Mahendra Kapoor, who passed away last Saturday, aged 74, was one of Bollywood’s most versatile playback singers. He sang for over 200 Indian movie soundtracks, including many Marathi films. He was also one of the first singers to tour nationally and internationally. In fact, the first Bollywood concert I ever attended as a kid growing up in Seventies Trinidad was a Kapoor concert.

Born in Amritsar, Kapoor started singing at the age of five and was trained in Indian classical music. In 1957, he won an All India singing competition and caught the attention of two music directors who were amongst the judges. Two hit film soundtracks followed in 1959.

His golden period was the Sixties and early Seventies when his songs in Hamraaz, Gumraah and Upkaar proved his unique talent. In the Seventies, he became the voice of actor Manoj Kumar rendering classic tracks in Purab aur Pachim and Roti Kapada aur Makaan. His success waned in the late Eighties as Bollywood music directors discovered disco.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his condolences: “His songs will keep him alive in the heart of every Indian.”

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