Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indianplayback singer. In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such asChalo ekbaar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono (Gumrah) andNeele Gagan ke tale (Hamraaz). His name however became most closely associated with patriotic songs includingMere Desh Ki Dharti in Manoj Kumar's filmUpkaar.^[1] He consideredMohammad Rafi as his Guru.^[2] In 1972, he was awarded thePadma Shri by theGovernment of India. He lent his voice to actorManoj Kumar in most of his films and had a lengthy association with director-producerBaldev Raj Chopra.^[3]

Mahendra Kapoor
Born	(1934-01-09)9 January 1934 Amritsar,Punjab,British India
Died	27 September 2008(2008-09-27) (aged 74) Mumbai,Maharashtra,India
Children	Rohan Kapoor
Relatives	Sidhant Kapoor (Grandson)
Musical career
Genres	Rafi Melody
Occupation	Playback singer
Instrument	Vocalist
Years active	1956–2002

Mahendra Kapoor was born inAmritsar, but soon moved toBombay. At an early age, he was inspired by legendary singerMohammed 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 inV. Shantaram'sNavrang in 1958, singingAadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi, under the musical direction ofC. Ramchandra.^[4] Some of Kapoor's most notable songs were the ones he performed inB.R. Chopra's films (Dhool Ka Phool,Gumrah,Waqt,Hamraaz,Dhund,Nikaah andAwam (film) and TV seriesMahabharat); and forManoj Kumar (Upkaar,Purab Aur Paschim).

Kapoor had a very large vocal range, and he is sometimes known asThe Vibrant Voice of India. He was the first Indian playback singer to record music in English.^[5] He was asked by the groupBoney M to sing their songs in Hindi with Musarat from Pakistan, which resulted in the Pop AlbumM-3. Some of the songs on the album areChori Chori Chalo!! (Original, Hoorray! Hoorray! byBoney 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 fromBandhan,Shakti,Doli,Ek Nazar,Admi Aur Insaan,Sangam andTawaif are also quite popular.

Mahendra Kapoor also sang a duet withMohammed Rafi. The song wasKaisi Haseen Aaj Baharon Ki Raat from the 1967 filmAadmi, which was originally recorded as a duet with Rafi andTalat 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]}

Kapoor sung in a large number of Indian languages and is the playback singer who has performed in the largest number of inGujarati,Punjabi,Bhojpuri andMarathi movies.^[6] In Marathi, he was very popular for being the voice ofDada 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 sonRohan Kapoor is an actor and singer, who acted in a few films in the 1980s such asYash Chopra'sFaasle (1985) andLove 86 (1986), and Prakash Mehra'sImandaar, and later did stage shows together with his father.

On September 27, 2008, Kapoor died following acardiac failure at his home in Mumbai, aged 74. He was survived by his wife, children, children-in-law and grandchildren.^[7]

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.

• Unhe Dekhen Toh – Madmast (1953) Mahendra Kapoor sang debut movie song withPandit Shiv Dayal Batish known as S.D Batish^[8]
• Kisi Ke Zulm Ki – Madmast (1953 ) Mahendra Kapoor sang with Dhan Indorewala^[9]
• "Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra" –Dhool Ka Phool (1959)[2]
• "Aadha Hai Chandramaa Raat Aadhi" -Navrang (1959)
• "Aap Aaye Tho Khayal" -Gumrah (1963)
• "Chalo Ek Baar" –Gumrah (1963)
• "Chhod Kar Tere Pyar" -Woh Kaun Thi (1964)
• "Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega" -Sangam (1964) (trio withLata Mangeshkar andMukesh)
• "Mera Pyar Woh Hai" – Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1965)
• "Badal Jaaye Agar Maali" –Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)
• "Ye kali jab talak phool banke khile" –Aaye Din Bahar Ke (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)
• "Jiske sapne humen roz aate rahe" –Geet (1970)
• "Iktara Bole" –Yaadgar (1970)
• "Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon" –Purab Aur Paschim (1970)
• "Hey Ramchander keh gaye Siya se"-Gopi (1970)
• "Sansar ki har shae" -Dhund (1973)
• "Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin" –Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)
• "Fakira Chal Chala Chal" –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)
• "De Daru De Daru" -Karma (1986)
• "Dekh Tamasha Lakdi ka" -Insaaf Ki Manzil (1988)
• Title Song ofMahabharat (1988)

• Var dhagala lagli khala pani themb themb gala वरं ढगाला लागली कळं....पाणी थेंब थेंब गळं....
• 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 ...
• Anjanichya suta tula Ramacha Vardaan

• "Dhuni Re Dhakhavi Beli Ame Tara Namni ધૂણી રે ધખાવી બેલી અમે તારા નામની" -Jesal Toral (1971)
• "Pela Pela Jug Ma raani" - "પેલા પેલા જુગ માં રાણી તું હતી પોપટી ને"
• " Bhiksha De Ne Maiya Pingda" - "ભિક્ષા દે ને મૈયા પિંગળા"

• "Ishq Karaye O Jiski Jeb Me" -Bidesiya (1963)
• "Hansi Hansi Panda Khiwanle" -Bidesiya (1963)
• "Doliya Utha Ke" -Bhaiya Dooj (1984)

• "Saagarakanyaka" -Priya

• 1972 –Padma Shri
• National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer
  • 1968Won – "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" –Upkar^[10]
• Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer
  • 1964Won – "Chalo Ek Bar" –Gumrah
  • 1968Won – "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" –Hamraaz
  • 1968Nominated – "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" –Upkar
  • 1975Won – "Aur Nahi Bus Aur Nahi" –Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
  • 1977Nominated – "Sunke Teri Pukar" –Fakira

• Maharashtra State Film Award
  • Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer For Song Saang Kadhi Kalnar Tula
  • Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer For Song Anjanichya Suta.

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

• Mahendra Kapoor atIMDb