Mahendra Kapoor

2021-08-17T13:00:31Z

2001:8F8:174D:F909:850:CD08:C09D:95F8:

{{short description|Indian playback singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mahendra Kapoor
| image = Mahendra Kapur.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1934|1|9}}
| birth_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|9|27|1934|1|9}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| children = [[Rohan Kapoor]]
| relatives = [[Sidhant Kapoor]] (Grandson)
| module = {{infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| background = solo_singer
| instrument = Vocalist
| genre = [[Mohammed Rafi|Rafi Melody]]
| occupation = Playback singer
| years_active = 1956–2002
}}}}

'''Mahendra Kapoor''' (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer. In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such as ''Chalo ekbaar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono'' ([[Gumrah (1963 film)|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]].<ref>[http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/EAB7033FC7DDDED4652574D200178E7C?OpenDocument PM condoles Mahendra Kapoor's death]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Press Trust of India]]''</ref> He always considered Mohammad Rafi as his guru and cited many times 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 [[Baldev Raj Chopra]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mahendra-kapoor-the-voice-of-patriotism/story-IJiZ7pkV9YNMuwhzNfu49O.html|title=Mahendra Kapoor: The voice of patriotism|date=2010-01-08|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-09-13|language=en}}</ref>

==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]].<ref name=TOI>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121025201456/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-28/mumbai/27946493_1_raj-kapoor-mahendra-kapoor-lata-mangeshkar-award ] Mere desh ki dharti' will always be with us</ref>

Some of Kapoor's most notable songs were the ones he performed in [[B.R. Chopra]]'s films ([[Dhool Ka Phool]], [[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]], [[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]], [[Hamraaz]], [[Dhund (1973 film)|Dhund]], [[Nikaah]] and [[Awam (film)]] and TV series [[Mahabharat (1988 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''.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} He was the first Indian playback singer to record music in English{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}. 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'' and ''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 (1968 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.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

Kapoor sung in a large number of Indian languages and is the playback singer who has performed in the largest number of in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] movies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/keeping-score/|title=Keeping Score|date=27 December 2015}}</ref> 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 September 27, 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/Singer-Mahendra-Kapoor-dies-of-heart-attack/366869|title=Singer Mahendra Kapoor dies of heart attack - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref>

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==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2012}}

===Hindi===
*"Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra" – [[Dhool Ka Phool]] (1959)
*"Aap Aaye Tho Khayal" - [[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]] (1963)
*"Chalo Ek Baar" – [[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]] (1963)
*"Chhod Kar Tere Pyar" - [[Woh Kaun Thi]] (1964)
*"Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega" - [[Sangam (1964 Hindi film)|Sangam]] (1964) (trio with [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Mukesh (singer)|Mukesh]])
*"Mera Pyar Woh Hai" – Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1965)
*"Ye kali jab talak phool banke khile" – Aaye Din Bahaar (1966)
*"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)
*"Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale" – [[Kismat (1968 film)|Kismat]] (1968)
*"Jiske sapne humen roz aate rahe" – [Geet](1970)
*"Iktara Bole" – [[Yaadgaar (1970 film)|Yaadgar]] (1970)
*"Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon" – [[Purab Aur Paschim]] (1970)
*"Hey Ramchander keh gaye Siya se"- [[Gopi (1970 film)]] (1970)
* "Sansar ki har shae" -[Dhund](1973)
*"Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin" – [[Roti Kapada Aur Makaan]] (1974)
*"Fakira Chal Chala Chal" – [[Fakira (film)|Fakira]] (1976)
*"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)
*"KAB TALAK SHAMA JALI" – [[Painter Babu]] (1983)
*"JAB YAAD KI BADLI CHAHTI HAI" – Painter Babu (1983)
*"Dil Hi Dil Mein Le Liya" - [[Aaj Ki Awaaz]] (1984)
*"Tere Pyar Ki Tamanna" - [[Tawaif]] (1984)
* Title Song of [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]] (1988)
* Tital Song of {Dhadkan}

===Marathi===
* Ti Yete Aneeka Jate..Yetana kadhi kalya aneete ती येते आणिक जाते,
येतांना कधि कळ्या आणिते,
* He Chincheche zad dise maj chinar vrukshapari हे चिंचेचे झाड दिसे मज चिनार वृक्षापरी
* Ratris khel chale ya gudh chandanyacha, sampel na kadhihi ha khel savalyancha रात्रीस खेळ चाले या गूढ चांदण्याचा
संपेल ना कधीही हा खेळ सावल्यांचा

* Abol Zalis ka saajani.. अबोल झालीस का साजणी
* Saang kadhi kalanar tula.. सांग कधी कळणार तुला
* Sur tech chhedita.. सूर तेच छेडीता, गीत उमटले नवे
* Madhu ithe ana chandra tithe.. मधू इथे अन् चंद्र तिथे झुरतो अंधारात
* Swapnaat pahile je te roop hech hote.. स्वप्‍नात पाहिले जे ते रूप हेच होते
* Nako menaka nako urvashi ... * Var dhagala lagli khala pani themb themb gala वरं ढगाला लागली कळं....पाणी थेंब थेंब गळं....

==Awards==
* 1972 – [[Padma Shri]]
* [[National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer]]
** 1968 '''Won''' – "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" – [[Upkar]]<ref name="National Awards Winners 1967: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1967">{{cite news|last1=The Times of India|first1=Entertainment|title=National Awards Winners 1967: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1967|work=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/1967/108|accessdate=11 August 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324034914/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/national-awards-winners/1967/108|archivedate=24 March 2020}}</ref>
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer]]
** 1964 '''Won''' – "Chalo Ek Bar" – [[Gumrah (1963 film)|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 (film)|Fakira]]

===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==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0438481}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{National Film Award Best Male Playback Singer}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestMaleSinger}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapoor, Mahendra}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male film singers]]
[[Category:Bollywood playback singers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century male singers]]

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Mahendra Kapoor