“Duniya mein abhi mausiki ka aizaaz hai baaqi, Saigal tu nahin to kya, duniya mein abhi teri awaaz hai baaqi.” (The world still applauds quality music, Saigal. You may be gone, but your voice remains immortal.) These heartfelt words by music maestro Naushad, penned as a tribute after K L Saigal’s passing, perfectly capture the timelessness of his voice. Even today, music lovers continue to revere the man who remains the very first icon of Indian playback singing. On his death anniversary, Glamsham.com pays homage to the legend who redefined music and stardom.
In the budding talkie era of the 1930s, Kundan Lal Saigal crafted a new grammar of film singing. With his soulful, effortless style, he became India’s first true superstar—an artist whose aura and charisma still resonate almost a century later.
Legend has it that at the age of twelve, Saigal performed a Meera bhajan at the court of Maharaja Pratap Singh. The ruler was so mesmerized that he predicted Saigal would one day shine in the world of music. The prophecy came true—Saigal rose to the zenith of musical glory.
Saigal’s cinematic journey began humbly, with small appearances such as in Mohabbat Ke Aansoo. His first recorded film song came in Yahudi Ki Ladki (“Nuktachīn hai gham-e-dil…”). But it was in 1935 with P.C. Barua’s Devdas that Saigal became a phenomenon.
Based on Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s immortal novel, the film told the tragic story of a lover destroyed by unfulfilled love and alcohol. The role fit Saigal like destiny itself. His haunting portrayal of the doomed Devdas, combined with his heart-piercing renditions, etched him forever into cinematic history.
Songs like “Balam Aaye Baso” and “Dukh ke ab din beetat nahin” became anthems of heartbreak. His most iconic track, “Baabul Mora Naihar Chhooto Hi Jaaye,” a thumri rendered as Devdas walks away from his home, remains unmatched in its poignancy—so much so that generations of singers tried to emulate its depth.
At a time when actors were tied to studios on fixed contracts, Saigal broke tradition. Capitalizing on his unmatched popularity, he became one of the first to step away from company employment, choosing instead to work independently. This daring move laid the foundation for the “star system” in Indian cinema—where an actor’s name alone could carry a film to success.
It was a seismic shift in the industry. For the first time, audiences flocked to cinemas not for a story or studio, but for Saigal himself.
Saigal’s singing was more than music—it was an emotional conversation with the listener. He introduced a natural, conversational style of playback that inspired every great singer who followed.
Mukesh openly admitted that his early songs were sung in “Saigal style,” and his tribute track “Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De” from Pehli Nazar was almost a mirror of Saigal’s tone. Mohammed Rafi, who later became the voice of India, once said he walked miles just to hear Saigal’s songs on a gramophone. Kishore Kumar confessed that he became a singer because of Saigal, often imitating him before developing his own style. Even Lata Mangeshkar, who set her own golden standard, considered Saigal her first true idol.
Saigal passed away in 1947 at the young age of 42, but his legacy remains immortal. His distinctive voice, his ability to infuse raw emotion into every note, and his pioneering role in creating the concept of a “superstar” ensure that K.L. Saigal is not just remembered but celebrated.
He wasn’t merely a singer or an actor. He was the very definition of the word “legend.”
