Suman Kalyanpur: An Unforgettable, Melodious Voice
A Remarkable Talent That is Unfazed by a World of Competition and Comparisons
Suman Kalyanpur was a famous playback singer between the 1960s and 1970s. In her notable career, she sang over 3000 film songs and non-film songs in varied languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Punjabi and Bhojpuri, to name a few. Out of these, around 857 are Hindi songs.
Song: Na Na Karte PyarShemaroo
Many Bollywood fans identify Lata Mangeshkar with this famous song ‘Na Na Karte Pyar' from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), and other classics like 'Aajkal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' from Brahmachari (1968) and ‘Na Tum Hamen Jano’ from Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962).
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Song: Na Na Karte PyarShemaroo
In reality, it is Suman Kalyanpur's melodious voice in these timeless songs. Her voice was similar to that of Lata Mangeshkar. Many listeners couldn't tell the difference.
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Song: Neend Ud Jaaye TeriShemaroo
Suman entered the Indian film music industry when the eminent sisters' Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle dominated the music field. Adding to this was the comparison of Suman with Lata Mangeshkar.
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Song: Neend Ud Jaaye TeriShemaroo
Despite the industry's ways and these comparisons, Suman rose to the competition and carved her own path to success. Listen to her melodious voice in the song 'Need Ud Jaaye Teri' from Juari (1968).
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However, the singer admitted in an interview to The Sunday Standard in 1971 how a singing career was never on her mind. In this interview, she mentioned her humble upbringing in Dhaka, where neither her family had a background in arts nor any interest in movies.
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Though from a tender age, Suman was artistically inclined and pursued many hobbies like singing, painting, embroidery and flower arrangement.
Noor Jehan in her youth playing a SitarThe Citizens Archive of Pakistan
Suman would love singing songs of her favourite artist, Nur Jahan. But she considered singing purely as a hobby because she wanted to become a painter. So when she moved with her family to Mumbai in 1943, she enrolled in the J.J. School of Arts.
Sitar (1997) by Murari Adhikari (Indian, Calcutta 1934–2006 Calcutta)The Metropolitan Museum of Art
It was her family friend and Pune's Prabhat Films' music director, Pandit Keshav Rao Bhole, who spotted Suman's singing talent and trained her in classical vocals.
Suman also received training in Marathi lyrical music under the music composer Yeshwant Deo. Eventually, she learned light classical music from Abdul Rehman Khan and Guruji Master Navrang.
Radio (ca. 1950) by Zenith Radio Corp.The Strong National Museum of Play
Suman gave her first performance at All India Radio in 1952, which helped her bag her first film song. Her first film song was for the Marathi movie Shukra Chi Chandni (1953). Another music composer Mohammad Shafi Sheikh Mukhtar, heard Shukra Chi Chandni songs and immediately signed Suman for her first Hindi film song for the movie Mangu (1954).
After Mangu, Suman sang songs composed by Naushad for the film Darwaza (1954). In this movie, her duet with the revered singer, Talat Mahmood, got her more recognition. From here on, Suman's career accelerated, and she sang numerous songs composed by legendary composers of the golden era, including Shankar Jaikishan, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, N. Dutta, Roshan, S.D. Burman and Naushad.
Suman had an inborn flair for music which made her effortlessly sing solos and duet songs. She was known for her sweet voice with clear intonations. This could be attributed to her being trilingual. As Suman was raised in Dhaka, which earlier belonged to East Pakistan, she was fluent in Bengali, Urdu and her mother tongue, Marathi. Besides, she added her Harkat (melodic nuances or gestures) to each song.
Song: Parbaton Ke Pedon Par ShaamShemaroo
Together with Mohammed Rafi, Suman sang many duets, which are still fondly remembered by music lovers. ‘Parbaton Ke Pedon Par Shaam’ is one such song from the movie Shagoon (1964).
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Song: Parbaton Ke Pedon Par ShaamShemaroo
‘Parbaton Ke Pedon Par Shaam’ is a melody written by Saahir Ludhiyanvi and composed by Khayyam. Suman Kalyanpur and Mohammed Rafi lent their voices to actors Waheeda Rehman and Kamaljeet, respectively.
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Song: Zindigi Zulm SahiShemaroo
In this movie, Suman also showed her singing talent through her solo numbers like this song 'Zindagi Zulm Sahi' and 'Buja Diya Hai Khud Apne Hathon.'
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Song: Na Na Karte PyarShemaroo
'Na Na Karte Pyar' song from Jab Jab Phool Khile has been a popular favourite among Bollywood fans across generations. Anand Bakshi's lyrics, Kalyanji Anandji's music and Rafi and Suman's duet, made this song a chartbuster.
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Song: Na Na Karte PyarShemaroo
The image of Shashi Kapoor and Nanda dancing together is still fresh in the minds of the older generation.
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Song: Tu Jangle Ki MorniShemaroo
Suman showed her versatility through songs like 'Tu Jangle Ki Morni.' This cheerful duet with Rafi was written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Kalyanji Anandji for the movie Raja Saab (1969).
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Song: Ke Jaan Chali JaayeShemaroo
'Ke Jaan Chali Jaaye' is another romantic number where Rafi’s and Suman's voices complement the on-screen chemistry between actors Rajendra Kumar and Babita. This song was written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal for the movie Anjaana (1969).
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Song: Sata Sata Ke Khush Hote Ho…Om Hari OmShemaroo
Towards the 70s and 80s, Suman Kalyanpur's work in Bollywood reduced. 'Sata Sata Ke Khush Hote Ho' are among the last few songs recorded by Suman during this phase. Indeevar wrote this song and Usha Khanna composed the music for the movie Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978).
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Suman's cinema career includes songs for movies such as Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Dil Hi To Hai (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Sanjh Aur Savera (1964), Noor Jehan (1967), Saathi (1968) and Pakeezah (1971). In her prime time, she was the voice of the top heroines like Meena Kumari, Nanda, Tanuja, Nootan and Sadhana.
Song: Ke Jaan Chali JaayeShemaroo
It's believed that Suman was approached by music composers when they couldn't record a song with Lata Mangeshkar due to various reasons. It's also believed that she received more duets with Rafi after Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi's professional rift.
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Song: Ke Jaan Chali JaayeShemaroo
That's how Suman and Rafi sang around 140 duets! This song from 'Ke Jaan Chali Jaaye' from Anjaana is on the list.
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Sitar Sitar (18th century)The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Music lovers believe that Suman couldn't reach the pinnacle of success mainly because of her undue comparison with Lata Mangeshkar. Nevertheless, she was devoted to music and entertained her listeners with diverse film songs, devotional songs, and semi-classical renditions in different languages.
She also became one of the few Indian singers to perform on an international tour and the first Indian playback singer to have appeared on international television. She won Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1961) and Sur Sringar Samsad award in 1966 and 1970. All this only speaks of the remarkable talent that made her thrive and shine in the Indian music industry.
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