Remembering Great singer Mahendra Kapoor 1934-2008

Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) In a career spanning five decades, his repertoire extended to 2500 songs in various regional languages, including 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. In 1972, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. He is perhaps most notable for lending his voice to actor Manoj Kumar in most of his films, mainly in patriotic genre of music.
Mahendra Kapoor was born in Amritsar, but soon moved to Mumbai. At an early age he was inspired by singer Mohammed Rafi but 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 spent the majority of his childhood in Mumbai, where he claimed top honors in the all-India youth talent contest. His victory captured the attention of filmmaker Raja Nawathe, who cast him in 1958's Sohni Mahiwal. A year later, Kapoor launched into the top ranks of Bollywood singers when composer and musical director Ramchandra Chitalkar tapped him to perform the showstopping "Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi" in the feature Navrang. Kapoor quickly proved himself a versatile talent even by Bollywood standards, performing in a number of regional Indian languages beyond his native Hindi -- within the subgenre of Marathi language productions, he was renowned as the playback singer of choice for superstar Dada Kondke -- and over time his repertoire expanded across more than 2,500 songs, becoming virtually synonymous with patriotic anthems when he delivered "Mere Desh Ki Dharthi" in Manoj Kumar's 1968 film Upkaar, a rendition that also earned Best Male Playback Singer honors from India's National Film Awards voters.

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 songs sung by Mahendra Kapoor are famous, whether they 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.Mahendra Kapoor also sang the dohas, mantras, chopaiyan and also Title track of Mahabharat 1988 TV series.
On 27 September 2008, Kapoor died following a cardiac failure.
Notable songs
• "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" – Hamraaz (1967)
• "Chalo Ek Baar" – Gumrah (1963)
• "Kisi Pathar Ki Moorat Se" – Hamraaz (1967)
• "Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale" – Kismat (1968)
• "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" – Upkar (1967)
• "Iktara Bole" – Yaadgar (1970)
• "Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin" – Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)
• "Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon" – Purab Aur Paschim (1970)
• "Hey Ramchander keh gaye Siya se"- Gopi (1970 film) (1970)
• "Fakira Chal Chala Chal" – Fakira (1975)
• "Badal Jaye Agar Mali" – Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)
• "Mera Pyar Woh Hai" – Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1965)
• "Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Wada Karo" – Hamraaz (1967)
• "Beete hue lamhon ki kasak saath to hogi" – Nikaah
• "Ab Ke Baras" – Kranti (1981)
• "Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra" – Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
• "Na Muh Chupa Ke Jiyo" – Hamraaz (1967)
• "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 KE](1966)
• Title Song of Mahabharat (1988)
• Title Song of Vishnupuran (2002)