We are continuing the series on the occasion of O P Nayyar’s birth centenary year celebrations. So far we have covered all the major playback singers who were associated with him, except one.
And today, on the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Mahendra Kapoor, let’s revisit his association with O P Nayyar.
As is well known, Rafi was the only preferred male playback singer, who had a prolonged, successful and popular association with O P Nayyar.
But when there was a rift between the two, in the mid-60s, the scenario changed. O P Nayyar’s ego was so much that, he completely severed the ties with Rafi and chose Mahendra Kapoor as an alternative. Perhaps he could perceive a resemblance between their voices.
Actually while I was researching for the post, I came across an article on SoY by Ravindra Kelkar. It mentioned that much before Mahendra Kapoor sang as the lead singer, in the late 50s, he had recorded a couplet for the film, Do Ustad (1959) which runs in the background during the early part of the movie. I thank him for this information. Actually during that time in the late 50s, Rafi was creating masterpieces for Nayyar, and he might not have given a second thought to Mahendra Kapoor.
But his rift with Rafi underscored an urgent need to look for an alternative and he chose Mahendra Kapoor. It seems as if the decision was taken suddenly, as out of the seven films, Nayyar composed for in 1966, a couple of films (Do Dilon Ki Dastan and Love and Murder) had only Rafi, while the rest five had Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor, both singing for the same actor. From 1967 to 1969, Mahendra Kapoor took over completely being the only male playback singer in the film, barring the exception of Shreemanji (1968) with Kishore Kumar in the main lead.
In total, Mahendra Kapoor sang 40+ songs under the baton of O P Nayyar in 16 Hindi films and was his prime male playback singer in the last half of the 60s. Interestingly when Rafi and Nayyar finally cleared the rift, Nayyar stopped offering songs to Mahendra Kapoor. And after Rafi’s sad demise in 1980, Nayyar again offered Mahendra Kapoor songs in a couple of movies which unfortunately were never released. On today’s list, we will visit songs from these movies as well.
Without a further ado, let’s hit the list…..
1. Badal Jaye Agar Mali – Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) / Lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
This song is among their first collaborations and one of the popular solos by Mahendra Kapoor. The song has a typical touch of O P Nayyar and it’s a song picturised on a train. It’s a sort of philosophical song, inspirational and motivating. Surely, he had a good start with Nayyar.
2. Mere Pyar Woh Hai Ke – Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1966) / Lyrics by S H Bihari
It’s also one of the films where both Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor both sang for Biswajit. While Rafi’s songs are perhaps more popular, this is also a good song with beautiful musical arrangement. Good flute pieces during the verses. The first interlude has sitar and santoor while second has flute. It doesn’t sound like a typical Nayyar song and I think Mahendra Kapoor has done full justice to it.
3. Tum Sabse Haseen Ho – Mohabbat Zindagi Hai (1966) with Asha Bhosle / Lyrics by S H Bihari
In this film as well, Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor both sang for Dharmendra. This was the only song by Mahendra Kapoor which was lip-synched by him. Mahendra Kapoor also sang for Mehmood (Bijli Ho Ya Ghata Ho) and other supporting actors (Mehfil Mein Dilwalon Ki).
This is a dance number picturised on Rajshree and an awkwardly dancing Dharmendra.
4. Jaan e Tamanna Kya Kar Daala – C I D 909 (1967) with Asha Bhosle / Lyrics by S H Bihari
A beautiful romantic duet picturised on Mumtaz and Firoz Khan. We could well appreciate a typical touch of Nayyar in the composition. Both the singers do a wonderful job. The song has no instrumental interludes, it mainly has aalaps by both the singers. In addition to this, he also sang a couple of trios with Asha Bhosle and Kamal Barot, the latter being reduced almost to a chorus.
5. Zara Dekhiye Meri Saadgi – Nasihat (1967) / Lyrics by Aziz Kashmiri
Here’s a wonderful semi classical song with beautiful use of sitar, santoor, sarangi and santoor with tabla for rhythm. I wasn’t expecting this type of song in a Dara Singh movie. A bit slow paced song, but sung beautifully. Rajshree was Dara Singh’s heroine in the movie.
6. Haath Aaya Hai Jab Se – Dil Aur Mohabbat (1968) with Asha Bhosle / Lyrics by Shewan Rizvi
A popular song picturised by the seashore, on Sharmila Tagore and Joy Mukherjee. Mahendra Kapoor enters in the second stanza and has just a few lines to sing. But he sings with such a softness that even that small part is memorable.
7. Aankhon Mein Qayamat Ke Jalwe – Kismat (1968) / Lyrics by S H Bihari
Mahendra Kapoor got to sing a couple of solos in this movie. Though other solos and duets by Asha Bhosle are popular too, these songs are good too. This one has guitar pieces throughout which sound wonderful. As I already had the other solo on one of the earliest posts of the series, I got to highlight a comparatively lesser popular song among the two.
8. Badi Mushkil Se Qaabu Mein – Humsaaya (1968) with Asha Bhosle / Lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri
The song has an interesting situation in the movie. The song has four stanzas with different tunes. The tune is good, the lyrics are good too. Asha, singing for both Sharmila Tagore and Mala Sinha, does a great job. Mahendra Kapoor has poured emotions as well.
9. Qamar Patli Nazar Bijli – Kahin Din Kahin Raat (1968) / Lyrics by S H Bihari
A good song to listen to. But watch at your own risk. Biswajit in a really bad looking golden hair wig is not visually appealing at all. The only thing worth noticing in the video is Helen, who as usual dances well. It’s one of those films where she had a longer role than just dancing in a song.
10. Yeh Khushi Leke Main Kya Karoon – Sambandh (1969) / Lyrics by Kavi Pradeep
Though the movie is mainly remembered for the soulful Mukesh solo, Chal Akela, Mahendra Kapoor had his share. A song portraying distress and sorrow, well sung by him. Nayyar also offered a couple of songs to Hemant Kumar, but more about it in the next part.
O P Nayyar composed for a couple of films after Rafi’s death, which unfortunately were not released. And Nayyar again chose Mahendra Kapoor for those films. To end today’s post, let’s listen to one song from each of them.
11. Mere Pyar Ke Faisla Likhnewale – Muqaddar Ki Baat (1983) / Lyrics by Bimla Khaitan
The song sounds like a combination of Yehi Woh Jagah Hai and Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbani. The song has no percussion instrument for rhythm, violins and the metal triangle (what’s it called?) do the main melody. A slow paced song, sung well by Mahendra Kapoor. Unfortunately the film was never released and perhaps the songs as well couldn’t reach the audiences properly. Mahendra Kapoor had three solos and three duets with Pushpa Pagdhare in the movie. The lyricist Bimal Khaitan was also the producer of the movie.
12. Kitaab e Ishq Ka Padhna – Jane Mehboob (1991) / Lyrics by Noor Devasi
It’s a beautiful ghazal composed beautifully with the use of piano. It seems it was a party song, the singer rendering it while playing the piano.
The film had Raj Babbar and Poonam Dhillon in the main lead, though Mahendra Kapoor’s son, Rohan was also a part of the film and it is said that one of the songs sung by Mahendra Kapoor was picturised on Rohan. This film as well was never released.
Mahendra Kapoor tried his best to suit Nayyar’s style of compositions. He sang well, though he wasn’t an exact match for Rafi. It’s said that O P Nayyar wasn’t very happy with his singing, though his ego perhaps didn’t allow him to bring Rafi back to his team. I have read in books about Nayyar publicly talking about this ‘mistake’ of his, of offering songs to Mahendra Kapoor.
But that’s a bit unfair to Mahendra Kapoor. After all, he did his job seriously and dedicatedly. If that didn’t match Nayyar’s expectations, he should have stopped offering songs to him. Anyways, that’s the past and can’t be changed now.
If you didn’t find your favourite Mahendra Kapoor song under Nayyar’s baton on the list, please add it.
Disclaimer –
Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.
