Sulakashana Pandit, the beautiful singer and actress of the 70s and 80s, passed away on 6th November 2025. She had withdrawn herself from the society from the late 80s and rarely made a public appearance thereafter, except occasional interviews.
Born on 12th July 1954 in a musical family, she learnt the music lessons from her father, Pratap Narayan Pandit, who was a renowned Indian classical singer of Mewati Gharana. Great vocalist Pandit Jasraj was her uncle. She had three brothers, the elder Mandheer (who formed a duo for a while with Jatin in the 80s) and two younger brothers Jatin and Lalit, who later formed one of the most popular composer duo of the 90s.
Popular actress Vijayta Pandit was her younger sister. She also had one more younger sister called Sandhya.
Sulakshana Pandit started her singing career first as a child singer when she was a teenage girl. It was a song for the film Taqdeer (1967), which was with Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Khanna. The song was, Papa Jaldi Aa Jana. It was popular and she soon started singing in stage shows. She was the earning member of the family, doing playback singing and stage shows. Her elder brother Mandheer was an ace tabla player, while Sulakshana was the one who was trained the most among the siblings in singing. She went to the UK with Rafi for a stage show.
It is said that Hemant Kumar advised her to opt for an acting career, which was not accepted by her father. Her brother Jatin has shared once an incident that made Sulakshana rethink about choosing acting as a career. Once on a tour with Kishore Kumar, a popular actress visited the green room. One of the helpers asked Sulakshana to offer her seat to the actress and a new chair was then arranged for her. Then she realised that an actress is respected more than a singer and she finally decided to go for acting as a career.
Hemant Kumar announced a film with Sulakshana as a main lead with Rajesh Khanna, which however was shelved, due to unavailability of Khanna. Ultimately she started her acting career in 1975 with the film Uljhan. She continued as a playback artist throughout the 70s. I wasn’t aware of her playback singing at all. I was under the impression that she only sang for herself.
During her career, she sang with almost all the popular and lesser known playback singers of the era. She had quite a few duets with Kishore Kumar and Rafi. She also sang with Shailendra Singh, Yesudas, Bhupendra Singh. Her younger sister, Vijayata Pandit was also a singer and I found their one duet in the film, Dil Se Mile Dil. And I was trying to search if Sulakshana sang for her sister, Vijayata! But I couldn’t find any.
I have divided the songs in a few categories for an easier presentation.
Firstly let’s listen to the songs she sang for herself.
1. Aaj Pyare Pyare Se Lagte Hain – Uljhan (1975) with Kishore Kumar / Kalyanji Anandji – M G Hashmat
It was her Hindi film debut where she shared the silver screen with Sanjeev Kumar for the first time. Though Lata Mangeshkar sang for her in the film, Sulakshana got to sing a duet with Kishore Kumar in the movie. It’s quite pleasant and her voice was definitely good. Kalyanji Anandji gave her an opportunity to sing later as well, both for herself and playback.
2. Tu Hi Sagar Hai – Sankalp (1975) with Vinod Sharma / Khayyam – Kaifi Azmi
There’s a story behind this song. The film was directed by Ramesh Saigal, who was a renowned director. He offered the song to be picturised as well on Sulakshana Pandit, who had sung it and was a newcomer. She wasn’t ready for a cameo or guest appearance and declined it by saying that she would do only full length roles. But composer Khayyam advised her to accept the offer, knowing her potential as a singer. He told her that it would be a great opportunity for her to feature in a film by Ramesh Saigal. Sulakshana couldn’t overrule Khayyam and accepted it. The song however isn’t available as a video. And what’s more! She received the best female playback singer Filmfare award for the song.
3. Baandhi Re Kahe Preet – Sankoch (1976) Kalyanji Anandji – M G Hashmat
The film was based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Parineeta and Sulakshana Pandit played Lalita. Jeetendra and Vikram Makandar were her coactors. She sang this beautifully penned song in a melancholy mood. She has captured the mood perfectly, both as a singer and as an actress.
4. Somwar Ko Hum Mile – Apnapan (1977) with Kishore Kumar / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Anand Bakshi
I guess the song was very popular. Though not lyrically great, it does convey the impatience and eagerness of a couple, who had fallen in love just a month ago. Sulakshana Pandit sang with Kishore Kumar many duets both as a playback and for herself.
5. Jab Aati Hogi Yaad Meri – Phaansi (1978) with Rafi / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Gulshan Bawra
She sang quite a few songs with Rafi. This romantic song seems to be popular. Shashi Kapoor was her hero in this movie.
6. Tere Bina Jiya Na Lage – Dil Hi Dil Mein (1982) / Mandheer Jatin – Mahendra Dehlvi
Sulakshana’s elder brother Mandheer and younger brother Jatin formed a duo in the 80s and composed songs for a few films. The song is really melodious. The duo however wasn’t very successful and couldn’t survive for long. Later Jatin formed a duo with the youngest brother, Lalit and it became one of the most popular composer duos of the 90s. The song has a classical base and seems difficult to render. But Sulakshana sang it well, giving justice to all its nuances and complexities. Though the songs of this movie are not very popular, they are worth listening to. Not only for the singer’s rendition, but also for the wonderful tunes and musical arrangements by the composer duo, Mandheer Jatin.
7. Apni Baahon Ka Haar De – Kaala Suraj (1986) with Yesudas / Bappi Lahiri – Shaily Shailendra
During her career, she had the opportunity to work with all the top heroes of the era like Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Mehra, Shatrughan Sinha etc. This suhag raat song is beautifully sung by Yesudas and Sulakshana Pandit.
Now, let’s visit her songs as a playback singer.
8. Beqaraar Dil Tu Gaaye Ja – Door Ka Raahi (1971) with Kishore Kumar / Kishore Kumar – Irshad
After doing stage shows with Kishore Kumar, he finally offered her a song that indeed became her identity. It’s one of the most popular songs as a playback singer. It was before she debuted as an actress. She sang for Tanuja while Kishore Kumar sang for Ashok Kumar, though interestingly enough, he also shared the screen with them. One of the rare occasions when Kishore Kumar is on screen, but singing for someone else.
9. Ang Ang Rang Chhalkaye – Sandhya (1975) / Khayyam – Jaan Nisar Akhtar
A beautiful semi classical song, rendered wonderfully by Sulakshana. Khayyam was one of the composers who supported her since the beginning and offered her songs.
10. Kajre Ki Baati – Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979) with Yesudas / Raj Kamal – Maya Govind
The song is picturised on Zarina Wahab and Arun Govil. The song takes place at different locations, Zarina Wahab singing in a melancholy mood at home, while Arun Govil sings it cheerfully during a stage performance with Rita Bhaduri dancing to the tune. Composer Raj Kamal wasn’t a popular composer, but he did offer good songs to Sulakshana Pandit.
11. Boliye Surili Boliyan – Grih Pravesh (1979) with Bhupendra Singh / Kanu Roy – Gulzar
The song is lip-synched Dinesh Thakur and Priyadarshini, while we also see the main lead played by Sharmila Tagore and Sanjeev Kumar. A well written song, woven semiclassically in an attractive tune. A delight to listen to. Sulakshana’s laughter in between sounds great too!
12. Geeton Ki Duniya Mein – Sparsh (1980) with Chorus / Kanu Roy – Indu Jain
A good song with lots of optimism. Shabana Azmi sings it as a teacher to blind students.
13. Mausam Mausam Lovely Mausam – Thodisi Bewafai (1980) with Anwar / Khayyam – Gulzar
The song is picturised on Padmini Kolhapure and Siddharth Ray (known also by his real name, Sushant Ray), both in their teens still. Though he was elder to Padmini, looks younger, almost a school kid. A beautiful romantic song which I heard after ages. I had completely forgotten about the song, having heard it as a small kid. A youthful and energetic song, Anwar sounds almost like Rafi.
14. Mana Teri Nazar Mein – Ahista Ahista (1981) / Khayyam – Naqsh Lyallpuri
A beautiful ghazal, rendered with apt emotions. The song perhaps doesn’t get highlighted among the other popular songs from the movie, sung by Asha Bhosle.
Next category belongs to her songs where other playback singers sang for her.
15. Subah Aur Sham Kaam Hi Kaam – Uljhan (1975) Lata Mangeshkar
As I have highlighted earlier, Sulakshana Pandit sang only one duet for herself in her debut film, the other ones were sung by Lata Mangeshkar. While the title track (sung separately by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar) seems more popular, I chose this light hearted romantic song instead.
16. Mujhe Pyar Mein Khat – Hera Pheri (1976) Asha Bhosle / Kalyanji Anandji – Anjaan
A cute romantic song picturised on Sulakshana Pandit and the handsome hero, Vinod Khanna.
17. Ghungaroo Toot Gaye – Dharam Kanta (1982) Asha Bhosle / Naushad – Majrooh
A Mujra primarily picturised on Sulakshana Pandit, though a verse is lip-synched by Heena Kausar, as Amjad Khan imagines her at Sulakshana’s place. Sulakshana Pandit had a homely face and on-screen image. She maintained dignity throughout her career. It’s rare to find her as an on-screen dancer. But she has done justice to it as well.
In addition, she sang for Marathi, Gujrathi, Bengali and Rajasthani films. And nonfilm songs as well.
The list would be incomplete without these songs.
18. Dekha To Tha Yunhi – Jazbaat (1984) / Mahesh Chander – Sahir
It was a private album, which was released in the early 80s, with 8 ghazals composed by Mahesh Chander, penned by renowned lyricists like Sahir, Shakeel Badayuni, Jigar Muradabadi etc. The ghazals were wonderful, though not very popular.
19. Prabhu Tum Antaryami – non film song / Khayyam
Khayyam not only supported her playback singing, but he recorded a few of her nonfilm songs as well. This one’s a bhajan, perhaps known to the die hard fans of nonfilm songs in general.
And, to end the post let’s listen to one of her Marathi songs.
20. Tu Sanai Mee Chowghada – Darodekhor / Prabhakar Jog – Jagdish Khebudkar
I found a few of her Marathi lawani songs on YouTube. Her pronunciation and diction is quite good.
It’s said that she loved Sanjeev Kumar and wanted to marry him. But the emotions were one-sided, he had declined the proposal. But she was optimistic and was ready to wait if she had to. Sanjeev Kumar’s sudden death in 1985 left her devastated. With no hope to live for, she slowly withdrew herself from the society. She perhaps was never out of the shock of his death. She was last heard singing for the film Khamoshi, the Musical under the baton of her brothers, Jatin-Lalit.
After living a lonely life, she started living with her younger sister, Vijayata Pandit and her husband, Adesh Shrivastava. The latter had planned a devotional album in Sulakshana’s voice, but couldn’t do it before his death in 2015.
Her sister, Sandhya Singh had a tragic end, which was never disclosed to Sulakshana Pandit, as Vijayata wasn’t sure if she could have borne the shock.
Before I sign off, I would like to thank Dr Ravindra Shrikhande for helping me in this post. I was aware of just a few of her film songs. He sent me information about her non film songs which I had no idea about.
Please add your favourite by Sulakshana Pandit if you don’t find it on the list.
Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.
