" The vices in the world, if YOU do not go towards them, THEY dare not come towards you. "
" Life is a continuous process of learning and improvement. It is never too late to learn or improve. "
- 'Spring Leaves' by KMG
Hello to you all ! Somvaar Suprabhaath !
Lives of great people, in whatever field it may be, are always inspiring and educative. Today I will reproduce some facts about a great Singer of the last century who was extremely popular, a Star who shone with dazzling brightness for over a decade and half, in the thirtees and forties of the nineteenth century. It is about Kundan Lal Saigal who dominated both as a singer and an actor. He was so charismatic that after his premature demise in 1947, a film was produced, entitled ' Saigal ki amar kahaani'.
The first part today deals with the unique aspects and achievements of his life, before presenting his life-sketch in the coming one or two weeks. Since I first mentioned about him on 04th April '11 message, many of his admirers have been asking for some details of his illustrious life. Herewith is the introduction :
KUNDAN LAL SAIGAL - Part 1.
" The unique accomplishments of this unparalleled genius are elucidated below, especially to enlighten our younger generation, that K.L. Saigal is ---
1. The first and the only Singer in the world that was, for many years in the latter half of the last century, to be heard daily between 07-57 and 08-oo a.m., from Radio Sri Lanka for about 47 years.
2. The first ever superstar of the Indian cinema who was the highest paid during his time.
3. The first Indian to become the most popular Singer in his time, for nearly fifteen years.
4. The first non-Bengali to be honored to sing Rabindra Sangeet, with the blessings of Gurudev Tagore.
5. The first to popularise Ghazals in India.
6. The first Indian cinema star who wasd excellent both in singing and acting -- a unique accomplishment during his time.
7. The first ever Indian Top Singer and Top Actor most popular in India and abroad, in Afghanistan, Iran, Kuwait, Nairobi, Tangier, Jakarta and Fiji, as also many other countries , despite lack of media and travel facilities in those days of British Rule.
8. The first superstar most of whose films did well at the Box Office, and, out of 25 films, none was a flop.
9. The first to be cast as the leading male star in ALL his films.
10. The first 'Cult Figure' of the Indian cinema, whose voice singularly influenced the evolution of the film song.
11. The first to bring about the tradition of 'royalty' on songs.
12. The first Singer in India whose very first record ' Jhula naa jhulaa' sung in Asaveri Gandhari, created history.
13. The first cinema star and singer to sing a song for children e.g., " Ik Raja kaa Beta Lekar ---"
14. Unlike the singers of today, Saigal had hardly any support from the Orchestra, especially in his earlier songs like ' Baabul Moraa ' sung in pure Bhairavi, right in the open door, with the sound equipment, mounted on a truck, trailing alongside. The song is popular even today.
15. Anyone who tried to imitate Saigal, could not match his versatility, and the quality of his voice.
16. The only top singer and top actor, in Indian cinema, who neither gave playback to anyone, nor received it during his lifetime.
17. Was recognized in Bengal, the land of Gurudev Tagore, where he had to compete with great singers like Pankaj Mullick, K.C. Dey and Pahari Sanyal.
Despite the above accomplishments, Saigal was the most modest, kind and a simple man, as rightly described by celebrities like Jamini Roy, Raghava Menon, Balwant Gargi etc.
Saigal is admired by our great singers like Lata Mangeshkar(whose renowned father used to tell her to hear film songs of only Saigal), Md. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Talat Mehmood, Mukesh, Jagjit Singh, and famous Directors like Pankaj Mullick, R.C. Boral. Naushad Ali, Khemchand Prakash and others. Pankaj Mullick, himself a great singer, composed music for him. Other famous admirers include, V. Shanta Ram, Kedar Sharma, Ashok Kumar and the famous Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.
Kundan Lal Saigal was born on 04-04-04 (4th April 1904) to Amarchand Saigal and Kesari Devi. His father wanted him to study, but Kundan Lal was an indifferent student. The 'zikr' and 'riaz' imparted by the Sufi Pir to whom his mother took him, was what led him to follow his star. He was most truly a 'piligrim of Swara'. His voice had a quality where one could discern no divide between speech and melody.
Saigal received no orthodox musical training, yet he sang his way into people's hearts. A Sufi mystic, Salman Yusuf of the Yesevi sect, is believed to have bestowed on him the rare gift of taking music beyond the reaches of tone and rhythm, into the realm of meditation and self-realization. Such was the magic generated by the legendary voice of Kundan Lal Saigal.
He entered the world of films when standing in for an absent singer at New Theatres in 1932. Saigal's rendition was such that he gained not merely acceptance, but plaudits from the literary and musical stalwarts of Bengal. The pinnacle of this glory was the encomium bestowed by Rabindranath Tagore upon Saigal, for his mastery over Rabindra Sangeet.
In the short period upto 1947, Saigal acted in eight Bengali and over twenty-five Hindi films. In each of them, he has left behind a rich musical legacy. His range has covered bhajans, geet, ghazals, children's songs, classical music and Rabindra Sangeet, his voice moving easily with vibrancy and strength from Tansen's 'Diya Jalao' to the whispered delight of 'Ek Raj ka Beta', from the pure melody in his favorite raga 'Bhairavi' in 'Babul moraa naihar chutohi jaye', to such unforgettable cadences as 'Sojaa Rajakumari', 'Do nainaa matware tihareh', 'Karoon kya aasa niraasa bhayee', and 'Jab dil hi toot gayaa'.
As an actor-singer, Saigal attained unprecedented fame and popularity thru New theatres' productions, beginning with 'Chandi Das' in 1934, and followed by a number of other box-office hits. However, he had already won acclaim from knowledgeable music lovers after the release of his first recording 'Jhulana jhulao' by Hindustan Records of Calcutta in 1932.
It is as the 'Ghazal King' that Saigal is remembered most by connoisseurs of music who seldom went to cinema. The first ghazal he sang and which created a countrywide sensation, was Ghalib's ' Nukta-chin hai gameh dil' in the film 'Yahudi ki Ladki', released in 1933. Not belonging to any 'Gharaana' (school), and without any formal training, Saigal stunned the music Maestros of his time with his instinctive knowledge of the 'raga-s', and his real and resonant voice. He mesmerized his audience with his rhythm which had a touch of the Divine.
Kundan Lal Saigal was born on 04-04-04 (4th April 1904) to Amarchand Saigal and Kesari Devi. His father wanted him to study, but Kundan Lal was an indifferent student. The 'zikr' and 'riaz' imparted by the Sufi Pir to whom his mother took him, was what led him to follow his star. He was most truly a 'piligrim of Swara'. His voice had a quality where one could discern no divide between speech and melody.
Saigal received no orthodox musical training, yet he sang his way into people's hearts. A Sufi mystic, Salman Yusuf of the Yesevi sect, is believed to have bestowed on him the rare gift of taking music beyond the reaches of tone and rhythm, into the realm of meditation and self-realization. Such was the magic generated by the legendary voice of Kundan Lal Saigal.
He entered the world of films when standing in for an absent singer at New Theatres in 1932. Saigal's rendition was such that he gained not merely acceptance, but plaudits from the literary and musical stalwarts of Bengal. The pinnacle of this glory was the encomium bestowed by Rabindranath Tagore upon Saigal, for his mastery over Rabindra Sangeet.
In the short period upto 1947, Saigal acted in eight Bengali and over twenty-five Hindi films. In each of them, he has left behind a rich musical legacy. His range has covered bhajans, geet, ghazals, children's songs, classical music and Rabindra Sangeet, his voice moving easily with vibrancy and strength from Tansen's 'Diya Jalao' to the whispered delight of 'Ek Raj ka Beta', from the pure melody in his favorite raga 'Bhairavi' in 'Babul moraa naihar chutohi jaye', to such unforgettable cadences as 'Sojaa Rajakumari', 'Do nainaa matware tihareh', 'Karoon kya aasa niraasa bhayee', and 'Jab dil hi toot gayaa'.
As an actor-singer, Saigal attained unprecedented fame and popularity thru New theatres' productions, beginning with 'Chandi Das' in 1934, and followed by a number of other box-office hits. However, he had already won acclaim from knowledgeable music lovers after the release of his first recording 'Jhulana jhulao' by Hindustan Records of Calcutta in 1932.
It is as the 'Ghazal King' that Saigal is remembered most by connoisseurs of music who seldom went to cinema. The first ghazal he sang and which created a countrywide sensation, was Ghalib's ' Nukta-chin hai gameh dil' in the film 'Yahudi ki Ladki', released in 1933. Not belonging to any 'Gharaana' (school), and without any formal training, Saigal stunned the music Maestros of his time with his instinctive knowledge of the 'raga-s', and his real and resonant voice. He mesmerized his audience with his rhythm which had a touch of the Divine.
( The above is reproduced from the brochure that came along with the CD set of Saigal's songs)
A BRIEF LIFE-SKETCH OF K.L. SAIGAL -- Part 2.
A BRIEF LIFE-SKETCH OF K.L. SAIGAL -- Part 2.
Saigal loved Urdu poetry, and he created a new fusion of the music and the poetry. His musical interpretation of the 'ghazal' gave a new form and content to the meaning of the verse. He played with words in a singular manner, producing an amazing array of emotions and sentiments. He seemed to share the joys and sorrows as spelt out in the words. In fact, like a magician, he succeeded in striking similar chords in the listeners' hearts.
It is a little known fact that Saigal himself was a poet, and is said to have recited his own compositions. No recordings are however available except the one " Main baithi thi phulwari mein". In this song, written and composed by him, Saigal highlights the Divine Presence within every human being, and points out that it is the inner voice which reveals This to us, when we are frustrated with our search in the outer world. He speaks about the closing of one's outer eyes, in order to awaken the inner vision of Self-realization. As a poet, Saigal knew how to give life-like imagery to his words. Music was his life and soul. He sang for himself, more like a Sufi saint, finding in music the most effective instrument for sublime communion with the Ultimate. A great artist, a great man, Saigal belongs to the class of human beings who defy death. He is immortal.
Tributes have been paid to him frequently by layman and connoisseur alike. But none has perhaps put it better than two of his famous contemporaries :
Pankaj Mullick once said that the sheer facility and naturalness of his singing covered the tremendous effort that he put in. He added hard work to a good voice. " What is happening to Saigal is that over the years he has become, in a certain sense, a musician's musician ". Praise indeed for a man who claimed to know nothing of raga-s , and had no formal training ! Today Saigal is no more ( He expired on 18th January 1947. That day is even now celebrated as Saigal Day by all his admirers everywhere). But as Naushad says:
" Naushad mere dil ko yakeen hai yeh mukammal
Nagmon ki kasam aaj bhi zinda hai woh Saigal "
( Naushad swears by his lyrics that his heart is certain that even today Saigal lives on )
Saigal's immortality is truly vested in his magical voice.
NB: Sources for the two parts of the 'Brief life-sketch of K.L. Saigal', last week and this week, have been:
1. 'India Perspectives, July 1999 : 'K.L. Saigal -- The Musical Genius' by Pran Neville.
2. Brochure of Dept of Posts, Govt of India, issued on 04-04-1995 )
Well, that was a brief outline of the life of the great singer-actor of yester years in last century. Enjoy his songs whenever you can.
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