MAHENDRA KAPOOR: A BOLLYWOOD GOLDEN VOICE SLIPS INTO HISTORY et another golden voice of Kapoor and scintillating female Bollywood slipped into the voice of Musarrat (The Kashmiri Ypages of history when 74- Beauty) to create a fascinating string year old MAHAENDRA KAPOOR, of Boney M melodies. The famous a singer with a unique voice passed album known as ‘INDI DISCO’ has away on September 27, 2008, at poetic and precise Hindi lyrics . It was on 9 th of January, penned by and Arshad 1934, he was born in , Pun - Majeed. The rare album, assisted by jab. A prolific singer with tens of musical arrangements of Peter thousands of songs in many Indian Moss’s fabulous orchestra has the languages, he left an indelible mark swing of Boney M tunes with the on the people of Indian subcontinent artistic touch of the orient. A truly with his remarkable patriotic song, MAHENDRA KAPOOR collectible piece of music indeed! ‘Mere Deshki Dharthi,’ in ‘Upkaar,’ January 9, 1934 — September 27, 2008 an unforgettable movie of Manoj Ramesh Kalicharran, a much Kumar, another Bollywood great. The music genius of Peter Moss, prominent business magnate and He left behind wife, a son and three an internationally renowned pro - community leader of New York, is daughters. ducer of many hits, put together the also famous for his package magnetic male voice of Mahendra tours. Styled as ‘ KALI BHARAT Apart from ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharthi ,’ the song that made him immortal, his golden voice will be remembered for a long time to come with evergreen hits like Chalo Ek Baar (Gumraah), Yeh Nilgagan Ki Thaley (Humraaz), Ek Thaara bole (Yadgaar), Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin (Roti Kapada aur Makan), Chal Chala Chal (Fakira) and Mera Pyar Who Hai (Yeh Raath Phir Na Ayegi), among other innumerable lilting tunes. Mere Desh Ki Dharthi brought him Na - tional Film Award for best Male Playback Singer in 1968. He was studded with three ‘Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer’ awards in 1963, 1967 and 1974. Padmashri award by Government of India confirmed him in the hall of Bolly - wood greats. He was honored by the Indian states of Punjab, Mad - hya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maha - rashtra many times for his astronomical talent.               YATRAS ,’ these India tours have ac - legendary trio of B R Chopra-Pad - hendra Kapoor. Such is the impact quired a cultural profile predomi - mashri -Mahendra Kapoor of the departed soul on the Indo- nantly due to the passion of Kali, as are destined to remain as land - Caribbean community. he is familiarly known to his marks in the mighty Hindi film in - friends, followers and admirers. In dustry. Mahendra Kapoor was the A meeting with Eshrie Singh, the his capacity as CEO of ‘ KALI sole choice of male voice for all the ace Caribbean broadcaster revealed TRAVEL AND TOURS ,’ organiz - movies of the famous Marathi film Mahendra Kapoor’s fascinating re - ers of these famous India tours, Kali maker Dada Kondke. lationship with the Indo-Caribbean has acquired the status of a cultural community. The legendary broad - ambassador of India in USA, very When I spoke to Padmashree caster spoke to me emotionally naturally at that. Over the years, Ravi in Mumbai on hearing the about the days he shared with the Kali’s Bharat Yatras have become news of the singer’s death, a visibly singer in Guyana. He recalled the main facilitators of cultural link emotional Ravi recalled his great days listened to the songs of Mahen - with India for a sizable Indo- moments of creative work he shared dra Kapoor in 1960s on his 78-RMP Caribbean community. It was due to with him. ‘ A great artist, a wonder - gramophone. He remembered the his coordination that the 1985 batch ful singer, it was pure pleasure pro - live shows he shared with the singer of Kali Bharat Yatra was able to moting him ,’ said the grand as emcee at Rajmahal, Berbice. He have the privilege of Mahendra maestro. I was more than interested, spoke about the extended second Kapoor’s presence in their farewell speaking to Ramesh Kalicharrran event on public demand. Over - dinner party at Hotel Oberoi, Mum - who reminisced the great impact the whelmed by the affection of the bai. To the delight of the Indo- singer had on the Indo-Caribbean Guyanese public Mahendra Kapoor Caribbean team, Mahendra Kapoor community. Kali suddenly turned readily agreed for a free perform - sang and entertained them, cajoling introspective, recalling his lovely ance later in Georgetown. Eshrie the group with a sense of nostalgia teaching days at Diamond School in Singh jointly hosted the free event of their ancestral links. Mohammed East Demerara, Guyana, with his at Georgetown with his mentor and Bill Ali, a member of the 1985 dear friend and colleague Harry veteran Caribbean broadcaster, group and a music lover, recalled Panday, an outstanding Guyanese Ayub Hamid. He concluded the in - the memories of the occasion and singer of the 1960’s and an ardent terview with the remark, ’undoubt - grieved the death of the artist, with fan of Mahendra Kapoor. . Sud - edly he was one of the greatest from a comment, ‘ well, it’s an insur - denly I wanted to speak to Panday the mighty Hindi film industry of mountable loss.’ and luckily I got him on the phone. India’. The sheer name of the singer was Mahendra Kapoor worked with electrifying and Panday recalled his To top it all, music lovers will most movie moguls of Hindi film teaching days with Kali, socializing never forget Mahendra Kapoor’s re - industry of yesteryears. His debut with the humming of ‘ Neel Gagan verberating voice that sang the title was in inimitable V. Shataram’s Ke Tale’ from Humraaz tuned by song for Chopra’s mega TV serial that had the music from Ravi. He was kind enough to sing a ‘MAHABHARAT. ’ May be he is another icon few evergreen tunes of Mahendra dead, but the art that erupted from C. Ramachandra. However, his Kapoor and retired with a sigh, his magnetic voice will never die. most notable performances came ‘well, a singer in the class of Talat True artists never die; they live from the banner of B R Chopra’s Mehmood, , He - through their immortal art. Films. He sang under the music di - manth Kumar and Mukesh. One of rection of Padmashri Ravi, a genius the greatest I’ve come across’. in his own rights, for such cele - There couldn’t have been a better BHASYAM G. IYENGAR brated movies like Gumrah, Waqt, homage. The conversation ended New York: 10/01/2008 Humraaz and Do badan, among oth - with the note of his desire to dedi - Cell: 646 241 4963: ers. The works of art from the cate his forthcoming album to Ma - e-mail: [email protected]