In a country where Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah are a rage these days, the generation of today has little memory of Kundan Lal Saigal, a man who inspired top rung artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh. He was recently paid an ode by way of a Google Doodle.
Born on April 4, 1904 to Amar Chand Saigal and Kesar Kaur in Jammu he would have been 114 this year. Third among five siblings, Saigal was highly inspired by his mother who would sing bhajans and kirtans at home.
Much to his dismay his father did not like the idea of his son singing. But god willing a young Kundan was given a chance to sing and participate in Ramleela. Calls of an encore by all and sundry egged him to up his game in acting and music.
Saigal performed the role of Sita in Diwan Mandir Rangmanch (now Sanatan Dharma Natak Samaj).
Legend has it that it was because of the blessing of Pir Baba Salman Yushuf and hard work that he became a reputed singer and star. KL Saigal worked several odd jobs, a timekeeper, salesman, and manager, pursuing singing on the side.
His friends Mohammad Saleem and Mohammad Razzaq helped Saigal avail opportunities to sing in public concerts. In one such concert, he met Pandit Harish Chandra Bali, a renowned music director who in many ways helped Saigal in later years.
When his father asked him to be self – sufficient he made up his mind to leave Jalandhar.
A restless Saigal was always on the move.
In Delhi, Saigal was incidentally introduced to Rai Sahib Raghava Nanda Gautam, a connoisseur of music, who set-up National Amateurs Dramatics Club in Shimla. On Vasant Panchami, Saigal sang in an evening performance at Gautam Saab’s house.
By now the potential singer in Saigal was out. Saigal resigned from his clerical job and left for the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla. While Saigal started acting in plays here, he learnt the intricacies of music from Prof Homi, a music composer of this Club, Gautam Saab also ensured that Saigal got a job in Remington, the typewriter company.
Given his gentle and affectionate demeanour and a great sense of humour, he proved a great one at sales. As chance would have it Pandit Harish Chandra Bali encouraged him to go to Calcutta and meet BN Sircar of New Theatres, who was known to have nurtured budding talent.
Saigal met BN Sircar sometime in 1931 scouting for an assignment. Sircar was not surprised to see Saigal as he had heard him sing at the house of the Punjab distributors of his films in Jalandhar. In 1935, Saigal married Asha Rani and had three children, one son and two daughters.
Saigal’s repertoire comprised 20 films in Hindi and Urdu, seven films in Bangla, and one in the Tamil version of Devdas. He did a cameo role in Dulari Bibi, a three-reel short film produced by New Theatres, and found much favour with leading directors, Nitin Bose, PC Barua, Phani Majumdar and Hem Chandra.
Saigal shifted base to Bombay in 1941. He swung roles in three films produced by Ranjit Movietone, Bhakt Surdas, Tansen and Bhanwra.
The period from 1932 to 1946 is called as Saigal era. Saigal did unforgettable films like Bhakta Surdas, Tansen, Kurukshetra, Omar Khayyam, Tadbeer, Shahjahan and Parwana.
Some of his immortal songs are Diya Jalao Jagmag Jagmag, Rumjhum Rumjhum Chaal Tihari, Baag Laga Doon Sajani, Chah Barbaad Karegi, Ai Dil-e-beqarar Jhoom, Gham Diye Mustaqil and the very popular Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya.
KL Saigal’s first break came in 1932 when his first film, Mohabbat Ke Ansu, was released.
For his first three films, he used the name Saigal Kashmiri and used his own name Kundan Lal Saigal (KL Saigal) from his fourth film Yahudi Ki Ladki which was released in 1933.
While the Jammu-born star started his career singing Punjabi songs, he picked up Bengali and acted and sang in several Bengali films.
In the movie Street Singer, KL Saigal broke the mould by singing “Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaye” live on camera.
He gave music lovers melodies like “Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya”, “Bangla Bane Nyara”, “Hum Apna Unhe Bana Na Sake”, “Do Naina Matwale Tihare”, “Main Kya Janoon Kya Jadu”, “Babul Mora” and “Katibe Taqdeer’ among others.
Saigal’s 15-year span in films was cut short, with his demise on January 18, 1947 in Jalandhar. His voice became immortal and critical acclaim remained perennial.
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