total of only four songs for him and even today they are his most famous compositions, apart from the two divine solos he composed for the legendary Manna Dey (Hansne ki chaah ne and Phir kahin koi phool khila).

All these four songs of Kanu Roy (sung by Geeta ji) have certain common factors like meaningful lyrics, minimum use of orchestra, use of Xylophone, deep rendition of the song by Geeta Dutt and an emotional bonding these songs share with the listener.

Uski Kahani (1966) is the debut film as composer for Kanu Roy and the Geeta Dutt solo “Aaj ki kali ghata, mast matawali ghata” is the only song she sings in this film. It seems that the song appears several times in the film. This song showcases the poet/lyricist Kaifi Azmi's flair for imagery-evoking lyrics, without catering to the rhyme format. The music orchestration of the song is minimal, the words drop like a gentle drizzle and have a mystical quality. Geeta Dutt's velvety vocals extraordinaire -- soft and seductive.

From early sixties to the early seventies, the miseries and ruining of health and professional career had become a vicious circle for Geeta. Guru Dutt had left her with three young children to be raised and huge debts from Guru Dutt Films. Film Anubhav (1971) turned out to be the swan-song for Geeta Dutt, who was once immensely popular and was practically forgotten by 1970! Anubhav proved that even at such a stage in life, Geeta had that something special in her voice and could create that magic given a chance. The critics and music lovers went gaga over her songs from Anubhav. Almost every CD compilation of Geeta Dutt has at least one song from Anubhav.

Each of the three songs from Anubhav is a masterpiece and one can keep discussing the finer elements in these songs in great details. The important factor is that these songs came when Geeta was not in the best of her health conditions, was deserted by all the composers, even her one time loyalists! It is easy to put in words that Geeta sang these songs from the bottom of her heart, but that is indeed an understatement! She was fighting for life and this was her only chance to prove herself. Without sounding dramatic or too emotional, she conveys the feelings of the character in the film (played by Tanuja). The laughter at the end of the song "Mujhe jaan na kahon meri jaan" sounds so natural, and so does the pouting style of singing in the lines "Jaan na kahon anjaan mujhe" antara. Unfortunately Anubhav’s success turned out to be the brighter light of the lamp before it finally extinguishes.
 
List of songs sung by Geeta Dutt
Please note that this list may not be complete
 
Year Song Film Co-Singer
1966

Aaj ki kaali ghata

Uski Kahani
-
1971
Mera dil jo mera hota
Anubhav
-
1971
Mujhe jaan na kaho
Anubhav
-
1971
Koi chupke se aake
Anubhav
-
 
 
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