K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947) was an Indian playback singer and actor who acted but also sang in Hindi and Bengali films and was active from 1932 to 1947.[1] He is cited as the first "superstar" of Indian Cinema with films like President, Devdas and Street Singer leaving an impact on Hindi film music.[2] He sang a total of 185 songs which included film, non-film, ghazals, Hindi/Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil and Persian songs. However, only 170 songs still survive.[3] Saigal was introduced to B. N. Sircar by R. C. Boral and Pankaj Mullick, who had met him at an impromptu evening singing session.[4] Sircar cast Saigal in his debut role as the main lead in Mohabbat Ke Ansu (1932). The same year he acted in Zinda Lash (1932), and Subah Ka Sitara (1932), both films were produced by Sircar's New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta and directed by Premankur Atorthy.[5]
Saigal's earliest recorded song is "Jhulana Jhulao Ri" in Dev Ghandharva Raga for Hindustan Records.[6] In Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933) Saigal's singing of Ghalib's ghazal "Nuktacheen Hai Ghame Dil" composed by Pankaj Mullick in Raga Bhimpalasi, is considered a classic rendition.[7] Chandidas (1934) was New Theatres first big success[8] with the song "Prem Nagar Mein Banaoongi Ghar Main" becoming popular.[9]
In 1935, Saigal acted in the Hindi version of P. C. Barua's Devdas (1935) in the title role.[10] The film, with its songs "Baalam Aaye Baso Morey Man Mein" and "Dukh Ke Ab Din Beetat Nahin" sung by Saigal, is cited as a "milestone" in Indian cinema, and made Saigal, New Theatres first superstar.[11] The song "Piye Ja Aur Piye Ja" from Pujarin (1936) was recorded without any rehearsal. Composed in Raga Khamaj with a mix of waltz and western orchestra, the song "enchanted listeners".[12] [13] [14] "President" (1937), cited as Saigal's finest film had one of his "memorable" songs "Ik Bangla Bane Nyara".[15] Songs like "Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Hi Jaaye" from Street Singer (1938), "Karun Kya Aas Niras Bhai" from Dushman (1939), "Soja Rajkumari Soja from Zindagi (1940), "Diya Jalao" from Tansen (1943), "Gham Diye Mustakil" from ShahJahan (1946), and bhajans like "Madhukar Shyam hamare chor", "Sar Par Kadamb Ki Chhaiyan" (Raag Bhairavi), "Maiya Mori Main Nahi Maakhan Khayo" from Bhakta Surdas (1942), cited as "unforgettable bhajans"[16] affirmed him as "an immortal singer".
| Denotes films that have no record of K. L. Saigal songs |
| Film | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Director | ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohabbat Ke Ansu (1932) | [17] | ||||
| Zinda Lash (1932) | [18] | ||||
| Subah Ka Sitara (1932) | [19] | ||||
| Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933) | "Ye Tasarruf Allah Allah Tere Maikhane Mein Hai" | ||||
| "Lag Gayi Chot Karejwa Mein" | Pankaj Mullick | Agha Hashar Kashmiri | |||
| "Lakh Sahi Hain Pi Ki Batiyan" | Pankaj Mullick | Agha Hashar Kashmiri | |||
| "Nuktacheen Hai Ghame-Dil" | Pankaj Mullick | Mirza Ghalib | |||
| Puran Bhagat (1933) | "Din Neeke Beete Jaate Hain" | ||||
| "Avsar Beeto Jaat Praani" | R. C. Boral | ||||
| "Radhe Rani De Daaro Na Bansari Mori Re" | R. C. Boral | ||||
| "Bhaju Main To Bhaav Se Shiri Giridhari" | R. C. Boral | ||||
| Rajrani Meera (1933) | |||||
| Dulari Bibi (1933) | [20] | ||||
| Chandidas (1934) | "Tadpat Beete Din Rain" | ||||
| "Prem Ki Ho Jai Jai" (with Pahari Sanyal, Uma Shashi) | R. C. Boral | ||||
| "Prem Ka Pujari" | R. C. Boral | ||||
| Daku Mansoor (1934) | [21] | ||||
| Mohabbat Ki Kasauti (1934) | Bani Kumar | [22] | |||
| Karwan-E-Hayat (1934) | "Dil Se Teri Nigah" | R. C. Boral, Mihir Kiran Bhattacharya | Ahmad Shuja Pasha | ||
| "Hairat -E- Nazar Aakhir" | R. C. Boral, M. K. Bhattacharya | Ahmad Shuja Pasha | |||
| R. C. Boral, M. K. Bhattacharya | Ahmad Shuja Pasha | ||||
| "Shehron Mein Wo Baat Kahaan" | R. C. Boral, M. K. Bhattacharya | Ahmad Shuja Pasha | |||
| Devdas (1935) | "Baalam Aaye Baso Morey Man Mein" | ||||
| "Dukh Ke Ab Din Beetat Nahin" | R. C. Boral | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Piya Bin Na Aawat Chain" | R. C. Boral | Kidar Sharma | |||
| Pujarin (1936) | "Jo Beet Chuki So Beet Chuki" | Timir Baran | Prafulla Roy | ||
| "Piye Ja Aur piye Ja Akbat Ki Baatein Jaane Koi Kya" | Timir Baran | Kidar Sharma | |||
| Karodpati (1936) | "O Dilruba Kahaan Tak Zulm-O-Sitam Sahenge" (with Pahari Sanyal) | Hemchander Chunder | |||
| "Jo Naukri Dila De B. A. Bananewale Bigdi Hui Bana De" with Sanyal | Boral, Mullick | Kidar Sharma | [23] | ||
| "Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai" with Sanyal | Boral, Mullick | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai" | Boral, Mullick | Kidar Sharma | [24] | ||
| Dushman (1939) | "Karoon Kya Aas Niraas Bhayi" | Arzu Lucknawi | [25] | ||
| "Preet Mein Hai Jeevan Jokhum" | Pankaj Mullick | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Pyari Pyari Soorto" | Pankaj Mullick | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Sitam Thay Zulm Thay Aafat Thay" | Pankaj Mullick | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| Zindagi (1940) | "Hey Diwana Hoon, Diwana Hoon" | Kidar Sharma | [26] | ||
| "Jeevan Asha Ye Hai Meri" | Pankaj Mullick | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Main Kya Jaanu Kya Jaadu Hai" | Pankaj Mullick | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "So Ja Rajkumari So Ja" | Pankaj Mullick | Kidar Sharma | |||
| Lagan (1941) | "Kaise Katein Ratiyaan Balam" | Arzu Lucknawi | [27] | ||
| "Kaahe Ko Raad Machayi" | R. C. Boral | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Koi Manushya Kitna Hi Bura Ho" | R. C. Boral | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Main Sote Bhaag Jaga Doonga" | R. C. Boral | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Ye Kaisa Anyaya Daata" | R. C. Boral | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| "Hatt Gayi Lo Kaari Ghata" | R. C. Boral | Arzu Lucknawi | |||
| Bhakta Surdas (1942) | "Madhukar Shyam Hamare Chor" | ||||
| "Kadam Chale Aage, Mann Paachhe Bhaage" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Nisdin Barsat Nain Hamaare" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Nainheen Ko Raah Dikha Prabhu" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Manwa Krishna Naam Ratt Ga" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Rain Gayi Ab Huva Savera" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Maiya Mori Main Nahin Maakhan Khaayo" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Chandni Raat Aur Taare Khile Hon" (with Khursheed) | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Din Se Dugni Ho Jaayein Ratiyan" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Jis Jogi Ka Jog Liya" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Sar Pe Kadamb Ki Chhaiya" (with Rajkumari) | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | |||
| Tansen (1943) | "Kaahe Gumaan Kare Ri Gori" | Pandit Indra | [28] [29] | ||
| "Baag Laga Doon Sajni" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| "Sapt Suran Teen Graam Gaavo" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| "Din Soona Deepak Bina" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| "Bina Pankh Panchhi Hoon Main" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| "More Baalapan Ke Sathi" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| "Rumjhum Rumjhum Chaal Tihaari" | Khemchand Prakash | Pandit Indra | |||
| Meri Bahen (My Sister) (1944) | "Chhupo Na Chhupo Na Pyari Sajaniya" | Pandit Bhushan | Hemchandra Chunder | [30] | |
| "Do Naina Matware Tihare" | Pandit Bhushan | ||||
| "Ae Qaatib-E-Taqdeer Mujhe" | Pankaj Mullick | Pandit Bhushan | |||
| "Haaye Kis But Ki Mohabbat Mein" | Pankaj Mullick | Pandit Bhushan | |||
| Bhanwara (1944) | "Kya Hamne Bigada Hai" (with Amirbai Karnataki) | Kidar Sharma | [31] | ||
| "Diya Jisne Dil Lut Gaya Wo Bechara" | Khemchand Prakash | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Ye Woh Jagah Hai Jahaan Ghar Lutaaye Jaate Hain" | Khemchand Prakash | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Muskurate Huye Yun Aankh Churaya Na Karo" | Khemchand Prakash | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Hum Apna Unhein Bana Na Sake" | Khemchand Prakash | Kidar Sharma | |||
| "Thukra Rahi Hai Duniya" | Khemchand Prakash | Kidar Sharma | |||
| Kurukshetra (1945) | "Aayi Hai Tu Toh Kaise Dil Apna Dikhaun Main" | Ganpat Rao | Jameel Mazhari | Rameshwar Sharma | [32] |
| "Tu Aa Gayi, Dil Ki Tamanna Jaag Uthi" | Ganpat Rao | Jameel Mazhari | |||
| "Kidhar Hai Tu Ae Meri Tamanna" | Ganpat Rao | Jameel Mazhari | |||
| "Mohabbat Ke Gul Hain Haaye Tar Goondhta Hoon" | Ganpat Rao | Jameel Mazhari | |||
| Tadbir (1945) | "Chaahe Tu Mita De" | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | [33] | |
| "Hasratein Khamosh Hain Aur Aah Batasir Hai" | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | |||
| "Main Qismat Ka Mara Bhagwan" | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | |||
| "Rani Khol De Apne Dwar" (with Suraiya) | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | |||
| "Main Panchhi Azad" | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | |||
| "Janam Janam Ka Dukhiya Prani" | Lal Mohammed | Swami Ramanand Saraswati | |||
| Omar Khaiyyam (1946) | "Insaan, Kyun Rota Hai Insan" | Lal Mohammed | Safdar Aah Sitapuri | Mohan Sinha | [34] |
| "Hare Bhare Bagh Ke Phoolon Pe Rija Khayyam" | Lal Mohammed | Safdar Aah Sitapuri | |||
| "Allah Hu Allah Hu" | Lal Mohammed | Safdar Aah Sitapuri | |||
| Shahjehan (1946) | "Mere Sapnon Ki Rani" | [35] | |||
| "Kar Leejiye Chal Kar Meri Jannat Ke Nazare" | Naushad | ||||
| "Ae Dil-e-Beqarar Jhoom" | |||||
| "Chaah Barbad Karegi Hamein Maaloom Na Tha" | Naushad | ||||
| "Gham Diye Mustaqil" | Majrooh Sultanpuri | ||||
| "Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya" | Majrooh Sultanpuri | ||||
| Parwana (1947) | "Us Mast Nazar Pe Padi Jo Nazar" | J. K. Nanda | [36] | ||
| "Mohabbat Mein Kabhi Aisi Bhi Haalat Pai Jaati Hai" | Khurshid Anwar | D. N. Madhok, Naqshab | |||
| "Ae Phool Hanske Bagh Mein" | Khurshid Anwar | D. N. Madhok | |||
| "Toot Gaye Sab Sapne Mere" | Khurshid Anwar | D. N. Madhok, Naqshab and Tanvir Naqvi | |||
| "Jine Ka Dhang Sikhaaye Ja" | Khurshid Anwar | D. N. Madhok |
| Film | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Director | ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devdas (1935) | "Golap Hoye Uthuk Phutey" | [37] | |||
| "Kaharey Je Joratey Chaye" | |||||
| Bijoya (1936) | "Mone-pabaner Dinga Baiya Bandhur Desey Ja" | [38] | |||
| Didi (1937) | "Raajaar Kumaar Pakshiraaje" | Ajoy Bhattacharya | [39] | ||
| "Swapan Dekhi Probaal Dwipe" | Ajoy Bhattacharya | ||||
| "Prem Nahe More Mridu" | Ajoy Bhattacharya | ||||
| "Premer Pujaaye Eyito Labhili Phal" | Ajoy Bhattacharya | ||||
| Desher Mati (1938) | "Baandhinu Michhe Ghar Bhulero" | [40] | |||
| Sathi | "Jhumar Jhumar Nupur Baaje" | Ajoy Bhattacharya | [41] | ||
| "Ae Gaan Tomaar Sheesh" | R. C. Boral | Ajoy Bhattacharya | |||
| Jiban Maran | "Ami Tomay Jato Shuniyechhilem" | Rabindrasangeet | [42] | ||
| "Yi Peyechhi Anala Jaalaa Taare Shudhu Chai" | Pankaj Mullick | Ajoy Bhattacharya | |||
| "Paakhi Aaj Kon Katha Koy Shunish Kirey" | Pankaj Mullick | Ajoy Bhattacharya | |||
| "Shuni Daakey Morey" | Pankaj Mullick | Ajoy Bhattacharya | [43] | ||
| "Tomar Binaye Gaan Chhilo Aar Aamar" | Pankaj Mullick | Rabindrasangeet | [44] | ||
| Non-film | Jakhan Rabona Ami Din Holey Aboshan | ||||
| "Ek Tuku Chhoa Laage" | Rabindrasangeet |
| Type | Song | Lyricist | ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Aah Ko Chaahiye Ik Umr Asar Hone Tak" | |||
| "Dil Se Teri Nigah Jigar Tak Utar Gayi" | [45] | ||
| "Ishq Mujhko Nahin Wahshat Hi Sahi" | |||
| "Har Ek Baat Pe Kehte Ho Tum Ke Tu Kya Hai" | |||
| "Ibne Mariyam Hua Kare Koi" | [46] | ||
| "Phir Mujhe Deeda-E-Tar Yaad Aaya" | |||
| "Woh Aa Ke Kwab Mein Taskin-E-Iztaraab Toh De" | [47] | ||
| "Shama Ka Jalna Hai Ya Sozshe-Parwana Hai" | [48] | ||
| "Ab Kya Bataun Main Tere Milne Se Kya Mila" | |||
| "Ae Bekhabari Dil Ko Deewana Bana Dena" | Seemab Akbarabadi | [49] | |
| "Baqadr-E-Shauq Iqrar-E-Wafa Kya" | Seemab Akbarabadi | ||
| "Duniya Mein Hoon Duniya Ka Talabgaar Nahin Hoon" | Seemab Akbarabadi | ||
| "Ishq Khud Maile-Hijaab Hai Aaj" | Seemab Akbarabadi | ||
| "Jaag Aur Dekh Zara Alam-E-Veeraan Mera" | Seemab Akbarabadi | ||
| "Jalvagaah-E-Dil Men Marate Hi Andhera Ho Gaya" | Seemab Akbarabadi | [50] | |
| "Ghamza Paikan Hua Jaata Hai" | Bedam | [51] | |
| "Layi Hayaat Aaye Qaza Le Chali Chale" | |||
| "Apni Hasti Ka Asar Khushnamaya Ho Jaaye" | NA | ||
| "Bahut Uss Gali Ke Kiye Hain Re Phere" | NA | [52] | |
| "Ghar Ye Tera Sada Na Mera Hai" | NA | ||
| "Idhar Phir Bhi Aana Udhar Jaane Waale" | NA | ||
| "Kaun Virane Mein Dekhega Bahar" | |||
| "Rehmat Pe Teri Mere Gunahon Ko Naaz Hai" | NA | ||
| "Shukriya Hasti Ka Lekin Tumne Ye Kya Kar Diya" | NA | [53] | |
| "Woh Aake Khwab Mein Taskeen-E-Iztiraab Toh De" | NA | [54] | |
| "Suno Suno Hey Krishna Kala | [55] | ||
| "Hari Bin Koi Kaam Na Aayo" | |||
| "Kaun Bujhave Ram Tapat More Mann Ki Ho Rama" | |||
| "Jin Jao Ri Gori Paniya Bharan" | |||
| "Main Jo Dinan Ki Thhori" | |||
| "Hori O Brajraj Dulare" | |||
| "Radhe Rani Daro Na Bansuri Bole" | |||
| "Main To Dinan Ki Chhori" | |||
| Geet/Song | "Main Baithi Thi Phulwari Mein" | K. L. Saigal | [56] |
| "Humjoliyon Ki Thi Toliyaan" | K. L. Saigal | [57] | |
| "Jhulna Jhulao" | |||
| "Kete Din Aur Kete Din" | |||
| "Panchhi Kaahe Hot Udas" | [58] | ||
| Mahi Naal Je Akh Lad Di Kadi Na | |||
| O Sohne Saqiya Meri Gali Vi Phera Paunda Ja | |||
| "Mara Ba Ghamza" | |||
| "Rangeen Tar Az Henhast" | |||
| Tamil (film:Devdaasa 1936) | "Koodiye Paaduvai Komala Kiliye" | ||
| "Madan Yevum Kanaiyal Maha Moham" |