Kundan Lal Saigal

Kundan Lal Saigal is a legendary actor and singer of Indian cinema. This actor-singer contributed immensely to frame the future of Indian cinema. Being the first superstar of Indian film industry, his charisma and appeal is unparalleled in the industry. Kundan Lal Saigal was born in Jammu on April 4, 1904. His father Amar Chand worked as a tehsildar at the court of the Raja of Jammu & Kashmir. Saigal's mother Kesar Bai was an extremely religious woman and was very fond of music. He dropped school and worked first as a railway time-keeper and later used to sell typewriters.

Kundan Lal Saigal got formal training in music by a Sufi peer, Salman Yussuf. The singing tradition he followed was not strictly classical but an amalgamation of the musical forms of Thumri and Ghazal. In 1930, he was engaged by B.N. Sircar at New Theatres and his style was considerably followed by his contemporaries like R.C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick and Timir Baran. Saigal had performed in 29 Hindi films and seven Bengali films,150 film songs and 110 non-film songs are sung by him.

His debut film was Mohabbat ke Aansoo (1932) but he became famous with Chandidas in 1934. The next movie Devdaas made him a megastar, he played the title role and made the character of the tragic hero come alive. The songs 'Balam Aaye Baso Mere Man Mein' and 'Dukh ke Din Ab Beete Nahin' sung by Kundanlal Saigal were mega hits.

In 1940, Saigal travelled to Bombay and acted in renowned films like Bhakta Surdas, Tansen, Kurukshetra, Omar Khayyam, Tadbeer, Shahjahan, Yahoodi Ki Ladki ,Rooplekha, Crorepati, Karwan-e-Hayat, Dharti Mata, President, Pujarin, Dushman, Lagan, My Sister, Zindagi,Street Singer and Parwana. Some of the famous songs sung by him are Diya Jalao Jagmag Jagmag, Rumjhum Rumjhum Chaal Tihari, Baag Laga Doon Sajani, Chah Barbaad Karegi, Ai Dil-e-beqarar Jhoom, Gham Diye Mustaqil, Naina Matwaare Tihaare, Main Kya Jaanoo Kya Jaadu Hai, Preet Me Hai Jeevan Jokhon, Ek Bangla Banay Nyara, Tarpat Beete Din Raen, Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya, Soja Rajkumari and the memorable Babul Mora. In the film Street Singer, Saigal acted and sung Babul Mora live in front of the camera. Indian film industry lost this legendary figure on January18, 1947, due to his alcohol addiction.

Satyajit Ray Shabana Azmi Abhishek Bachchan Deepa Mehta Mahesh Bhatt Yash Chopra Raj Kapoor Aishwarya Rai Mira Nair Amitabh Bachchan Shah Rukh Khan Mammootty Javed Akhtar A.R. Rahman Gulzar Asha Bhonsle Remo Fernandes M.S. Subbulakshmi Dr. Bhupen Hazarika