Mahendra Kapoor, born January 9, 1934, in Amritsar, Punjab, British India, was an Indian playback singer. Inspired by Mohammed Rafi, whom he considered his guru, he received classical vocal training under Pandit Hussanlal, Pandit Jagannath Bua, Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan, and Pandit Tulsidaas Sharma. After winning the Metro-Murphy All-India singing competition, he made his breakthrough in V. Shantaram's 1959 film Navrang, performing “Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi”, composed by C. Ramchandra. He formed long-standing collaborations with filmmaker B. R. Chopra and actor-director Manoj Kumar, contributing playback vocals to films including Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, as well as singing the title theme for the 1988 television series Mahabharat. He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1968 for “Mere Desh Ki Dharti” from Upkar, and won three Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer for “Chalo Ek Baar” from Gumrah in 1964, “Neele Gagan Ke Tale” from Hamraaz in 1968, and “Aur Nahi Bus Aur Nahi” from Roti Kapada Aur Makaan in 1975. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1972. Kapoor died of cardiac failure in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on September 27, 2008, at age 74.
