Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar ke Charche Singer Suman Kalyanpur dies at 89 in Mumbai

MUMBAI – Veteran Indian playback singer Suman Kalyanpur passed away at her residence in Mumbai on Sunday evening after a brief illness. She was 89. The Indian media, citing the family sources and close associates reported that the singer died peacefully at around 8pm at her home in Lokhandwala. She had been unwell for more than a month due to age-related health complications. Suman Kalyanpur was among the prominent voices of Indian cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, earning widespread recognition for her melodious playback singing. Her popular film songs include “Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche” from Brahmachari (1968), “Na Na Karte Pyar” from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), and “Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye” from Rajkumar (1964). Over the course of her long career, she recorded around 740 songs in 11 languages. Her body of work also included a significant number of duets, including approximately 140 songs with legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi. Apart from film music, she also performed bhajans, ghazals, and thumris, showcasing her versatility. Kalyanpur’s voice was often compared by listeners to that of Lata Mangeshkar, one of the most celebrated singers in South Asian music history. However, she consistently rejected such comparisons and spoke warmly about Mangeshkar, describing her as a close friend in interviews. In a 2022 interview, she recalled their professional and personal bond, saying they had also recorded a duet together for the film Chaand, and expressed admiration for Mangeshkar’s legacy. Following her death, the tributes poured in from across India. Taking to X, previously known as Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over her passing, saying he was “anguished” by the news and praised her contribution to Indian music. Anguished by the passing of the popular singer Suman Kalyanpur Ji. Her melodious voice and soulful renditions enriched our cultural world. Through her songs, she created a special place among music lovers and