Chhaayaageet #222 - "She won’t be able to record in this drunken state."
It is evening. She is feeling the urge to drink again. Lately, that craving has been lingering with her all day. Drinking is the only way she knows how to forget what is happening to her. How else can she cope? Her life once seemed perfect, but now her husband is never home. His affair with that other woman has shattered the very idea of their marriage. Now, it is just her and alcohol. That is the only bond that feels secure and unbreakable.
“Madam, it is time to go for the rehearsal. We are already late.” Her helper calls her out a bit loudly. He is not sure if she can hear him after all those drinks. “Don’t shout. I can hear you. Let me get ready.” The singer applies some makeup and fragrance. Maybe it will cover up the smell of alcohol. She gets into the car to leave for the composer’s place for rehearsal.
The composer is at home, glancing impatiently at his watch. He is known in the industry for his strict attention to punctuality. There are horror stories about how he treats his people when they are late. In this case, it is the singer, and she also happens to be the lead actor’s wife. The punishment options are quite limited.
The bell rings, and it's the female singer at the door. “Oh, finally, you are here. I didn’t think you would come today.” The composer is trying his best to be nice to a lady. He can also smell alcohol through the fragranced laced stench. He tries his best not to cover his nose. The female singer gets settled in, and they manage to finish the rehearsal. The male singer is in the back, observing the whole thing. He wonders, “What has led her to become like this. They were such a great pair singing lively songs, and every one of them was a hit. And now she looks so depressed.”
The female singer decides to take leave. The composer waves to the male singer. “Can you stay back? I want to talk to you.” The female singer bids goodbye.
Composer: “I think the rehearsals have gone ok. I would like to finalize the schedule for the recording. Are you good with it?”
Male singer: “Yes, I am good. Let’s schedule the recording date.”
Composer: “But here is the problem. I have zero confidence in the female singer showing up on time or even showing up at all. Not sure how I can guarantee she will be there.”
Male singer: “You don’t worry. I will swing by her residence, pick her up, and get her to the studio in time.”
The male singer arrives at her residence the morning of the recording. One of her helpers comes running, “Madam, please hurry up. It is time for the recording. You have to leave.” He notices her and the bottle next to her. Oh no! It’s already half empty, and it’s not even noon yet.
The female singer moves her gaze almost in slow motion to her helper. “Hold on. Let’s finish this bottle, and then we can leave.”
The helper feels helpless. “But madam, Saheb is downstairs waiting for you. Let’s go.” The chemistry between the two singers is unique. She doesn’t want him to wait. She decides to leave right away.
She somehow finds her right footing to get to the car, but gets stuck at the door. How to open this? The male singer quickly realizes that she is under the influence and is having trouble with the door. He leaps out and helps her sit inside the car. He starts driving. She mumbles something, the male singer doesn’t understand anything she is saying. He is dreading what is going to happen next.
They reach the studio. The composer is waiting for them impatiently. They are a bit late and that annoys him, given his focus on punctuality. Anyway, what is done is done. Let’s get going with the recording.
He looks at both of them as they make their way into the recording booth. The female singer can hardly walk. She tries to wobble her way with the male singer holding her hand. The composer realizes pretty quickly that she is wasted. “Looks like she is a lot more drunk today than usual. She can hardly walk.” He makes the comment to the folks around him. The assistant cannot hold back. “She won’t be able to record in this drunken state.” The composer tacitly agrees.
The male singer overhears all of this. He is aware of the female singer’s capabilities. “Let’s try one take and see if she can do it. If not, we will pack up and reschedule.” The composer feels it is not a big ask, given the entire crew is already there and they have access to the recording studio.
The record begins and finishes. The composer is listening to the song in the technical sound room. He is almost in a frozen state. He is looking for reasons to reject, but none come to mind. The song gets recorded in a single take.
Geeta Dutt sang the duet song Tum Jo Huye Mere Humsafar along with Mohammed Rafi in the film 12 O’Clock. The music for the film was composed by OP Nayyar, and the song lyrics were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The song was picturized on Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. The film was directed by Pramod Chakravorty and produced by GP Sippy.
Geeta Dutt’s personal life began to unravel as her marriage to Guru Dutt, once a source of happiness, started to deteriorate. Guru Dutt grew increasingly distant, drawn to actress Waheeda Rehman, and their affair soon became an open secret in the film industry. The betrayal devastated Geeta, leaving her feeling isolated and heartbroken. In her loneliness, she turned to alcohol, seeking solace from the pain that was part of her daily life. What began as an occasional escape gradually became a destructive habit, affecting both her health and her career.
Before Geeta Dutt’s struggles with alcohol began, she and Mohammed Rafi created some of Hindi cinema’s most delightful and lively duets. Their voices blended effortlessly in playful, fun-filled songs that captured the spirit of the 1950s. Classics like Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji from Mr. & Mrs. '55 and Mohabbat Kar Lo Ji Bhar Lo from Aar Paar are brimming with mischief and youthful energy. These songs, composed by maestros like OP Nayyar and SD Burman, showcase the sheer joy and spontaneity that defined Geeta Dutt and Rafi’s early collaborations.
Singer: Geeta Dutt, Mohammed Rafi
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
*ing: Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman
Director: Pramod Chakravorty
Producer: GP Sippy
Film: 12 O'Clock (1958)