The Indian music world lost one of its most beloved voices on May 31, 2026, a veteran singer. Suman Kalyanpur He passed away on 31 May 2026 at Lokhandwala, Andheri due to age related ailments. He was killed on Monday, June 1, 2026, with full state honors.For decades, millions of listeners thought they were singing the beloved Marathi lullabies ‘Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche’ and ‘Nimbonichya Jhada Mage’. Lata Mangeshkar. So striking was the similarity between the two voices that Suman Kalyanpur often found himself at the center of one of the most fascinating debates in Indian music.In a memorable interview with ETimes after Lata Mangeshkar’s death in 2022, Suman Kalyanpur spoke candidly about her admiration for the legendary singer and the comparisons she faced throughout her career.
Comparing Suman Kalyanpur with late Lata Mangeshkar
Despite being constantly compared to Lata Mangeshkar, Suman Kalyanpur remained steadfast in her artistic identity.“My voice is similar to Lata tai. But if you listen carefully, an expert can tell them apart. I sang all the songs as much as I could. I never worried about the comparisons people made. I never imitated anyone because I firmly believed in sticking to my singing style,” she shared.His humility and confidence defined a career that spanned decades and produced hundreds of memorable songs in multiple languages.
Suman admiration for Lata Mangeshkar
Like many music lovers, Suman ji was an admirer of Lata Mangeshkar’s art long before she entered the world of playback singing. “I always admired Lata tai’s sweet and melodious voice. I was mesmerized by her taans, harkats and murkis. Suron ki nazakat bahut acchi lagti thi,” he recalled. When asked about the long-held belief that producers turned to her when Lata Mangeshkar’s dates were unavailable or her remuneration exceeded budget, Suman ji responded with natural grace. “Honestly, I don’t know about it. I sang every song that came to me.”
Suman Kalyanpur’s memories of his first and last meeting with Lata didi
One of the most touching moments of that interview was the recollection of his interactions with Lata Mangeshkar. According to Suman ji, they met for the first time during the shooting of ‘Mangu’. She recalled Lata Mangeshkar praising her singing and her father even offering her a ride home after a recording session when she had to go to work.“He was very warm and friendly in the car. To this day, I remember the ride vividly,” said Suman ji. Their last meeting was years later at the premiere of the film ‘Lekin’ where they exchanged only a few words but left a lasting memory.
When Suman Kalyanpur encountered the change in his life
Long before she became one of India’s most popular playback singers, Suman Kalyanpur was a young student at Mumbai’s Sir JJ School of Art, studying fine arts with little intention of making singing her profession. Fate intervened when the legendary ghazal singer Talat Mahmood heard the performance at a public program in 1953. Impressed by her talent, he is said to have recommended her to HMV for non-film recordings. Soon after, he started recording Marathi songs, including those penned by famous lyricist GD Madgulkar. His breakthrough in cinema came when music director Mohammed Shafi heard his recordings and offered him his songs for the film ‘Mangu’. Although production changes resulted in only one of his songs remaining in the film, ‘Koi Pukare Dhire Se Tujhe’, sung with Hemant Kumar and his wife, became a hit and marked the beginning of an illustrious playback career.“After that, I started getting offers one after the other. I accepted them as they came. I have sung songs of all genres, but I was very selective so as not to embarrass my family in any way,” she said with a smile.
