Suman Kalyanpur is an Indian playback singer. She has sung songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, and Bhojpuri. She is often addressed as the other Lata Mangeshkar as her voice is very similar to that of Lata Mangeshkar. She is one of the most famous singers of her time. In 2023, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award.
Wiki/Biography
Suman Kalyanpur was born as Suman Hemmady on Thursday, 28 January 1937 (age 86 years; as of 2023) in Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh). Her zodiac sign is Aquarius. At the age of three, her family moved from Kolkata to Dhaka in Bengal Presidency, after his father was posted to Dhaka. In 1943, she moved from Dhaka to Mumbai with her family. She studied at St. Columba High School in Mumbai. She developed an interest in painting and music at the age of 4. At the age of 13, she started performing in programmes held during the Ganpati festival. Later, she studied painting at the Sir J. J. School of Arts in Mumbai, and in her second year of college, she realised that she was allergic to turpentine. While studying at college, she began to take classical vocal classes from Pandit Keshav Rao Bhole, a music director and her close family friend. She started learning to sing as a hobby, but later, she began to take professional singing classes from Ustad Khan, Abdul Rehman Khan, and Navrang.
Suman Kalyanpur in her youth
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Suman Kalyanpur belongs to a Saraswat Brahmin family in Mumbai.
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Shankar Rao Hemmadi, was an officer in the Central Bank of India. He belonged to Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Her mother’s name is Seeta Hemmadi. She has four sisters and one brother. She was the eldest child of her parents. Her sister, Shyama Hemmady, was also a singer.
Husband & Children
In 1958, she got married to Ramanand Kalyanpur, a Mumbai-based businessman. After she got married to him, he started accompanying her to her song recording sessions. Ramanand Kalyanpur died in 2008.
Suman Kalyanpur with Ramanand Kalyanpur
The couple’s daughter, Charul Agny, lives in the United States.
Suman Kalyanpur with her daughter, Charul Agny
She has a granddaughter named Aaishanni Agny and a grandson named Aavniesh Agny. Aaishanni Agny owns an NGO in Mumbai, which she named after her grandmother.
Suman Kalyanpur with her grandchildren
Signature/Autograph
Career
In 1952, she sang for All Indian Radio, after which she began to receive singing offers.
Singer
Marathi
In 1953, she debuted as a singer with the film ‘Shukrachi Chandni.’ In 1969, she sang the song ‘Saang Kadhi Kalnar Tula’ from the film ‘Apradh.’
Poster of the 1969 Marathi film ‘Apradh’
Her breakthrough song was ‘Bhaatuklichaa Khel Maandila’ from the 1989 film ‘Pasant Aahe Mulgi.’
Hindi
In 1954, she debuted as a singer with the film ‘Darwaaza’ in which She has lent her voice to many popular songs including ‘Ek Dil Do Hai Talabgaar Badi Mushkil Hai’ and ‘Chhote Tumse To Lo Hum Sabase Nata Tod Jate Hai.’
Poster of the 1954 Hindi film ‘Darwaaza’
In the same year, she sang the song ‘Koi Pukare Dhire Se Tujhe’ from the film ‘Mangu.’ In 1960, she lent her voice to two songs titled ‘Khuli Hai Ankh Magar Khwab Hai Wahi’ and ‘Chhodo Chhodo Mori Baiya’ from the film ‘Miyan Biwi Razi.’ She lent her voice to many popular songs including ‘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 sung duet songs with many legendary singers including Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh, Manna Dey, and Hemant Kumar.
Suman Kalyanpur and Mohammed Rafi during the recording of a song
Punjabi
In 1962, she sang the song ‘Lamian Te Kalian’ from the film ‘Khedan De Din Char.’
Poster of the 1962 Punjabi film ‘Khedan De Din Char’
In 1963, she lent her voice to the song ‘Mainu Tere Pichhe Sajna’ from the film ‘Pind Di Kudi.’ She sang the song ‘Rahe Rahe Jandia Rahiyan’ from the 1971 album ‘Lado Rani’ by S. Madan. In 1973, she sang the song ‘Ora Aira Idi Sasa’ from the film ‘Man Jeete Jag Jeet.’ In 1976, she lent her voice to the song ‘Ja We Bedarda’ from the film ‘Sarfarosh.’
Kannada
In 1964, she sang the song ‘Odanadi Bekendu’ from the film ‘Kalavathi.’
Poster of the 1964 Kannada film ‘Kalavathi’
In 1969, she sang three songs, ‘Hani Hani Heeri Thani,’ ‘Ondondagi Jaridare,’ and ‘Thallana Nooru Bage,’ from the album ‘Kalpavruksha’ by Jayadev.
Assamese
In 1964, she lent her voice to the song ‘Oi Oi Akash Xubo’ from the film ‘Pratidhwani.’
In 1969, she lent her voice to the songs ‘Milanor Ei Shubhokhan’ and ‘Bijuleer Pohar Mor Nai’ from the film ‘Chikmik Bijuli.’ In 1979, she sang the songs ‘Seidina Taralira’ and ‘Bai Jao Bai Jao’ from the film ‘Rajanigandha.’ In the same year, she lent her voice to two songs titled ‘Akashrey Nilaai’ and ‘Phool Bhara Phool Niwa’ from the album ‘Ponakon.’ In 1981, she sang the songs ‘Nayanmani Nayanmani’ and ‘Ma Tumi Khelibane’ from the album ‘Nayanmani’ by singer Jeetu Tapan.
Oriya
In 1975, she sang the songs ‘Guhari Suna Bhagabana,’ ‘Ki Geeta Gaibi Karamata Hina,’ and ‘Sajanire Kanhi Gale Shyama’ from the film ‘Samaya.’ In 1976, she lent her voice to the songs ‘Sathire Jaa Kahi,’ ‘Jaya Jadu Nandan,’ and ‘Ae Banar Chhai’ from the film ‘Gapa Hele Bi Sata.’
Poster of the 1976 Oriya film ‘Gapa Hele Bi Sata’
Bengali
In 1997, she sang many songs in the music album ‘Sera Shilpi Sera Gaan’ Volume 6.
Poster of the Bengali album ‘Sera Shilpi Sera Gaan’ Volume 6
She has lent her voice to many Bengali songs including ‘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.’
Albums
Suman Kalyanpur has released many Marathi and Hindi Bhakti albums. In 1970, she released a Hindi album titled ‘Swar Bahar’ in collaboration with musical artist Shyam Sharma. In 1987, she released the Marathi album ‘Kaise Karu Dhyan.’ In 1995, she released the Marathi album ‘Hey Govind Hey Gopal.’ Some other Marathi albums released by her are ‘Gori Garbe Ghoomo Ne Raase Ramo’ (1991), ‘Bhaavgeetanjali’ (Marathi Bhavgeet) (2007), ‘Bhaav Suman’ (2010) and more. In 2013, she released a Marathi album in collaboration with Indian musician Shankar Mahadevan titled ‘Shravan Geet.’
Poster of the 2013 Marathi album ‘Shravan Geet’
Awards & Honours
- In 1975, she was nominated for the Best Female Playback Award for the song ‘Behena Ne Bhai Ki Kalai Main’ from the 1974 Bollywood film ‘Resham Ki Dori’ at Filmfare Awards.
- She won the ‘Sur Sringar Samsad’ award thrice for the best classical song in a Hindi movie.
- In 2009, she received the Lata Mangeshkar Award from the Maharashtra government.
- In 2015, she received Gadima Award from Gadima Pratishthan.
- In 2022, she received Mirchi Music Lifetime Achievement Award.
Suman Kalyanpur after receiving Mirchi Music Lifetime Achievement Award
- On 26 January 2023, she received Padma Bhushan from the Indian government.
Suman Kalyanpur receiving Padma Bhushan Award
Facts/Trivia
- Suman Kalyanpur is well-known for having a similar voice to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. In an interview, she revealed that she was very uncomfortable with her and Lata Mangeshkar having similar voices; however, she was very influenced by Lata Mangeshkar whom she used to sing her songs in college. Since their voices were so similar, sometimes records were also confused by the voices and gave wrong names. 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 likes to paint and cook food. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she cooked food and baked cookies with her grandchildren. She also has an interest in gardening.
- She likes to do crotchet, knitting and macrame while listening to her songs. She has knitted many clothing items for her grandchildren such as a stole, a cap, a blanket, and shawls. She has an interest in designing furniture and decorating her home.
- According to Suman, she was not allowed to sing outside in public. Her father used to accompany her for every song recording. She was not allowed to sing for cabarets or Mujras.
- Many filmmakers and music directors did mahurat shots with her songs as they considered her a lucky charm for them. ‘Allah Tu Reham Karna’ from the Hindi film ‘Dada’ (1979) and ‘Zindagi Imtihan Leti Hai’ from the popular Hindi film ‘Naseeb’ (1981) were featured in mahurat shots of the films.
- She has performed at many concerts in India and abroad. She has done more than 30 shows outside India including West Indies (Trinidad, Surinam, and Guyana), the UK, and the US. In 1969, she performed at shows organised by The India Club of Columbia University and The Indian Students Association of Philadelphia in New York, United States.
- In an interview, Bharathan, an Indian filmmaker, said that Suman was a great substitute for Lata Mangeshkar. 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.”
- Some of her favourite songs which she sang are ‘Chhal Baliya Jaadu Kar Gaya Haaye Kya Karoon’ from the Hindi film ‘Roop Lekha’ (1962), ‘Man Gaye Ye Taraana’ from the Hindi film ‘Chalaak’ (1973), ‘Baad Muddat Ke Ye Ghadi Aayee’ from the Hindi film ‘Jahan Ara’ (1964), and ‘Parbaton Ke Pedon Par Sham Ka Basera’ from the Hindi film ‘Shagoon’ (1964).
- She follows a vegetarian diet; however, she was married into a non-vegetarian family.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
