"Her demise marks a profound loss."
On May 31, 2026, Suman Kalyanpur, an iconic singer in the history of Bollywood music, passed away. She was 89 years old.
Born Suman Hemmadi on January 28, 1937, Kalyanpur began her singing career in 1953.
She sung for the Marathi film, Shukrachi Chandni. The composer, Naushad, later gave her a break for the film, Darwaza (1954).
Her first Hindi song from Darwaza was a duet with the famous ghazal singer, Talat Mahmood.
Despite her vocal range and incredible talent, Suman Kalyanpur faced comparisons with Lata Mangeshkar during her career.
This was due to the uncanny similarity between their voices.
Reflecting on this, Kalyanpur said: “I was quite influenced by her. In my college days, I used to sing her songs.
“My voice was delicate and thin. What could I do?
“Also, when Radio Ceylon relayed the songs, the names were never announced.
“Even the records sometimes gave the wrong name. Maybe that caused more confusion.”
In the early 1960s, Mangeshkar developed discord with Mohammad Rafi over royalties.
This led to the pair not singing together for six years.
During this time, many of Rafi’s duets were recorded with Kalyanpur, which increased her fame.
Some of her memorable duets with Rafi include ‘Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche’ from Brahmachari (1968) and ‘Na Na Karte Pyaar‘ from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965).
She also worked with singers including Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, and Manna Dey.
In 2023, Kalyanpur was awarded the Padma Bhushan – India’s third-highest civilian honour.
Following the news of her death, tributes poured in for Kalyanpur on social media.
One user said: “Most often mistaken for Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, Suman Kalyanpur’s melodies carried the light and beauty that were unmistakably hers.”
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, wrote:
“With the passing of veteran playback singer Suman Kalyanpur, a sweet, melodious, and soul-stirring voice in the Indian music world has fallen forever silent today.
“For over six decades, she reigned supreme in the hearts of music lovers with her unparalleled singing.”
“Her immortal melodies in languages such as Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, and others remain an invaluable treasure of the music world.
“Honored with the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award, Suman Ji enriched Indian music with her magical voice.
“The sweetness and emotive expression in her songs will forever linger in memory.
“Her demise marks a profound loss to the music world.
“I offer my heartfelt tribute to her. We share in the grief of her family.”
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— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 31, 2026
Another added: “Such a sad year! First Asha [Bhosle] Ji, and now Suman Kalyanpur Ji.
“When we live a life immersed in music, the presence of the great artists in this world means so much to us, their devotees.
“It’s hard to explain in words how empty the world of music feels today!”
We pay tribute to Suman Kalyanpur, who leaves behind a lasting legacy of melodious music and evergreen renditions.
Listen to Suman Kalyanpur’s hit songs here:
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