'Never imitated anyone': When late Suman Kalyanpur SPOKE about her constant voice comparision with late Lata Mangeshkar

The world of Indian music lost one of its most cherished voices on May 31, 2026, as veteran singer Suman Kalyanpur passed away at her residence in Lokhandwala, Andheri, due to age-related ailments on May 31, 2026. She was laid to rest with full state honours on Monday, June 1, 2026.

For decades, millions of listeners believed that iconic songs such as 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' and the beloved Marathi lullaby 'Nimbonichya Jhada Mage' were sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Such was the striking similarity between the two voices that Suman Kalyanpur often found herself at the centre of one of Indian music's most fascinating debates.





In a memorable conversation with ETimes following Lata Mangeshkar's demise in 2022, Suman Kalyanpur spoke candidly about her admiration for the legendary singer and the comparisons that followed her throughout her career.

Late Suman Kalyanpur on comparisons with Lata Mangeshkar

Despite being constantly compared to Lata Mangeshkar, Suman Kalyanpur remained unwavering in her artistic identity.

"My voice is similar to Lata tai's. But if keenly listened to, a connoisseur can tell them apart. I sang every song to the best of my capacity. I never bothered about any comparisons people made. I never imitated anyone since I firmly believed in sticking to my own style of singing," she had shared.

Her humility and confidence defined a career that spanned several decades and produced hundreds of memorable songs in multiple languages.

Suman admiration for Lata Mangeshkar

Like countless music lovers, Suman ji was an admirer of Lata Mangeshkar's artistry long before she entered the world of playback singing. "I always admired Lata tai's sweet and melodious voice. I was impressed by her taans, harkats and murkis. Suron ki nazakat bahut acchi lagti thi," she recalled. When asked about the long-standing industry belief that producers turned to her when Lata Mangeshkar's dates were unavailable or her remuneration exceeded budgets, Suman ji responded with characteristic grace. "I really don't know about that. I just sang all songs that came my way."

Memories of Suman Kalyanpur's first and last meeting with Lata didi

One of the most touching moments from that conversation was her recollection of her interactions with Lata Mangeshkar. According to Suman ji, they first met during the recording of the film 'Mangu'. She remembered Lata Mangeshkar complimenting her singing and even offering her a ride home after an early recording session when her father had to leave for work.
"She was very warm and friendly in the car. To this day, I remember the ride vividly," Suman ji had said. Their final meeting took place years later at the premiere of the film 'Lekin', where they exchanged only a few words but left behind a lasting memory.

When Suman Kalyanpur encountered the change of her life

Long before she became one of India's most recognisable playback singers, Suman Kalyanpur was a young student at Mumbai's Sir J. J. School of Art, studying fine arts with little intention of making singing her profession. Fate intervened when legendary ghazal singer Talat Mahmood heard her perform at a public programme in 1953. Impressed by her talent, he reportedly recommended her to HMV for non-film recordings. Soon, she began recording Marathi songs, including several penned by renowned lyricist G. D. Madgulkar. Her breakthrough in films followed when music director Mohammed Shafi heard her recordings and offered her songs for the film 'Mangu'. Although production changes meant only one of her songs remained in the film, 'Koi Pukare Dhire Se Tujhe', sung alongside Hemant Kumar and his wife, became popular and marked the beginning of an illustrious playback career.

"After that, I started getting offers one after the other. I accepted them as they came along. I have sung songs of all genres, but I was very selective so as not to embarrass my family in any manner," she had said with a smile.