Suman Kalyanpur Dies at 89; Voice Echoes On

Suman Kalyanpur, a celebrated playback singer, passed away on May 31, 2026, at the age of 89. Her departure has deeply saddened the music fraternity, following the recent loss of Asha Bhosle. Born Suman Hemmady in Dhaka on January 28, 1937, she hailed from a family originating from coastal Karnataka.

Kalyanpur was married to Mumbai-based businessman Ramanand Kalyanpur in 1958. He provided unwavering support, accompanying her to recordings and managing the business side of her career, a role she found challenging. She was fortunate to be part of a joint family that supported her professional pursuits.

In her youth, Kalyanpur grew up in a conservative environment in pre-Partition Mumbai. Her parents, who enjoyed bhajans, did not permit her to sing outside their home. Her musical journey began when neighbors invited her to sing for Ganpati Mahotsav, eventually leading to her debut film song.

Kalyanpur once shared insights into the vocal similarity between her voice and Lata Mangeshkar's, admitting to being influenced by Mangeshkar and singing her songs in college. The lack of clear artist identification on Radio Ceylon broadcasts sometimes led to confusion.