12th July 1954 -6th November 2025
Sometimes we tend to completely forget about an artist who had been quite popular just around 3-4 decades ago. I was shocked to note that I had not even included her name in my long list of artists that I am supposed to cover in my future blogs. Today (7th Nov’ 2025) when I read about the sad demise of this actor-singer , I thought I should at least prepare a small tribute to her and write about some of the memorable songs she has left behind.
Born in an illustrious musical family , her father was Pratap Narain Pandit and was the elder brother of legendary Pt Jasraj, noted classical vocalist. She had three brothers , Mandheer Pandit, and the famous Jatin-Lalit music composer duo and three sisters-Maya Anderson, Sandhya Singh and the famous actor Vijayta Pandit. Noted music composer Adesh Shrivastava married Vijayta Pandit. It is very rare to come across a family with so many musical artists. But at the same time it is equally poignant to note that except for Pt Jasraj , others had a relatively brief career. Of course Jatin-Lalit were successful as music composer duo before they split up after the film Fanaah. Adesh Shrivastava unfortunately died of cancer just a day after his 51st birthday.
Sulakshana Pandit was one of the rare artists in the later period of Hindi films , who was an actor and singer , which was more prevalent in the vintage era. She had started singing even at the age of nine ( Pappa Jaldi Aa Jana with the legendary Lata Mangeshkar and other young singers Ila Desai & Meena Patki , for the 1967 film Taqdeer composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal). She accompanied her eldest brother Mandheer Pandit for performing many music shows.
Her father was a great influence in her life and had even tutored her and honed her musical skills. Her first major hit was with the great legend-Kishore Kumar for the film Door Ka Rahi -Bekaraar Dil Tu Gaaye Ja , composed by KK himself. However her next break came after almost four years , but with a bang that fetched her lone Filmfare award for best playback singing with the soulful Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara for the film 1975 film Sankalp , with music composed by Khayyam.
In the same year she had her break as an actor in the film Uljhan that had Sanjeev Kumar and Ashok Kumar along with her in the lead. This film was much talked about suspense thriller and also impacted her personal life. She adored Sanjeev Kumar and even proposed to him for marriage but he had refused. It is said this deeply affected her and she remained unmarried throughout her life. It is a strange twist of fate that she passed away of cardiac arrest on 6th November , 2025 , the same day when forty years back Sanjeev Kumar had passed away on the same date.
I have seen only very few films in which she acted , but as a singer I always liked her voice and she could carve out a niche for herself in the midst of tough competition from legends like Lata , and Asha. Her repertoire might have been limited but she did leave behind few evergreen songs that would be remembered for a long time. Her training in music made her sing quite well and she also had a voice that did not resemble Lata or Asha and hence had a distinct tone. It is truly unfortunate that she did not get the recognition she deserved.
I am listing few of her superb songs that provide a glimpse of her versatility and her strong musical grounding. These are arranged in chronological order , with song, film, year , music director, lyricist and co-singer mentioned in that order.
- Bekaraar Dil Tu Gaye Jaa-Door Ka Rahi-1971-Kishore Kumar-A Irshad-Duet with Kishore Kumar
One of the best piano songs, Kishore proved he was a great music composer as well and gave Sulakshana Pandit her first hit song, that remains her all-time best till date. It is interesting to note KK singing for his brother Ashok Kumar .
2. Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Sahara-Sankalp-1975-Khayyam-Kaifi Azmi
This song shows what a superbly gifted singer Sulakshana Pandit was and is famous for its meaningful lyrics and soulful tune composed by Khayyam. It is rare to see any singer getting an award for the very early songs in their career.
3. Bandhi Re Kahe Preet-Sankoch-1976-Kalyanji Anandji-M.G Hashmat
Rendered by SP on screen also, this is a song that does not sound like a typical Kalyanji-Anandji tune and is a hidden gem.
4. Jana Kahan Hai Pyaar Yahan-Chalte Chalte-1976-Bappi Lahiri-Amit Khanna-Duet with Bappi Lahiri
Bappi Da as a singer may not be everyone’s liking but he composed some lilting and peppy tunes that were very popular during the 70’s and 80’s. I had heard this song many times but never realised SP had sung this!!
5. Somwar Ko Hum Mile-Apnapan-1977-Laxmikant Pyarelal-Anand Bakshi-Duet with Kishore Kumar
One of the most popular duets of SP , this is a typical L-P & Anand Bakshi style composition that caught the attention of public due to the simplicity and catchy lyrics and tune.
6. Ghadi Milan Ki Aayee Aayee Tu Chutti Lekar-Ek Baap Chhe Bete-1978-Rajesh Roshan-Majrooh Sultanpuri-Duet with Rafi
During those days this song was very popular and was played frequently in radio. SP had many such hit duets with Rafi sahab.
7. Jab Aati Hogi Yaad Meri-Phaansi-1978-Laxmkant Pyarelal-Gulshan Bawra-Duet with Rafi
One more popular duet of Rafi and SP , with SP acting out the song on screen as well.
8. Boliye Surili Boliyaan-Grihapravesh-1978-Kanu Roy-Gulzar-Duet with Bhupendra
Kanu Roy was the famous singer Geeta Dutt’s brother and remained an unsung and unrecognised music director. Most of his songs were too good . This is a classical gem from him and sung very well by Bhupendra and SP. She demonstrates her classical singing ability so nicely and it is unfortunate that she did not get much opportunity to render songs like this.
9. Kajare Ki Baati-Sawan Ko Aane Do-1978-Raj Kamal-Maya Govind-Duet with K J Yesudas
The film Sawan Ko Aane Do was a musical hit with the new comer music composer Raj Kamal scoring many super hit songs like the title song, Chand Jaise Mukhde Pe, Teri Tasveer Ko, Bole To Bansuri, Tujhe Dekh Kar, mostly rendered by the veteran K J Yesudas and few by Jaspal Singh.
This duet of SP with KJY is relatively lesser known but not in any way lesser in quality .
10. Pardesiya Tere Des Mein-Garam Khoon-1980-Shankar Jaikishan-Singhar-Duet with Rafi
It is a common myth , spread by many, that the music of Shankar that he independently composed was mediocre. I could never understand how someone could say that. Just listen to this superbly orchestrated song in the year 1980 that , in my humble opinion, was as good as those masterpieces SJ composed in the 60’s. The string arrangement, solo violin, sitar, accordion, guitar all are vintage SJ! SP has matched Rafi’s versatility throughout the song. One of my all-time favourites of late SJ compositions.
11. Mana Teri Nazar Mein-Ahista Ahista-1981-Khayyam-Naqsh Lyallpuri
One more very soulful ghazal from the team of Khayyam and SP. I find that Khayyam has composed some of the best solo songs for SP.
12. Mausam Mausam Lovely Mausam-Thodisi Bewafaai-1981-Khayyam-Gulzar-Duet with Anwar
Of all the singers who came up after the sad demise of Rafi, trying to sing like him, I find Anwar was the best. Somehow he got very limited chances. This is a peppy number from Khayyam in a film that is otherwise known for the evergreen Kishore-Lata’s Hazar Rahein Mudke Dekhi..
13. Jiske Liye Sab Ko Chhoda-Sajan Ki Saheli-1981-Usha Khanna-Majrooh Sultanpuri-Duet with Rafi
One of the very last films for which the great Rafi sang before he left us, this was a very popular song, probably his last for Usha Khanna and also for Rajendra Kumar. SP’s collaboration with Rafi was a successful one with many of their duets becoming very popular.
14. Prabhu tum antaryami-Non Film Song-Khayyam
Khayyam composed many memorable Non film songs that were mostly bhajans or ghazals. Many of them were rendered by Rafi and this particular bhajan by SP was quite popular those days and somehow totally vanished from everyone’s memory later.
I end this small tribute with this soulful and superb bhajan.
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. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights 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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