Suman Kalyanpur, singer of many a ’60s Bollywood hit, dies at 89

Veteran singer Suman Kalyanpur, who gave her voice to hits such as Na Na Karte and Tumne Pukara, passed away on Sunday (May 31) evening at her residence due to age-related issues. She was 89.

“Suman ji passed away at around 8 pm at her residence in Lokhandwala due to old age. She passed away peacefully. For the last few days she was listening to her own songs,” Mangala Khadilkar, who authored the acclaimed Marathi biography Suman Sugandh on the singer, told news agency PTI.

The last rites for Kalyanpur will be held at the Pawan Hans crematorium on Monday, around 11.30 am to 12 pm. The singer is survived by her daughter Charu.

Sixties’ and Seventies’ hits

Kalyanpur gained popularity with her melodious voice between the 1960s and 1970s. She managed to create a niche for herself alongside the top singer of the time, Lata Mangeshkar.

Some of Kalyanpur's popular songs are Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche, Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se, Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye, and many others.

She sang songs in several languages including Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Kannada, Bengali, Oriya, and others. She also sang devotional songs, ghazals, and thumris.

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Although many compared her voice to that of the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, Kalyanpur always dismissed the comparison. In a 2022 interview with PTI, she referred to Mangeshkar as a close friend.

“Everyone loved her songs, and she will be immortal. We recorded a duet together for the film Chaand. Every time I met her, it felt like I met a close friend. I believe she felt the same,” she said at the time.

Condolences from political leaders

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Sunday mourned her death, remembering her as one of India’s most celebrated voices whose songs shaped generations of music lovers.

While Fadnavis described her passing as the loss of a divine voice that enriched India's musical heritage for more than six decades, Pawar said it marked the end of a golden era, and Shinde called her an enduring symbol of Indian light classical and film music.

Fadnavis said Kalyanpur initially trained in painting but found her true calling in music, going on to establish herself as one of the most respected playback singers in the country. Her sweet voice and command over classical music made her songs immensely popular, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, he said.

Message from the CM

The chief minister said that Kalyanpur made an indelible contribution not only to Marathi music but also to Hindi, Bengali and Odia songs. Born in Dhaka in the then-undivided India and later settled in Mumbai, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for her contribution.

Fadnavis said Kalyanpur’s work in playback singing, devotional music and emotional songs significantly enriched India’s musical legacy. Her timeless songs will continue to live on in the hearts of listeners, he said.

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“Though her immortal songs will remain with us forever, the absence of the gentle and graceful Sumanji will always be felt,” the chief minister said.

Calling her death a major loss to the cultural and music fraternity, Fadnavis expressed condolences to the Kalyanpur family and her countless admirers.

End of a golden era: Sharad Pawar

NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar expressed grief over the demise of the veteran singer, saying her death marks the end of a golden era in Indian classical and light music.

In a condolence message, Pawar said the news of Kalyanpur’s passing was deeply saddening and described her as an artiste who enriched Indian music with her melodious, soulful and emotionally moving voice.

He said her immortal songs in Hindi, Marathi and several other regional languages had captivated generations of listeners and left an enduring impact on India’s musical landscape.

Pawar said that Kalyanpur’s contribution to Indian music would be remembered for years to come and that her songs would continue to resonate with music lovers across the country.

“The passing of Suman Kalyanpur marks the end of a golden chapter in Indian classical and light music,” he said.

Flower of music has withered: Shinde

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that with the passing of the veteran singer, who reigned over Indian music with her timeless, sweet melodies, the “Suman” (flower) of music has withered, and India’s music world has suffered a great loss.

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He said Kalyanpur was not merely a singer but represented a golden era of Indian light classical and film music. With her deeply expressive and melodious voice, she immortalised thousands of songs in Marathi, Hindi and other languages. The purity and emotive quality of her voice struck directly at the hearts of listeners, he said.

The devotional songs and fishermen’s (Koli) songs she sang still feel equally fresh. Despite having no formal musical legacy behind her, she built an unshakable place in the world of music through her talent and rigorous practice, Shinde added.

(With agency inputs)