Veteran playback singer Suman Kalyanpur passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at her residence in Mumbai. She was 89. Her death marks one of the most significant losses Indian music has witnessed in recent times, coming less than two months after the passing of legendary singer Asha Bhosle on April 12.
Kalyanpur was among the most celebrated voices of the golden era of Hindi and Marathi film music. Known for her striking vocal resemblance to Lata Mangeshkar, she was widely referred to as the "other Lata" and stepped in to record numerous duets with Mohammed Rafi during the period when Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi were at an impasse over royalty disputes. Across a career spanning more than three decades, she recorded over 3,000 songs in at least eight languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and Rajasthani. Her Hindi filmography alone comprised 857 songs, including over 140 duets with Rafi.
Born Suman Hemmadi on January 28, 1937, in Bhawanipur in undivided Bengal, she moved to Mumbai with her family in 1943 and trained in Hindustani classical music. She made her playback debut with the 1954 film Mangu and went on to lend her voice to leading actresses of the era including Sadhana, Mala Sinha, and Vyjayanthimala. Her song "Man Mohan Man Mein Ho Tumhi" earned her the prestigious Tansen Puraskar. In 2023, the Government of India conferred upon her the Padma Bhushan, the country's third highest civilian honour, recognising her extraordinary contribution to Indian music.
Kalyanpur married Mumbai-based businessman Ramanand Kalyanpur in 1958 and came to be known by his surname. Ramanand Kalyanpur passed away in 2008. She is survived by her daughter Charul Agny, who lives in the United States, and grandchildren Aaishanni Agny and Aavniesh Agny.
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