Mahendra Kapoor

1934–2008

Mahendra Kapoor won a talent contest, was taken up by V. Shantaram, and spent his career slightly in Mohammed Rafi's shadow while owning one register absolutely: the patriotic song. *Mere Desh Ki Dharti* is his.

He was B. R. Chopra's voice of choice and sang for Manoj Kumar throughout. He worked for fifty years and won the National Award twice.