Highlights:
INDIA’S president led tributes to veteran playback singer Suman Kalyanpur, who died last Sunday (31), following age-related ailments in Mumbai. She was 89.
The singer was known for memorable numbers such as Na Na Karke Pyaar, Na Tum Hamen Jano and Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche was perhaps the only female singer of her era at a time when Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were in high demand.
“The passing of Suman Kalyanpur, who enriched Indian music, is an irreparable loss to the world of Indian art. She enchanted people with her melodious singing in Hindi and Marathi, as well as in numerous other Indian languages,” president Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
Prime minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by her passing. “Her melodious voice and soulful renditions enriched our cultural world. Through her songs, she created a special place among music lovers and admirers of Indian cinema. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti,” Modi wrote on X.
At her funeral, friends and family members sang the evocative duet Rahen Na Rahen Hum, Meheka Karenge from the 1966 film, Mamta.
Kalyanpur’s melodious voice was often compared to Mangeshkar, something which became both a blessing and a curse.
Those who could not afford Mangeshkar would sign up Kalyanpur. Her breakout moment came when Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi had differences over the issues of royalties, leading Kalyanpur to record more than 100 duets with Rafi.
Mohammed Rafi’s son Shahid Rafi said, “Suman ji had a great bond with abba and they both sang some really beautiful songs. She was a down-to-earth and humble person. Suman ji was with my father when he had an issue with Lata ji... during this time, his duets were mostly with Suman ji and Asha ji.”
Kalyanpur’s songs would often get wrongly attributed to Mangeshkar. In 2022, Kalyanpur said Mangeshkar was a close friend.
“Everyone loved her (Lata’s) songs, and she will be immortal. We recorded a duet together for the film Chaand. Everytime I met her, it felt like I met a close friend. I believe she felt the same,” she said after Mangeshkar’s death.
Anand Virji Shah, of the legendary Kalyanji-Anandji composer duo, described Kalyanpur as very talented.
They collaborated on songs such as Na Na Karte Pyar, Tumhi Mere Meet Ho Tumhi Mere Preet Ho, Aap Se Humko Bichhade Huye.
“We worked with her on quite a few songs. She was very easygoing; she would do rehearsals, and she would pick up the song quickly. We shared a great professional relationship,” Anandji said.
Mangala Khadilkar, who wrote Kalyanpur’s biography, said Kalyanpur sang more than 3,500 songs in 13 Indian languages, most prominently in Hindi, Marathi and Bengali.
“Her personality was reflected in her singing. The softness, sweetness, and gentleness of her nature found expression in her songs. Her voice was often compared to Lata ji’s voice but while there were similarities, they were distinctly different.
Born in January 1937 in Dhaka, Kalyanpur initially pursued art and studied at the JJ School of Art, but music was her true calling and she later trained under Pandit Keshav Rao Bhole, Abdul Rehman Khan and Guruji Master Navrang.
She made her playback debut in Hindi cinema with Mangu and sang three songs, but when composer Mohammed Shafi was replaced by OP Nayyar, only one of her tracks were included in the final movie. The song was Koi Pukare Dheere Se Tujhe.
Her most popular song Na Tum Hamen Jano was from Dev Anand-Waheeda Rehman hit Baat Ek Raat Ki with music by SD Burman.
She also sang the title track for Dil Ek Mandir Hai.
In many albums from the era, Kalyanpur got the duet but Mangeshkar the solos.
In 2023, Kalyanpur was awarded with the Padma Bhushan.
