Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep grief over the passing of legendary playback singer Suman Kalyanpur, describing her “melodious voice” and “soulful renditions” as an enduring contribution to India’s cultural and cinematic heritage. The veteran singer passed away at her residence in Mumbai at the age of 89 due to age-related health issues, with her final rites scheduled to be held on June 1.

In his message posted on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to the iconic singer and acknowledged her lasting impact on Indian music. He said her songs created a special place among music lovers and admirers of Indian cinema, and extended condolences to her family and admirers. He concluded his message with “Om Shanti,” reflecting the nation’s mourning over her demise.

Born as Suman Hemmadi on January 28, 1937, Suman Kalyanpur had an illustrious career spanning over seven decades in the Indian music industry. She was widely regarded as one of the most prominent playback singers of her era and was often compared to Lata Mangeshkar due to the striking similarity in their vocal tones. Her contribution extended across multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Gujarati.

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Throughout her career, Kalyanpur recorded thousands of songs, many of which remain popular across generations. Some of her most well-known tracks include “Na Tum Hamein Jano,” “Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche,” “Na Na Karte Pyar,” “Mera Pyar Bhi Tu Hai,” “Dil Ek Mandir Hai,” and “Behena Ne Bhai Ki Kalai Pe,” along with several acclaimed Marathi compositions. Her versatility and emotional depth made her a respected figure in Indian playback music.

In recognition of her contribution to Indian arts, Suman Kalyanpur was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023. Her passing has prompted tributes from across the political and cultural spectrum, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also expressing sorrow and remembering her extensive contribution to Indian music.

Gadkari highlighted her memorable Marathi songs and described her death as a significant loss to the country’s music heritage. He extended condolences to her family and admirers, noting that her voice will continue to live on through her timeless recordings that shaped the golden era of Indian playback singing.

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