By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

On Her Birth Anniversary

नाम रौशन है तुम्हीं से मेरे अफ़साने का
ज़िंदगी नाम है उल्फ़त में जीए जाने का
तुम अगर हमको न मिलते तो ये सूरत होती
लोग ले जाते जनाज़ा तेरे दीवाने का
तुम ने पुकारा और हम चले आए

Suman Kalyanpur,the subject of this write up, has been one of the most prolific female playback singers in India. In fact she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle.She took to professional singing as a teenager with film “Mangu” in 1954.On the completion of her 87th Birth Anniversary, we would like to revisit some of her songs which will enable us to know more about her potential as a singer that made her won laurels both nationally & internationally.

Though her voice was often mistaken as Lata’s, Suman Kalyanpur had a sweet disposition of her own as she spiced the song in her own unique way. The singer who reportedly lent her voice to many Bengali, Punjabi, Oriya, Assamese, Kannada and Bhojpuri films, came into limelight following her highly popular number “Na Jaane Kahan Tum Thay” a duet with Manna Day from 1961 film “Zindagi Aur Khwab” starring Meena Kumari & Rajendra Kumar followed by another hit “Na Tum Hume Jaano” ( Baat Ek Raat Ki -1962) featuring Dev anand and Waheeda Rehman under the musical score of S. D. Burman. The male version was sung by Hemant Kumar. In this melodious & touching song she finds Waheeda Rehman’s character singing about meeting her soulmate.

In K Shankar’s “Rajkumar” (1964) featuring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana she sang a romantic duet “Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye” with Mohammed Rafi. The lyrics were written by Hasrat Jaipuri.She earlier rendered her voice in the song “Dil Ek Mandir Hai” in film of the same name. Raaj Kumar ‘Jaani’ played a cancer patient while Rajendra Kumar played the the role of a doctor assigned to perform his surgery.

Another notable song rendered by her was “Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhi Se”, a duet with Mohammed Rafi with whom she later sung many songs. “Jab Jab Phool Khile” (1965), was actor Shashi Kapoor’s first big hit, with music composed by Kalyanji Anandji and the lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. “Thehriye Hosh Mein Aa Loon” film “Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain” (1965) symbolizes her chemistry with Rafi as a singer. Late Khayyam composed this song.

“Rahen Na Rahen Hum”-Mamta (1966) was another gem of a song,a duet picturized on Suchitra Sen,the noted Bengali actress in the Hindi remake of her National award-winning Bengali film “Uttar Falguni” (1963) followed by “Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya”( 1966) from film of the same name starring Nutan, Dharmendra & Rehman. “Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche” (Brahmachari -1968) was an award winning film starring jumping jack Shammi Kapoor & Mumtaz, looking teasingly seductive.The film directed by Bhappie Sonie had music by Shankar Jaikishan. “Hai Na Bolo Bolo” was another popular duet by the duo from Ramesh Sippy’s “Andaz” ( 1971).

“Chhodo chhodo mori baiyan” film (“Miyan Biwi Raazi” -1960), “Ye Mausam Rangeen Samaan” with Mukesh from film “Modren Girl” (1961) under the composition of music director Ravi, “Dil Gam se jal raha hai” ( film “Shama” 1961), “Apne piya ki main to bani re joganiya” ( 1963- “Kan Kan Mein Bhawan” ),”Chura le na tumko yeh mausam suhana” a duet with Mukesh under the baton of music composer Roshan film “Dil Hi To Hai” (1963), , “Mere mehboob na ja” “Noormahal” (1965) & ,”Mera pyar bhi tu hai ye bahar bhi tu hai” penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri from film “Saathi” (1968 ) were other mentionable & memorable duets by the veteran singer.

Lata’s tiff with Rafi over royalty issue brought Rafi closer to Suman Kalyanpur and they sang more than 100 duets during that period. Bestowed with the prestigious “Sur Sringar Samsad” award thrice for the best classical song in a Hindi movie. Another noted personality denied her actual due. She always remained under Lata’s shadow.

I met the singer in 1990 at a Bandra venue presumably accompanied by her husband- one with white golden hair. Suman Kalyanpur was born Suman Hemmady on 28 January 1937 in Dhaka, Bengal now in Bangladesh.