28th January 1937-31st May 2026
Continuing from Part 1 that had the excellent solo songs of Suman Kalyanpur, I am now writing about her fabulous duets that became even more popular than her solos. As I mentioned in Part 1, most of the duets she sang were due to Lata not singing with Rafi during 1963-67, but one should also note that she sang some evergreen duets with other male singers like Manna Dey, Mukesh , Talat Mehmood and even with Kishore Kumar & Mahendra Kapoor though they may be much lesser in numbers.
Apart from the duets with male playback singers , Suman has rendered very memorable duets with other female singers , including , yes …even with Lata Mangeshkar ( we are totally lost while listening to that song as it is almost impossible to make out the difference!-listed @ number 1 in Section B here). There have been quite a few ‘triad’ songs-in which there are three singers. Suman had been part of some memorable songs that had three singers. I have organized this article in two sections-one having duets with male singers and the other -duets with other female singers & triads.
Selecting few songs from so many evergreen duets of Suman is a difficult task-I am trying to give a representative list that provides a glimpse of the range that she covered in her songs.
In each section , the song-film-year-music director-lyricist and co-singer(s) are mentioned in that sequence. A note on the YouTube links embedded here-many-a-times the songs that have the video are not allowed to be played in other sites and in some cases the visuals are of poor video-audio quality and so in many songs I have embedded only the audio ones.
Section A -Duets with male playback singers
- Na Jane Kahan Tum The – Zindagi Aur Khwab -1961-Dattaram-Kavi Pradeep- Manna Dey
The long-time assistant of Shankar Jaikishan, Dattaram Wadkar composed some outstanding songs as an independent music composer. This is one of Suman’s early duets and with Manna Dey also she has rendered some memorable songs.
2. Tum Jo Aao To Pyar Aa Jaye -Sakhi Robin-1962-Robin Banerjee- Yogesh -Manna Dey
Among the many lesser-known, but highly talented artists in Hindi film music world, Robin Banerjee composed some outstanding sweet melodies. This one , once again a duet Suman sang with Manna Dey can easily be believed to be the work of a top music director!
3. Dil Ek Mandir Hai -Dil Ek Mandir-1963-Shankar Jaikshan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
With the magical team of Rafi and Shankar Jaikishan , Suman had her career best songs. The period of 1963-67 , as known to all music lovers was the ‘rift’ period between Rafi & Lata and it was the most prolific time for Suman . Shankar & Jaikishan were at still at their peak and so you will find many songs from this golden team. Each one a gem and will linger in our memories for a long time.
4. Yeh Kisne Geet Cheda -Meri Surat Teri Ankhen-1963- S D Burman-Shailendra-Mukesh
In a film that had Manna Dey’s evergreen Poocho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitaayee and Rafi’s soulful Tere Bin Soone Nain Hamare & his classic Nache Man Mora Magan, this delightful duet by Mukesh and Suman remains evergreen. Don’t miss those excellent saxophone, guitar and flute used so well by Burman da.
5. Chura Le Na Tumko Yeh Mausam Suhana-Dil Hi Toh Hai-1963-Roshan-Sahir Ludhianvi-Mukesh
As much as the duets of Suman with Rafi are great, in no lesser are those with Manna Dey and Mukesh. And when the music is composed by the great Roshan, then what more can we ask?!
The tune has that typical twists and turns that marks a typical Roshan composition.
6. Tujhe Pyar Karte Hain Karte Rahenge- April Fool-1964- Shankar Jaikshan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
April Fool film had , as usual , many hit songs that is typical of Shankar Jaikishan. This duet was so popular that it was even remade in Tamil as ‘ Naan Malorodu Thaniyaga Yen’ and it became such a super-hit song in Tamil also.
7. Agar Teri Jalwa Numayi Na Hoti-Beti Bete-1964-Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
One more delightful duet from the golden team of Rafi-Suman-SJ.
8. Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye- Rajkumar-1964- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
The antara in this song has a slow pace that adds so much charm to the song. Suman gives a perfect counter to Rafi’s intricate alaap.
9. Ajhun Na Aaye Baalama Sawan Beeta-Sanjh Aur Savera-1964- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
I never understood why in old Hindi films, many best classical raag based songs were picturised on comedians and even when they were picturised on heroes, the situation and antics were comical! I would always prefer only listening to such masterpieces and never would like to ‘ watch’ them. Superb singing by both Rafi & Suman. Like I always mention-I am not an expert in identifying the raag , but as per articles in the Net, I understand this is based on Raag Madhuvanti. SJ, when they composed songs with a classical base , combined elements of a film song , embellishing them with their typical orchestration and so most of the times , we get an evergreen song .
10. Parbaton Ke Pedhon Par-Shagoon-1964-Khayyam-Sahir Ludhianvi-Rafi
Khayyam, in his early days , composed outstanding songs but sadly he never got the recognition he got for comparatively ‘not- that-great’ compositions he did in his later years. Suman has a very sweet voice in this and like in many songs, when we hear her , even when she was singing in her late 30’s , the voice sounded like that of a teenager.
11. Baad Muddat Ke Yeh Ghadi Aaayi-Jahan Aara-1964-Madan Mohan-Rajendra Krishan-Rafi
For Madan Mohan, Lata was supreme. And so only during that golden period of Suman, we could get to hear her in a Madan Mohan composition -as such MM had a mastery in solo ghazals and duets were relatively lesser in numbers. This , however , compensates for that lacuna ; the leisurely pace of the song is like a piece of sweet that one would like to relish , enjoying every bite.
12. Wo Dekho Dekho Dekh Raha Tha Papiha-Fariyad-1964-Kidar Sharma-Mahendra Kapoor
How about a quirky , somewhat ‘rocking’ number from Suman? It has to be from that lesser-known genius Snehal Bhatkar, known for out-of-the-world compositions. Mahendra Kapoor seems to be the perfect choice for this peppy song.
13. Thehriye Hosh Mein Aaoon-Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain-1965-Khayyam-Majrooh Sultanpuri-Rafi
One more masterpiece from Khayyam ‘s early days. That Hmmm…mmm rejoinder by both Rafi and Suman to the question ‘ tho chale jaayiyegaa? ’ enhances the beauty of the tune. Once again, we note how sweet Suman’s voice sounds in this.
14. Na Na Karte Pyaar Tumhi Se-Jab Jab Phool Khile-1965-Kalyanji Anandji-Anand Bakshi-Rafi
Whenever you select a playlist of Suman’s songs in YouTube this will always be there at the top. Though I have nothing against this , sometimes a song is played/heard so many times that it becomes a bit ‘over-killed’ at the cost of many other great songs of an artist. However I cannot definitely avoid this song in my list also-an iconic duet of Rafi and Suman!
15. Tumhe Dil Se Chaha-Chand Aur Suraj-1965-Salil Chowdhury-1965-Shailendra-Rafi
I was under the wrong impressions that Suman had not sung for Salil Chowdhury, until I came across this. There was also a myth that Rafi did not sing for Salil da after the infamous episode during the recording of Tasveer Teri Dil Mein from the film Maya in 1961.
Maybe a lesser-known song of Salil da , but it definitely has that lilting melody for which he was famous.
16. Itna Hai Tumse Pyaar Mujhe – Suraj -1966- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
One of those songs in which it is very difficult to make out it is Suman and not Lata! The resemblance is so close in this song!
17. -1967-Naushad-Shakeel Badayuni-Rafi
Veteran Naushad ‘s superb classical based song to Suman during the years when she was the natural alternative for Lata. The film Palkhi also had some of Naushad’s typical, slow-paced absolute gems for Rafi -Kal Raat Zindagi Se Mulakat and Chehre Se Apni Aaaj To . Suman proves how strong she is in rendering a classical number for the maestro Naushad.
18. Tujhe Dekha Tujhe Chaaha – Chhoti Si Mulaqat -1967 – Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
It is amazing how SJ could come up with hundreds of such brilliantly orchestrated songs. For admirers of SJ like me, each interlude in their songs are in memory! Whenever Rafi and Suman sang together, it was sheer magic.
19. Tumse Ho Haseena Kabhi Mohabbat-Farz-1967-Lakshmikant Pyarelal-Anand Bakshi-Rafi
A typical L-P song, that has all the catchy percussion and orchestration they were known for.
20. Mera Pyar Bhi Tu Hai-Saathi-1968-Naushad-Majrooh Sultanpuri-Mukesh
Normally one would expect Rafi to sing for Rajendra Kumar and that too when the composer is Naushad. This is a rare Mukesh-Suman duet and after decades, Majrooh writes for Naushad. For many years, we might have been thinking this was Lata and not Suman-so close is the resemblance. An evergreen melody , that has Kersi Lord doing the arrangement and that is why in Saathi, all the songs had a very different orchestration as compared to other songs of Naushad.
21. Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche – Brahmachari-1968- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri-Rafi
Do we need to say anything about this immortal song? A rocking number from the great Shankar Jaikishan that has their stamp in each and every phrase of the song. Those slight vibratos in Suman’s voice adds a unique charm .
22. Jaan Chali Jaaye Jiya Nahin-Anjaana-1969-Lakshmikant Pyarelal-Anand Bakshi-Rafi
With beautiful lyrics by Anjaan, this is a melodious duet from L-P . The antara has a brief pause that takes the song to a different level.
23. Aaya Na Humko Pyar Jatana -Pehchan-1970- Shankar Jaikishan-Indeevar -Mukesh
The piano , string arrangements are superb in this song and like I had mentioned earlier, with Mukesh also Suman had rendered memorable duets.
24. Woh Bade Khushnaseeb Hote Hain -Saazish-1975- Shankar Jaikishan -Hasrat Jaipuri-Mahendra Kapoor
Many would not agree with me-I felt some of the ‘so-called’ mediocre songs of Shankar in his later years were definitely good. Look at how soft Mahendra Kapoor renders this-almost sounds like Rafi in many places.
Section B -Duets with female playback singers & Triads
- Kabhi Aaj Kabhi Kal Kabhi Parson -Chand-1959- Hemant Kumar-Shailendra-Lata Mangeshkar
There are some interesting aspects in this song. First- it could be the only duet of Lata and Suman-one has to listen very keenly to make out the singer. The second aspect is the tune and even interludes are exactly the same as a famous Tamil song Neela Vanna Kannane Unathu Jalam that was composed by T R Papa in 1957 for a film Malika . It gets even more stranger to note that this film Malika was remade as Payal and Hemant Kumar composed the music for that also, with a similar tune ( but not exactly as the one in Chand). It is truly an interesting exercise to dig deep into the old songs for my blogs!
2. Garjat Barsat Sawan Aayo Re-Barsat Ki Raat-1960-Roshan-Sahir Ludhianvi-Kamal Barot
In 1951 , Roshan composed Garjat Barsat Bheejat Aayilo , sung by Lata , for the film Malhar that was produced by Mukesh. He film flopped but some of the songs in that movie like Bade Armanon Se Rakha Hai became popular. But this particular tune at that time did not make any impact and when Roshan used the same in 1960 , once again for the title song, it became very famous, and it was now a duet and not a solo . I remember clearly the superb prelude of this song was used by Vividh Bharati as the signature tune for their Sangeet Sarita program that featured songs based on classical raagas.
3. Hum Khoob Jaante Hain -Kya Dil Mein-Sajan Ki Galiyan-Incomplete film -made in early 60’s -Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri- Rafi & Geeta Dutt ( her part missing)
I keep discovery many trivia while writing my blogs! This partial song , was composed for a film Sajan Ki Galiyan and that film was left incomplete. Later , in 1983 , a film called Film Hi Film was made that was about a character trying to make a film with newcomers and the difficulties he faces in that-the lead actor was the famous villain-character actor Pran. This song appeared in this film also. It is a pity that I could not find the full song that might have had Geeta Dutt’s lines, but I think we can hear her singing along with Suman. That was the only reason I included this.
4. Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya- Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya-1966-Sonik Omi-G. L Rawal-Mukesh and Rafi
One of the most famous songs of Sonik Omi that also launched their career as independent composers. This is a superb composition that has all the three singers-Rafi , Suman and Mukesh giving their best.
5. Woh Pari Kahan Se Laaun-Pehchan-1970- Shankar Jaikishan -Varma Mallik- Mukesh & Sharda
A very catchy tune that has the typical SJ style all over, this may not endear to those who are not fans of SJ. The antara has a quirky feel , which is the uniqueness of this song. It was popular when it was released but slowly must have faded away from memory.
6. Yeh Duniya Ke Badaltey Rishtey- Badaltey Rishtey-1978-Lakshmikant Payrelal-Anjaan-Rafi & Kishore
This could be one the last memorable songs of Suman , before she finally stopped singing in Hindi films , although she was still active in Marathi film and Non film music. This film also had a Kishore-Suman duet ‘ Tum Chahe Humko Pasand Na Karo, Par Tum Humko Pasand Ho’ but I thought of including the triad Na Jaane Kaise as it is mostly a duet of Kishore & Suman and Rafi , as usual , making a late entry in end of the song.
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
I sincerely thank the publishers of following Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
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