Suman Kalyanpur

Suman Kalyanpur is one of the well-known Indian playback singers of Hindi cinema, especially active during the golden era of the 1950s to 1970s. She was born as Suman Hemmadi on 28 January 1937 in Dhaka, which was then part of British India (now in Bangladesh). 

Her family later moved to Mumbai in 1943, where she spent most of her childhood and received her education and musical training. Initially, she had a strong interest in painting and even studied at the Sir J. J. School of Arts. However, her passion for music gradually took over, and she began formal training in Hindustani classical music under respected teachers such as Pandit Keshav Rao Bhole and other gurus. 

Suman Kalyanpur began her singing career in the early 1950s. Her first public performance was on All India Radio in 1952, and soon after, she entered the film industry. She made her debut in Hindi cinema with the film Mangu (1954), marking the start of a long and successful playback singing career. 

During her peak years in the 1960s and 1970s, she became a popular voice in Bollywood. She sang a large number of songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, and more. Over her career, she recorded hundreds of songs, contributing significantly to Indian film music. 

One of the most notable aspects of her career was the similarity of her voice to that of Lata Mangeshkar. Many listeners often confused the two voices because of their similar tone and style. Despite this, Suman Kalyanpur carved out her own identity and delivered many memorable songs. 

She worked with leading music composers and sang duets with famous singers like Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, and Manna Dey. In fact, she recorded over 140 duets with Mohammed Rafi, many of which became very popular. Some of her well-known songs include “Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche,” “Na Tum Hamen Jano,” and “Rahen Na Rahen Hum.” 

In her personal life, she married businessman Ramanand Kalyanpur in 1958, after which she became known as Suman Kalyanpur. She balanced her personal and professional life successfully throughout her career. 

For her contribution to Indian music, she has received several awards and honors. These include the Lata Mangeshkar Award (2009) by the Maharashtra government and the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 2023 by the Government of India. 

Overall, Suman Kalyanpur remains an important figure in Indian playback singing, remembered for her melodious voice, versatility, and lasting contribution to the golden era of Hindi film music.