Mahendra Kapoor

Mahendra Kapoor (Playback Singer)

Mahendra Kapoor (January 9, 1934, Amritsar, Punjab, India - September 27, 2008, Mumbai, India) was an Indian playback singer.Mahendra Kapoor was born in Amritsar, but soon moved to Mumbai. At an early age he was inspired by singer Mohammed Rafi but soon he started learning classical music under many well known classical singers like Pt.Hussanlal, Pt. Jagannath Bua, Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan, Pt.Tulsidaas Sharma. He created a style of his own 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.He sang many hit songs of yesteryears, and the most notable ones being those for B.R. Chopra's Films (Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Dhund etc.) and for Legendary Actor/Director Manoj Kumar (Upkaar, Purab Aur Paschim etc.)Mahendra Kapoor is well known as The Vibrant Voice of India. Just like Pavarotti, Mahendra too had a very large vocal range with a beautiful vocal timber. He was the first Indian Playback Singer to record music in English. He sang 'Oh Saly please Help me.. & I am Feeling Blue" both which were an amazing feat for an Indian singer to do. He was asked by the famous "Boney M" group to sing their songs in Hindi with Musarat from Pakistan & they recorded the EverHit Pop Album M-3.

One thing of Mahendra Kapoorji must be remembered on Sai Devotees. At Shirdi Sai Baba temple at Shirdi, Maharashtra.. Om Jai Jagdish Hare.. is played along with Bhupalis Utha Utha Sakalajana (Sung by Asha Bhosle) and Ghanashyam Sundara (Sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Panditrao Nagarkar) Before early morning prayers i.e., Kakad Aarti. Om Shri Sainathaya Namah is mantra sung by Mahendra Kapoorji is also continuously played at Shirdi Sai Temple.

He has sung in almost every language in India, and has sung & covered almost every verity of songs such as Patriotic, Romantic, Bhajans, Qawwalis, Naats, & the TV Serial “MAHABHARAT” title song has been the umpteenth feather in his already crowned cap. He sang the highest number of songs in Gujrati, Punjabi & Marathi movies. 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. His son Rohan Kapoor is an actor/Singer. He Acted in a few films in the 1980s such as Yash Chopra's Faasle (1985) and Love 86 (1986), Prakash Mehra's Imandaar and later did stage shows along with his father & is a well trained singer. He cut several Albums in India & UK.

On September 27, 2008, he died following a cardiac failure, he is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son Rohan Kapoor alias Ruhan Kapoor.

 Awards

    National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer

        1968 Won - "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" - Upkar

    Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer

        1964 Won - "Chalo Ek Bar" - Gumrah

        1968 Won - "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" - Hamraaz

        1968 Nominated - "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" - Upkar

        1975 Won - "Aur Nahi Bus Aur Nahi" - Roti Kapda Aur Makaan

        1977 Nominated - "Sunke Teri Pukar" - Fakira