Suman Kalyanpur began singing professionally at the age of 16 with the film Mangu (1954). She went on to sing songs in Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Maithili, Oriya, Rajasthani, Assamese, and Bhojpuri.
Singer Suman Kalyanpur in her own words
Kalyanpur's voice had a sweet quality that won over many fans. Last year, the veteran artist had told Cinestaan.com that she “tried my best to make every song sound beautiful by adding my own little harkats [movements] to each”.
Here are 10 songs that show how good a singer she was.
1. ‘Na Tum Hume Jaano’ – Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)
There are two versions of this song written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Hemant Kumar sang the male version while Suman Kalyanpur took on the female version. She only sang one song on this album composed by SD Burman for the Waheeda Rehman-Dev Anand starrer Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) but considered it her big break. The beautiful and wistful number finds Waheeda Rehman’s character singing about meeting her soulmate.
2. ‘Dil Ek Mandir’ – Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
Directed by CV Sridhar, the melodrama starring Rajendra Kumar, Meena Kumari and Raaj Kumar made it necessary for the audience to carry an extra handkerchief to the theatre — this was much before tissue became commonplace — to cope with excessive weeping. Raaj Kumar played a terminally ill cancer patient while Rajendra Kumar played the noble doctor assigned to perform his surgery. The title song, composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, is a duet by Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur in homage to Rajendra Kumar’s Dr Dharmesh. The song, written by Hasrat Jaipuri, gains extra emotion when seen on screen in the film.
3. ‘Yun Hi Dil Ne Chaha Tha’ – Dil Hi To Hai (1963)
This film, a Muslim social, starred Raj Kapoor and Nutan as Chand and Jamila who are betrothed at a young age but grow up as strangers and still fall in love. Jamila is torn between her love for Chand and her family's expectations when she sings her song of heartbreak, penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, ‘Yun Hi Dil Ne Chaha Tha’. The song was wonderfully sung by Suman Kalyanpur for Nutan; the music of Dil Hi To Hai (1963) was composed by Roshan.
4. ‘Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye’ – Rajkumar (1964)
Suman Kalyanpur credited the musical duo of Shankar and Jaikishan with giving her several opportunities as a singer in films for which they scored the music. In K Shankar’s Rajkumar (1964) featuring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana as royalty, she sang the duet ‘Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye’ with Mohammed Rafi. The lyrics were written by Hasrat Jaipuri.
5. ‘Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhi Se’ – Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)
The chartbusting duet, ‘Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhi Se’, was sung by Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur. They sang many duets together. The music of the blockbuster Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), actor Shashi Kapoor’s first big hit, was composed by Kalyanji Anandji and the songs were written by Anand Bakshi. Composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal were the music assistants on the project.
6. ‘Thehriye Hosh Mein Aa Loon’ – Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965)
Shashi Kapoor and Nanda starred in several films together. Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965) is one of their forgotten films. The two had an easy chemistry together as is evidenced in this number, composed by Khayyam, which has Suman Kalyanpur and Mohammed Rafi in a duet. Kalyanpur’s voice seemed to be quite suited for the actress Nanda. The lovely romantic song, ‘Thehriye Hosh Mein Aa Loon’, was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
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7. ‘Rahen Na Rahen Hum’ – Mamta (1966)
Suchitra Sen, in the Hindi remake of her National award-winning Bengali film Uttar Falguni (1963), played mother and daughter in the family drama directed by Asit Sen. With music and lyrics by Roshan and Majrooh Sultanpuri, respectively, the film has two versions of the memorable song ‘Rahen Na Rahen Hum’. The first was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and the second was a duet between Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur. In the duet, Kalyanpur holds her own and gives the song her own inimitable take.
8. ‘Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya’ – Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966)
The title song of Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), written by director CL Rawal himself, assembled the lead trio of Dharmendra, Nutan and Rehman sitting uncomfortably in a boat out on a lake. Nowadays, there are few songs situated on a boat. The soundtrack featured singers Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur in a melody beautifully composed by the uncle-nephew duo of Sonik-Omi.
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9. 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' – Brahmachari (1968)
This was arguably Kalyanpur’s biggest hit, though most people mistook her voice for Lata Mangeshkar’s. The duet with Mohammed Rafi was picturized on the exuberant pair of Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz (in that iconic orange sari and blouse designed by Bhanu Athaiya) for the film. Composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, the rejected tune was played to actor Kapoor who took it to the film’s director, Bhappi Sonie. The lyrics of the popular song were written by Hasrat Jaipuri.
10. ‘Mera Pyar Bhi Tu Hai’ – Saathi (1968)
In this remake of the Tamil film Palum Pazhamum (1961), Rajendra Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Simi Garewal featured in a love triangle that leaves everyone unhappy in the end. This time around, Kalyanpur sang under Naushad's baton for a single song, a duet with Mukesh. The love song, picturized on Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar (whose character has gone blind), was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri.