The Indian music group has suffered another major loss, just weeks after the death of Asha Bhosle. Veteran singer Suman Kalyanpur, whose velvety voice enchanted generations of listeners, passed away on Sunday, May 31, at the age of 89.Known for having a voice remarkably similar to that of melodic icon Lata Mangeshkar, so much so that audiences often confuse the two, Suman has carved out a distinct identity of her own through decades of musical excellence.Born as Suman Hammadi on 28 January 1937 in Dhaka, then part of undivided India, she became one of the most popular playback singers in Hindi and Marathi cinema. In addition to film music, her repertoire included bhajans, ghazals, Marathi abhang and bhavjeet, which demonstrated her versatility as an artist.After completing her studies from St. Columba’s School in Mumbai, Suman initially pursued painting and enrolled at Sir JJ School of Art. However, music soon became her calling. She has trained under renowned teachers including Pt. Keshavrao Bholi, Ustad Khan Abdul Rahman Khan and Guru Navrang laid the foundation for a remarkable career.She began her journey in cinema with films like ‘Shukrachi Chandni’ and ‘Mangu’ (1954). Over the years, she has lent her voice to many timeless classic songs, including ‘Sharaabi Sharaabi Yeh Saawan Ka Mausam*’, ‘Rahein Na Rahein Hum’, ‘Aajkal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche’, ‘Na Na Karte Pyaar’, ‘Na Tum Hamein Jaano’, ‘Parbaton Ke Pedon Par’ and ‘Nimbonichya Zhaada Maage’. Its collaborations with
Muhammad Rafi
They became particularly popular during the early 1960s, a period shaped in part by the well-known professional rift between Lata Mangeshkar and Ravi.
Condolences poured in following the news of her death, a prominent leader of the National Congress Party
Sharad Pawar
Singer Fayyad was one of the first to offer their condolences.Pawar said, “The news of Suman Kalyanpur’s demise is extremely heartbreaking. She enriched the world of Indian music with her sweet, melodious and soul-stirring voice. Her immortal songs in Hindi, Marathi and many other regional languages have ruled the emotional realms of generations. With her demise, the curtains have drawn down on a golden age in Indian classical and light music. I offer my heartfelt tributes to her and my deepest condolences to her family.”
“Suman married businessman Ramanand Kalyanpur in 1958. She is survived by her daughter Charu Agni.