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. 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. 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. Saigal was introduced to B. N. Sircar by R. C. Boral and Pankaj Mullick, who had met him at an impromptu evening singing session. 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.
Saigal's earliest recorded song is "Jhulana Jhulao Ri" in Dev Ghandharva Raga for Hindustan Records. 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. Chandidas (1934) was New Theatres first big success with the song "Prem Nagar Mein Banaoongi Ghar Main" becoming popular.
In 1935, Saigal acted in the Hindi version of P. C. Barua's Devdas (1935) in the title role. 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. 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". "President" (1937), cited as Saigal's finest film had one of his "memorable" songs "Ik Bangla Bane Nyara". 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" affirmed him as "an immortal singer".
Hindi Film Songs 19321933193419351936193819401941194219431944194519461947 He is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. +Key Denotes films that have no record of K. L. Saigal songs Film Song Composer Lyricist Director ref Mohabbat Ke Ansu (1932) R. C. Boral Premankur Atorthy Zinda Lash (1932) R. C. Boral Premankur Atorthy Subah Ka Sitara (1932) R. C. Boral Premankur Atorthy Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933) "Ye Tasarruf Allah Allah Tere Maikhane Mein Hai" Pankaj Mullick Agha Hashar Kashmiri Premankur Atorthy "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" R. C. Boral Debaki Bose "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) R. C. Boral Debaki Bose Dulari Bibi (1933) R. C. Boral Debaki Bose PNevile, p. 77 Chandidas (1934) "Tadpat Beete Din Rain" R. C. Boral Agha Hashar Kashmiri Nitin Bose "Prem Ki Ho Jai Jai" (with Pahari Sanyal, Uma Shashi) R. C. Boral "Prem Ka Pujari" R. C. Boral Daku Mansoor (1934) R. C. Boral Nitin Bose Mohabbat Ki Kasauti (1934) R. C. Boral Bani Kumar P. C. Barua Karwan-E-Hayat (1934) "Dil Se Teri Nigah" R. C. Boral, Mihir Kiran Bhattacharya Ahmad Shuja Pasha Premankur Atorthy "Hairat -E- Nazar Aakhir" R. C. Boral, M. K. Bhattacharya Ahmad Shuja Pasha "Koi Preet Ki Reet Bata De" with Pahari Sanyal 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" R. C. Boral Kidar Sharma P. C. Barua "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 Kidar Sharma 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) R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick Kidar Sharma Hemchander Chunder "Jo Naukri Dila De B. A. Bananewale Bigdi Hui Bana De" with Sanyal Boral, Mullick Kidar Sharma "Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai" with Sanyal Boral, Mullick Kidar Sharma "Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai" Boral, Mullick Kidar Sharma Dushman (1939) "Karoon Kya Aas Niraas Bhayi" Pankaj Mullick Arzu Lucknawi Nitin Bose "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" Pankaj Mullick Kidar Sharma P. C. Barua "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" R. C. Boral Arzu Lucknawi Nitin Bose "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" Gyan Dutt D. N. Madhok Chaturbhuj Doshi "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" Khemchand Prakash Pandit Indra Jayant Desai "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" Pankaj Mullick Pandit Bhushan Hemchandra Chunder "Do Naina Matware Tihare" Pankaj Mullick 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) Khemchand Prakash Kidar Sharma Kidar Sharma "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 "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 Jayant Desai "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 SitapuriMohan Sinha "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" Naushad Majrooh Sultanpuri Abdul Rashid Kardar "Kar Leejiye Chal Kar Meri Jannat Ke Nazare" Naushad Majrooh Sultanpuri "Ae Dil-e-Beqarar Jhoom" Naushad Khumar Barabankvi "Chaah Barbad Karegi Hamein Maaloom Na Tha" Naushad Khumar Barabankvi "Gham Diye Mustaqil" Naushad Majrooh Sultanpuri "Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya" Naushad Majrooh Sultanpuri Parwana (1947) "Us Mast Nazar Pe Padi Jo Nazar" Khurshid Anwar D. N. Madhok J. K. Nanda "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
Bengali Songs Film Song Composer Lyricist Director ref Devdas (1935) "Golap Hoye Uthuk Phutey" Timir Baran, R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick P. C. Barua "Kaharey Je Joratey Chaye" Bijoya (1936) "Mone-pabaner Dinga Baiya Bandhur Desey Ja" Didi (1937) "Raajaar Kumaar Pakshiraaje" R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick Ajoy Bhattacharya Nitin Bose "Swapan Dekhi Probaal Dwipe" R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick Ajoy Bhattacharya "Prem Nahe More Mridu" R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick Ajoy Bhattacharya "Premer Pujaaye Eyito Labhili Phal" R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick Ajoy Bhattacharya Desher Mati (1938) "Baandhinu Michhe Ghar Bhulero" Pankaj Mullick Nitin Bose Sathi "Jhumar Jhumar Nupur Baaje" R. C. Boral Ajoy Bhattacharya Phani Majumdar "Ae Gaan Tomaar Sheesh" R. C. Boral Ajoy Bhattacharya Jiban Maran "Ami Tomay Jato Shuniyechhilem" Pankaj Mullick Rabindrasangeet Nitin Bose "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 "Tomar Binaye Gaan Chhilo Aar Aamar" Pankaj Mullick Rabindrasangeet Non-film Jakhan Rabona Ami Din Holey Aboshan "Ek Tuku Chhoa Laage" Rabindrasangeet
Non-film Songs GhazalBhajanSongPunjabiPersianTamil