Carving out a niche in the world of Hindi playback music when the Mangeshkar sisters were reigning supreme was indeed a tall order for any female playback singer. After all, Hindi playback songs is almost that of recognised voices.
But Suman Kalyanpur made a place for herself in this competitive realm of Hindi film songs. But the singer who passed away recently was not quite a part and parcel of the mainstream..
Endowed with a silken voice, remarkable artistry and many a popular songs she certainly was. Yet she did not find herself in the pantheon of great woman playback singers of her time.
She sang more than 3000 songs in 13 languages. She is remembered not only for her voice but also her humility and grace.
She exemplified an contradiction. But she had little reason to be on the fringes.
Kalyanpur ‘s wistful Na hum tumhe jaano(Baat Ek Raat Ki), the haunting Mere Mehboob Na Ja (Noormhalal), the flirtatious Na na karte pyar (Jab Jab Phul Khile) and the delightful duet Aaj kaal tere mere pyar ke charche (Brahamachari) with Mohammed Rafi deserve special mention among the many songs she has lent voice to. All these songs speak of her range.
It made her deserving of more recognition that she actually received. Her entry to the industry coincided with the firming of hierarchies in Hindi playback music.
On Radio Ceylon singer’s name were not announced before and after a song. Kalyanpur was compared to Lata Mangeshkar.
Get the “other Lata” composers would say if Mangeshkar was not available. Kalyanpur was hardly heard as an artiste in her own right.
But a keen ear to the recordings in more than 100 films can set the record straight. She was no Lata clone
Suman Kalyanpur certainly deserved better. Her rightful place should have been among the more accomplished voices of the golden era of Hindi film music.
She was the gentle voice of Hindi cinema. She will live in memories and melodies.
