Mahendra Kapoor

Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer.

Mahendra Kapoor
Born(1934-01-09)9 January 1934
Amritsar, Punjab, British India
Died27 September 2008(2008-09-27) (aged 74)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
ChildrenRohan Kapoor
RelativesSidhant Kapoor (Grandson)
Musical career
GenresRafi Melody
Occupation(s)Playback singer
InstrumentsVocalist
Years active1956–2002

In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such as 'Chalo ek baar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono' (Gumrah) and 'Neele gagan ke tale' (Hamraaz). His name however became most closely associated with patriotic songs including 'Mere Desh Ki Dharti' in Manoj Kumar's film Upkaar.[1] He always considered Mohammad Rafi as his guru and cited many time that he was the best singer to be ever born.In 1972, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. He lent his voice to actor Manoj Kumar in most of his films and had a lengthy association with director-producer B.R. Chopra.[2]

Biography

Mahendra Kapoor was born in Amritsar, but soon moved to Mumbai. At an early age he was inspired by legendary singer Mohammed Rafi and considered him his mentor, he started learning classical music under classical singers like Pt. Hussanlal, Pt. Jagannath Bua, Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan and Pt.Tulsidaas Sharma. Kapoor created a style of his own moulded largely on Rafi, and won the Metro Murphy All-India singing competition, which led to his debut as a playback singer in V. Shantaram's Navrang in 1958, singing Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi, under the musical direction of C. Ramchandra.[3]

Some of Kapoor's most notable songs were the ones he performed in B.R. Chopra's films (Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Dhund, Nikaah and Awam (film) and TV series Mahabharat; and for Manoj Kumar (Upkaar, Purab Aur Paschim).

Kapoor had a very large vocal range, and he is sometimes known as The Vibrant Voice of India. He was the first Indian playback singer to record music in English. He was asked by the group Boney M to sing their songs in Hindi with Musarat from Pakistan, which resulted in the Pop Album M-3. Some of the songs on the album are "Chori Chori Chalo!!"(Original, Hoorray! Hoorray! by Boney M), "O Meri Champe Ki Daali". Most of the hit songs sung by Mahendra Kapoor which are famous, are from B.R. Chopra movies or Manoj Kumar's movies. His song from 'Bandhan', 'Shakti'. 'Doli', 'Ek Nazar', 'Admi Aur Insaan', 'Sangam', 'Tawaif' are also quite popular.

Mahendra Kapoor also sang a duet with Mohammed Rafi. The song was "Kaisi Haseen Aaj Baharon Ki Raat" from the 1967 film "Aadmi", which was originally recorded as a duet with Rafi and Talat Mehmood. Manoj Kumar, one of the lead stars refused to use Talat's voice for him and the song was re-recorded with Kapoor replacing Talat.

Kapoor sung in a large number of Indian languages, and is the playback singer who has performed in the largest number of in Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Marathi movies.[4] In Marathi he was very popular for being the voice of Dada Kondke in all his movies. In spite of being associated with Dada Kondke's colloquial style his singing for Marathi movies was not limited to Dada Kondke's movies only.

Kapoor was married and had three daughters and one son. His son Rohan Kapoor is an actor and singer, who acted in a few films in the 1980s such as Yash Chopra's Faasle (1985) and Love 86 (1986), and Prakash Mehra's Imandaar, and later did stage shows together with his father.

On 27 September 2008, Kapoor died following a cardiac failure at his home in Mumbai, aged 74. He was survived by his wife, children, children-in-law and grandchildren.[5]

Mahendra Kapoor is one of the golden era singers. He remained as one of the most popular singers in Bollywood who has given his voice to almost all of the popular heroes and leading well known actors. For Punjabi movies he has given his voice to Varendra, Mehar Mittal, Prem Nath and many more.

Notable songs

Hindi
  • "Aap Aaye Tho Khayal" - Gumrah (1963)
  • "Chalo Ek Baar" – Gumrah (1963)
  • "Chhod Kar Tere Pyar" - Woh Kaun Thi (1964)
  • "Mera Pyar Woh Hai" – Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1965)
  • "Kisi Pathar Ki Moorat Se" – Hamraaz (1967)
  • "Na Muh Chupa Ke Jiyo" – Hamraaz (1967)
  • "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" – Hamraaz (1967)
  • "Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Wada Karo" – Hamraaz (1967)
  • "Tu Husn Hai Main Tujmein" – Hamraaz (1967)
  • "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" – Upkar (1967)
  • "Ab Ke Baras" – Kranti (1981)
  • "Andhere Mein Jo Baite" - Sambandh (1982)
  • "Beete Hue Lamhon Ki Kasak Saath" – Nikaah (1982)
  • "Chehra Chupaliya Hai Kisi - Nikaah (1982)
  • "Dil Ki Yeh Arzoo Te Koi - Nikaah (1982)
  • "Mangi Thi Ek Duajo - Shakti (1982)
  • "Dil Hi Dil Mein Le Liya" - Aaj Ki Awaaz (1984)
  • "Tere Pyar Ki Tamanna" - Tawaif (1984)
  • "Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra" – Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
  • "Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale" – Kismat (1968)
  • "Iktara Bole" – Yaadgar (1970)
  • "Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon" – Purab Aur Paschim (1970)
  • "Hey Ramchander keh gaye Siya se"- Gopi (1970 film) (1970)
  • "Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin" – Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)
  • "Fakira Chal Chala Chal" – Fakira (1975)
  • "KAB TALAK SHAMA JALI" – Painter Babu (1983)
  • "JAB YAAD KI BADLI CHAHTI HAI" – Painter Babu (1983)
  • "JISKE SAPNE HAME ROJ AATE RAHE" – [Geet](1970)
  • "YE KALI JAB TALAK PHOOL BANKE KHILE" – Aaye Din Bahaar (1966)
  • Title Song of Mahabharat (1988)
  • “SANSAR KI HAR SHAE” -[Dhund](1973)

Marathi
  • Ti Yete Aneeka Jate..Yetana kadhi kalya aneete
  • He Chincheche zad dise maj chinar vrukshapari
  • Ratris khel chale ya gudh chandanyacha, sampel na kadhihi ha khel savalyancha
  • Abol Zalis ka saajani..
  • Saang kadhi kalanar tula..
  • Sur tech chhedita..
  • Madhu ithe ana chandra tithe..
  • Swapnaat pahile je te roop hech hote..
  • Nako menaka nako urvashi ... * Var dhagala lagli khala pani themb themb fala

Awards

Others
    • 1967 Won – "Mian Tansen Award" – Sati Nari – Tum Nacho Ras Barse
    • 2000 Won – "Bollywood Music Awards- New York" – Life Time Achievement Award
    • 2002 Won – "Lata Mangeshkar Puruskar" – Madhya Pradesh State Award
    • 2008 Won – "Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award" – Phalke Golden Voice Singer
    • 2008 Won – "Maharashtra State Award" – Life Time Achievement

References
  1. PM condoles Mahendra Kapoor's death Press Trust of India
  2. "Mahendra Kapoor: The voice of patriotism". Hindustan Times. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  3. Mere desh ki dharti' will always be with us Times of India, 28 September 2008.
  4. 'Indian Express, December 2015.
  5. Singer Mahendra Kapoor dies of heart attack Indian Express, 28 September 2008.
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