Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Mahendra Kapoor, popular Hindi film playback singer of yesteryears, died here late Satrurday following a cardiac failure. He was 74. He was not keeping a good health of late as he had been suffering from heart ailment for long, his son Rohan Kapoor told IANS.
Born in Amrisar in Punjab, Kapoor first came into prominence after he won a singing contest at the All India Youth Festival in the late 1950s. A fan of singer Mohammad Rafi, he had dreams of making a career as a playback singer in Bollywood movies. Thanks to filmmaker B.R. Chopra, he got a foothold in the film industry ad came into prominence singing the "Tere pyar ka asra" number in "Dhool Ka Phool". Penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, the song was composed by Dutta Narwekar, known as N. Dutta. He also sang some popular numbers in Chopra's "Gumrah," "Humraaz" and "Waqt," which were composed by music director Ravi and picturised on Sunil Dutt during the late 1960s and 1970s. Kapoor also rendered the most popular number, "Mere desh ki dharti sona ugle" in Manoj Kumar's "Upkar" as also "Bharat Ka rahnewala hoon" in "Purab Aur Paschim" and "Ab Ke baras" in "Kranti." He also sang the title song of Chopra's popular TV serial, "Mahabharat", in the late 1980s. He received the the Filmfare Award for his song "Chalo ek baar phir se" in Chopra's "Gumrah" in 1963 and also for "Neele gagan ke tale" from "Humraz". In 1967 and again in 1974 for rendering the song "Nahin nahin bus aur nahin" in Manoj Kumar's "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan". IANS www.goa-world.com team adds: Mahendra Kapoor also sang Konkani songs, including that composed by the late Alfred Rose. He was also bestowed with the prestigeous Padmashri award by the Government of India and also the Lata Mangeskar Award (which carried a one lakh rupees cash and a citation) by the Maharastra Government. One of his Konkani songs, goes thus: O cheddva, tum choltai bai alon ani dolon O Cheddva, choltana kiteak maka choitai vollon Sokallim ek nestai, donparam ek nestai Chintnam tujim ailim maka kollon..... He performed in Kuwait also when the Embassy of India organized a concert by renowned Indian film singer Mahendra Kapoor and his troupe at the Embassy Auditorium on 22nd March 2001 which was sponsored by the Behbehani Group; Oman Air and Air India and Ritz Hotel in aid of the Gujarat earthquake victims and all the proceeds will be sent to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Some of his memorable songs are archived here (both audio and video): http://mahendrakapoorsongs.musicworldofindia.com/mahendra_k_va01/index.htm May Mahendra Kapoor's soul rest in peace. Forwarded by Goa's Pride - http://www.goa-world.com Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter is presented by Ulysses Menezes, www.goa-world.com and moderated by Gaspar Almeida (since 1994)
