Suman Kalyanpur Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More StarsUnfolded

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Age: 86 Years

Hometown: Mumbai

Husband: Ramanand Kalyanpur

Some Lesser Known Facts About Suman Kalyanpur

Suman Kalyanpur is a veteran Indian playback singer, who is known for singing songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, and Bhojpuri. She is often regarded as ‘the other Lata Mangeshkar’ for having a voice similar to Lata Mangeshkar. She is one of the most popular and respected singers of her time. She received Padma Bhushan Award in 2023.

When she was about three years old, her father was posted to Dhaka that’s why she had to move with her family from Kolkata to Dhaka in Bengal Presidency. In 1943, she had to move from Dhaka to Mumbai after her father was posted to Mumbai.

When she was four years old, she developed an interest in painting and music. At college, she studied painting; however, she later got to know that she was allergic to turpentine.

When she was in college, she took basic classical vocal classes from Pandit Keshav Rao Bhole, who was a music director, and her family’s close friend. Later, she started taking professional singing classes from Ustad Khan, Abdul Rehman Khan, and Navrang.
Suman Kalyanpur in her youth

In 1952, she received an offer to sing for All India Radio, and after singing for All India Radio, she began to receive offers for singing in films. Her father used to go with her to every song-recording session.

In 1954, she lent her voice to the song ‘Koi Pukare Dhire Se Tujhe’ from the Hindi film ‘Mangu.’ She sang two songs titled ‘Khuli Hai Ankh Magar Khwab Hai Wahi’ and ‘Chhodo Chhodo Mori Baiya’ from the 1960 Hindi film ‘Miyan Biwi Razi.’
Poster of the 1960 Hindi film ‘Miyan Biwi Razi’

After her marriage, her husband became her manager and started accompanying her to her music-recording sessions.

Some of the popular Hindi songs sung by her are ‘Na Tum Humein Jaano’ from the film ‘Baat Ek Raat Ki’ (1962), ‘Mere Sang Ga from the film ‘Janwar’ (1965), ‘Aajhuna Aaye Baalma’ from the film ‘Saanjh Aur Savera’ (1963), and ‘Tumne Pukaara Aur Hum Chale Aaye’ from the film ‘Rajkumar’ (1964).

She has worked with many celebrated singers such as Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, and more.
Suman Kalyanpur and Mohammed Rafi during the recording of a song

She lent her voice to various Punjabi songs including ‘Lamian Te Kalian’ from the 1962 Punjabi film ‘Khedan De Din Char,’ ‘Mainu Tere Pichhe Sajna’ from the 1963 Punjabi film ‘Pind Di Kudi,’ and ‘Rahe Rahe Jandia Rahiyan’ from the Punjabi album ‘Lado Rani’ by S. Madan.
Poster of the 1976 Punjabi film ‘Sarfarosh’

She lent her voice to the song ‘Odanadi Bekendu’ from the 1964 Kannada film ‘Kalavathi.’ In 1969, she was featured in the Kannada music album ‘Kalpavruksha’ by Jayadev in which she lent her voice to three songs titled ‘Hani Hani Heeri Thani,’ ‘Ondondagi Jaridare,’ and ‘Thallana Nooru Bage.’
Poster of the 1969 Kannada album ‘Kalpavruksha’

She sang the song ‘Oi Oi Akash Xubo’ in 1964 National Award winning Assamese film ‘Pratidhwani.’

She has also sung various Assamese songs including ‘Milanor Ei Shubhokhan’ from the Assamese film ‘Chikmik Bijuli’ (1969), ‘Seidina Taralira’ from the 1979 Assamese film ‘Rajanigandha,’ and ‘Phool Bhara Phool Niwa’ from the 1979 Assamese film ‘Ponakon.’
Poster of the 1981 Assamese film ‘Nayanmani’

In 1965, she sang the song ‘Dure Theko Na’ from the Bengali film ‘Monihar.’
Poster of the 1965 Bengali film ‘Monihar’

In 1975, she lent her voice to three songs from the Oriya film ‘Samaya’ titled ‘Guhari Suna Bhagabana,’ ‘Ki Geeta Gaibi Karamata Hina,’ and ‘Sajanire Kanhi Gale Shyama.’ She sang three songs from the Oriya film ‘Gapa Hele Bi Sata’ titled ‘Sathire Jaa Kahi,’ ‘Jaya Jadu Nandan,’ and ‘Ae Banar Chhai.’
Poster of the 1976 Oriya film ‘Gapa Hele Bi Sata’

In 1977, she was featured in the Bengali Music album ‘Sera Shilpi Sera Gaan’ Volume 6 along with other legendary singers like Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, and Mukesh.

Some of her notable Bengali songs are ‘Ronger Basore,’ ‘Ei Chadro Mollikate,’ ‘Durashar Baluchare,’ ‘Mone Karo Aami Nei,’ ‘Sudhu Swapno Niye,’ ‘Kande Keno Mon,’ ‘Badoler Madol Baje Guruguru,’ and ‘Byatha Hoye Keno Phire Ele Bondhua.’

She became famous as a Marathi singer after she sang the song ‘Bhaatuklichaa Khel Maandila’ from the 1989 Marathi film ‘Pasant Aahe Mulgi.’

Suman Kalyanpur has a voice which is very similar to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. In an interview, when she was asked to comment upon the same, she said that she was very influenced by Lata Mangeshkar since her college days and used to sing Lata’s songs. She said,
I was quite influenced by her. In my college days, I used to sing her songs. Meri aawaaz nazuk aur patli thi (My voice was fragile 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. Shreya Ghoshal’s voice is also thin, but can people go wrong now? We were living in different times then.”

She has launched many Bhakti albums in multiple languages including Marathi and Hindi. In 1970, she collaborated with musician Shyam Sharma and released the Hindi Bhakti album ‘Swar Bahar.’ She launched a Marathi Bhakti album titled ‘Kaise Karu Dhyan’ in 1987. She launched another Marathi Bhakti album titled ‘Hey Govind Hey Gopal’ in 1995.
Poster of the 1995 Marathi Bhakti album by ‘Hey Govind Hey Gopal’
She has launched many Marathi Bhakti albums including ‘Gori Garbe Ghoomo Ne Raase Ramo’ (1991), ‘Bhaavgeetanjali’ (Marathi Bhavgeet) (2007), and ‘Bhaav Suman’ (2010). In 2013, she collaborated with Shankar Mahadevan, an Indian musician, and released the Marathi Bhakti album ‘Shravan Geet.’

In an interview, an Indian director named Bharathan revealed that Suman was an excellent replacement for Lata Mangeshkar. Suman was contacted when Lata’s fee for performing songs was deemed unaffordable by producers or if she declined to sing a song with Mohammed Rafi due to royalties concerns. He said,
Suman naturally sounded like Lata. She was diligent, sharp and had a lovely voice. So when Lata was unavailable, or if the producers could not afford her rate of Rs 100 per song, or if the song suffered because of her refusal to sing with Rafi over royalty issues, Suman, the poor man’s Lata, was called in. She was a great substitute.”

Her Grandaughter, Aaishanni Agny, is the owner of an NGO in Mumbai that she named after her grandmother.

She has an interest in cooking. She prepared meals and baked cookies with her grandkids during the COVID-19 lockdown.

She knitted a variety of clothing items for her grandchildren such as a stole, a cap, a blanket, and shawls. She is very passionate about decorating and designing furniture for her home.

Suman once shared that she was forbidden from performing outside in front of people. Every time she went for recording a song, her father would go with her. She was forbidden from singing in Mujras or cabarets.

Many music and film producers used her songs in mahurat shots of the films because they thought she was a lucky charm for them. The song ‘Allah Tu Reham Karna’ from the Hindi film ‘Dada’ (1979) and ‘Zindagi Imtihan Leti Hai’ from the well-known Hindi film ‘Naseeb’ (1981) were used in mahurat shots of the films.

She has participated in numerous music events both in India and abroad. She has performed in more than 30 countries outside of India, including the West Indies (including Trinidad, Surinam, and Guyana), the UK, and the US. She gave performances at events sponsored by The India Club of Columbia University and The Indian Students Association of Philly in New York, United States, in 1969.

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