Guest article by Sharad Dutt as a tribute to KL Saigal on his 116th birth anniversary (4 April 1904 to 18 January 1947)
(KL Saigal is the most towering actor-singer of our films. He was a part of our daily lives courtesy Radio Ceylon which made it a daily ritual to end its programme on old film songs with a Saigal song at 7.57 am. He has been omnipresent on SoY too, though without the need for that kind of formal reminder. It is amazing that with less than 200 songs in all languages, including film and non-film songs, he has achieved such immortal fame. I wanted to have a post on him in the SoY’s tenth year, and no one could do it better than Sharad Dutt, a recognised expert on Saigal and old film music in general.
There is hardly a serious follower of old film music who is unaware of Sharadji. His body of work is enormous. Besides a biography of KL Saigal, he has written an authoritative biography of Anil Biswas, and he is about to complete the biography of the lyricist Shailendra. He has made over three hundred short films on literary and music personalities. After 50 years in the AIR and Doordarshan he joined a private TV channel where he hosted a number of interviews. Currently, he is engaged in video documentation of old film music, and he writes a weekly column every Sunday in the Millennium Post on old film music.
I am very grateful that in spite of his busy schedule Sharadji agreed to write this tribute to Saigal on his 116th birth anniversary. – AK)
From 040404 to 040420 one hundred sixteen years have passed. On 4th April 1904 a couple, Tehsildaar Amarchand and Kesar Kaur, were blessed with a son in Jammu. Everybody was joyous in the family. They named him Kundanlal Saigal. Saigal became the greatest singer of the 20th century. Today is hundred sixteenth birth anniversary of the legendary singer KL Saigal, and I am very happy to pay my tribute to him on Songs of Yore. (Wikipedia and many sites mention 11 April 1904 as Saigal’s birthday, but Sharadji is sure from his research that it is 4th April. – AK)
Saigal’s mother Kesar Kaur took the newly born baby boy to her spiritual Guru Pir Salman Yusuf. Pir Baba blessed her son and prophesied that the child would become a reputed singer. When Saigal grew up he started singing bhajan, kirtans at his home with his mother. His father Amarchand was dead against music but he allowed his son to act in Ram Leela. Saigal used to play the role of Sita in Deewan Mandir Rang Manch (now Sanatan Dhram Natak Samaj, Jammu). Once his act of Sita in Ashok Vatika was so spectacular that the audience wanted an encore of the same scene which was re-enacted.
When Saigal turned twelve he lost his voice for a few months. Her mother once again took him to Pir Baba who told Kesar Kaur not to worry about her son and predicted once again that her son had a great future and he would get universal adulation. Then he blessed the boy and bestowed upon him a Zikr and Riaz which the boy was made to accept ritually. Saigal continued to practice Zikr and Riaz. After sometime Saigal regained his voice.
After his retirement Amarchand Saigal moved to his home town Jalandhar. He had a haveli near Panj Pir Gate. Later this area was better known as Saigal mohalla. After retirement Amarchant Saigal became a contractor. One day Saigal’s father told him summarily that he should be able to support himself. Saigal soon made up his mind to leave Jalandhar. Two of his friends from Jalandhar, Razzaq and Saleem, accompanied him to Delhi. They reached Delhi where Saigal had a brief stint as an electrician, but soon thereafter joined as a shift assistant in the Military Engineering Services and stayed in Delhi Cantonment.
Being restless Saigal was always on the move. His elder brother Ramlal was working with the Railways. On his insistence Saigal joined as timekeeper at the Delhi Railway Station. Later Ramlal was transferred to Moradabad and Saigal moved along with him. After his brief sojourn in Moradabad he was back to Delhi where lady luck was awaiting him.
Saigal was introduced to Rai Saheb Raghav Nand Gautam, a connoisseur of music. He was impressed by Saigal’s singing and took him to Shimla where he acted in Gautam’s Amateur Dramatic Club. With the help of Rai Saheb, Saigal joined Remington Typewriter Company. As a salesman in Remington he had to tour extensively to sell typewriters. After a while he was transferred from Shilma to Delhi office of Remington at Kashmiri Gate. As chance would have it, during one of his tours he met Pandit Harishchandra Bali in Kanpur whom he had known since Jalandhar Days. Panditji really mentored Saigal, having recognised his flair for singing. He encouraged him to go to Calcutta and meet BN Sircar of New Theatres who was known to have nurtured budding talents. Since Panditji too was leaving for Calcutta, he assured Saigal he would introduce him to Rai Chandra Boral who was heading the music department of New Theatres.
Saigal met BN Sircar sometime in 1931 scouting for assignment. Sircar was not surprised to see him in his office as he had heard him sing at the house of a Punjab distributer of his films in Jalandhar. Sircar told Saigal that New Theatres was making silent films only, so how he could use his talent as a singer. But Saigal persisted and approached Sircar once again when New Theatres first talkies Dena Paona in Bangla was released. By now Saigal had been introduced to RC Boral by Pandit Harishchandra Bali. Boral was so impressed by his spontaneous singing that he recommended to Sircar and Saigal signed a five year contract with New Theatres at a monthly salary of rupees Two hundred.
Saigal set the ball rolling with his maiden film Mohabbat Ke Aansu on 16 January 1932 but it flopped. His next two films Zinda Lash and Subah Ka Sitara met a similar fate. Sircar was not unduly perturbed by this serial debacle, as Chandidas in Bangla directed by Debaki Bose hit the jackpot. After this success, Sircar entrusted him to direct Puran Bhagat in Hindi. Though Saigal didn’t get any role in this film, Bose consented to picturise four bhajans on him as a street singer, at the behest of Boral. The decision paid off as these bhajans became instant hits. Sircar was also keen to make the Hindi version of Chandidas, which was directed by Nitin Bose, cameraman-turned-director. Saigal played the lead with Uma Shashi, and songs of this film, Tadpat beete din rain and Prem ki ho jai jai, and a duet Prem nagar mein basaungi ghar main with Uma Shashi, became a rage. Chandidas led Saigal to stardom.
But his most defining role was yet to come. Saigal sang two songs in PC Barua’s classic Devdas, adapted from Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s novel in Bangla. When Barua made the Hindi version of Devdas he didn’t act as Devdas as he did in Bangla. Saigal’s Devdas created history and he became the superstar of Hindi cinema overnight.
Bilingual artist Saigal could sing and speak Bangla as proficiently as any Bengali. And the real feather in his cap was being the only non-Bengali whom Gurudev Taigore lent permission to sing Rabindra Sangeet. BN Sircar too held Saigal in high esteem. In his words, “Saigal was not good looking. And yet he became popular, he was not glamorous, he was real, and he was true. A man dies in his legends, but Saigal would stay alive in his song and his acting.”
Saigal gave enormously successful films to New Theatres, one after the other: President, Dhartimata, Zindagi, Lagan, Dushman, Street Singer and My Sister. He was a perfect singing star of New Theatres.
It was time to move to Bombay and Saigal shifted base in 1941. He got roles in three films produced by Ranjit Movietone: Bhakt Surdas, Tansen and Bhanwra. His old friend Kidar Sharma directed him in Bhanwra. Saigal’s other notable films in Bombay were Kurukshetra, Omar Khayyam, Tadbeer, Shahjahan and Parwana. Saigal’s span in films was cut short to fifteen years, as he breathed his last on 18 January 1947 at his home town, Jalandhar.
Saigal’s life and music could perhaps be succinctly summed up through one of his renditions from the Bangla film Parichay (1941) composed by RC Boral.
Jakhon rabona ami hole abashan
Amare bhuliya jeo mone rekho mor gaan
(When at the end of the day, I will no longer be there/ You may forget me but remember my song.)
Saigal’s repertoire comprised 36 films, including 28 films in Hindi, 7 films in Bangla and one in the Tamil version of Devdas. He sung and recorded 185 songs in his career, including film and non-film songs as under:
| Language | Number of Films | Number of film songs | Number of non-film songs | Total number of songs |
| Hindi | 28 | 110 | 37 | 147 |
| Bangla | 7 | 30 | 2 | 32 |
| Tamil | 1 | 2 | – | 2 |
| Punjabi | – | – | 2 | 2 |
| Persian | – | – | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 36 | 142 | 43 | 185 |
(AK adds: (i) The above is the total number of songs rendered and recorded by Saigal, including songs which are available only on the film soundtracks for which no records were made. Thus, it also includes two converse cases of ‘Jeevan ka sukh aaj Prabhu mohe’ and ‘Andhe ki laathi tu hi hai’ from ‘Dhoop Chhaon’ (1935). Saigal was not there in the film, these songs were sung by KC Dey in the film, but records were made in the voice of Saigal. Though these songs are counted in Saigal’s total, ‘Dhoop Chhaon’ is not counted in the list of his films. (ii) The number of ‘available’ songs is less, i.e. 172. (iii) Some of these songs are not mentioned in HFGK. (iv) This site gives the complete list of 185 songs. (v) I had some useful discussion with Sudhir Kapur on the data. He has done an excellent analysis of Saigal’s count of 110 Hindi film songs. – AK)
Being an ardent fan of KL Saigal since my childhood I paid my humble tribute to this emperor of music and the musician of masses, by writing his authentic biography “Kundan KL Saigal: Life and Music” and made two documentaries: “Kya Jaadu Hai” on his 50th death anniversary in 1997, and another one in his centenary year in 2004 entitled “Saigal: Aye Baso More Man Mein”, which had its hundredth screening on 18 January 2020 at the India Habitat Centre. During my school and college days it became a wake-up call at 7.57 am when Radio Ceylon broadcast a Saigal’s song. For the last 50 years it had been my regular habit to listen to a Saigal’s song before I go to sleep.
Saigal not only inspired his contemporary singers, he was also an inspiration to Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood and last but not the least, Kishore Kumar. Saigal was truly a singer of singers.
I had a large collections of 78 RPM records, long playing records and CD’s of KL Saigal. It is very hard to pick up my favourite immortal songs of Saigal. No songs or records of Saigal’s first three films are available. From his available songs my most favourite songs year-wise are as follows:
1933
Radhe rani de daaro na bansari mori re from Puran Bhagat, music RC Boral
Lag gayi chot karejawa mein haye rama from Yahudi Ki Ladki, music Pankaj Mullick
1934
Tadapat beete din rain from Chandidas, lyrics Agha Hshra Kashmiri, music RC Boral
1935
Dukh ke ab din beetat naahi from Devdas, lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Timir Baran
Jeevan ka such aaj Prabhu mohe jeevan ka such aaj from Dhoop Chahaon, lyrics Pt. Sudarshan, music RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick
Dil se teri nigaah jigar se utar gayi from Kaarwan-e-Hayat, lyrics Ghalib, music Mihir Kiran Bhattachrya
1936
Jo beet chuki so beet chuki from Pujarin, lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Timir Baran
1937
Ek bangala bane nyara from President, music RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick
1938
Babul mora naihar chhutal jaye from Street Singer, lyrics Traditional/Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, music RC Boral
1939
Preet mein hai jeevan jonkho from Dushman (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhanavi, music Pankaj Mullick
1940
So ja rajkumari so ja from Zindagi, lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Pankaj Mullick
1941
Main sote bhaag jaga dunga from Lagan, lyrics Arzoo Lakhanavi, music RC Boral
1942
Nainheen ko raah dikha Prabhu from Bhakt Surdas, lyrics DN Madhok, music Gyan Dutt
1943
Bina pankh panchhi hun main from Tansen, lyrics DN Madhok, music Khemchand Prakash
1944
Ae qaatib-e-taqdeer from My Sister, lyrics Pt. Bhushan, music Pankaj Mullick
1945
Main kismet ka mara bhagwan from Tadbeer, lyrics Swami Ramanand, music Lal Mohammad
1946
Gham diye mushtakil kitna naazuk hai dil from Shahjahan, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Naushad
1947
Toot gaye sab sapne mere from Parwana, lyrics DN Madhok, music Khursheed Anwar
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
1. The thumbnail picture of KL Saigal is courtesy Kidar Sharma.
2. The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for listening pleasure of the music lovers. The author or this blog do not claim any copyright over the songs which rests with the respective owners.
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
Sharadji, AKiji,
A fantastic post. And I am over the moon. Who else could have been the best choice to write this post? Thanks to Sharadji and AKji. I have just browsed through the post. I would go through it with undivided attention it deserves and listen to the immortal songs in solitude.
Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot. I have requested Sharadji to reply to comments. Please bear with us if there is some delay on his part.
Sharadji,
I would repeat what I have said earlier, a fantastic article. But I would like to add that you could have provided us with more anecdotes in between the songs as narratives. But its absence does not make this post less interesting. Still you can share some of the anecdotes while responding to our comments.
Needless to say, all the songs you have posted were wonderful. In fact all the 185+ songs are no doubt listener’s delight. Only point I would like to make is that there is a difference in the rendition of pre-NT film songs and post-NT film songs. It is noticeable when you listen to the songs year wise in a chronological sequence.
It seems K L Saigal stayed at 43 or 45 Raja Basanta Roy Road, Kolkata. The owners of the property were Banerjee’s and one of the current generations of the Banerjees is my friend. He told me that he had heard from his paternal aunt (Buaji) that her father had rented one portion of the house to K L Saigal. I too stay in the same road, just two minutes walk. But the original building has given way to a new apartment, but exclusively occupied by the Banerjee’s family. Debaki Bose used to stay just opposite to our house and S D Burman too lived in the same road during late thirties.
But I have read in a Kedar Sharma’s article that K L Saigal and Prithviraj Kapoor were neighbours in Calcutta and that was close to the place Kedar Sharma resided. And I am sure that Prithviraj Kapoor house was at Hazra Road, again 10 minutes walk from my place. May be, initially Saigal stayed at Hazra Road and later shifted to Raja Basanta Roy Road.
That was most probably in 1933 when Kedar Sharma came to Calcutta with the purpose of meeting Debaki Bose and getting a job in New Theatres. He approached Prithviraj Kapoor, who advised him to contact Saigal. Saigal advised him that the best person for the job would be Durga Khote, who lived in a nearby Posh locality- Mohini Mansion at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road. (Mohini Mansion too was demolished and a huge multi storied building stands there in its place.) And K L Saigal took Kedar Sharma to Mohini Mansion to meet Durga Khote. Kedar Sharma did get a job at New Theatres, but it took few more years for Kedar Sharma to become a song writer.
Since you have interviewed Kedar Sharma and K N Singh, also Jairaj and other, you may be able to confirm or even add a few more interesting episodes from Saigal life.
Thank you once again Sharadji.
Thank you Sharadji for your post.
I have always regretted untimely departure of KLS.
Remember our gathering around radio in 1950s on January 18th every year to listen Radio Ceylon’s special one hour program at 8.00pm giving tribute to KLS.
Mukeshji’s ” Dil Jalta Hai ….” was a big puzzle in those days. It has become a big tribute from Mukeshji to KLS.
1938 film Dharatimata song “Kisne Yeh Sab Khel …” is at par with “Babul Mora…..” for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=168&v=vS2katfWPF0&feature=emb_logo
Film Tansen’s master pieces for me “Din Soona Sooraj Bina…” and “Sapta Suran Teen Gram….”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=51&v=HdJ-w2Dz4yQ&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=tkHvTCqrtO4&feature=emb_logo
Remember gifted singer Harish Bhatt , an ardent fan of KLS used to keep his picture in his wallet and worshipped KLS every day without fail. He was invited on many January 18ths to sing KLS’s songs by many parties in India and Abroad.
Thanks again.
Saigal is a larger than life figure in film music. There is no dearth of persons, of my generation or older, for whom he is the last word in singing – with no one else coming even close. I don’t belong to that club, but I too admire many of his songs. Reading about him and getting to know more about Saigal the person has been a very interesting and educative experience. Thank you AK and Mr Sharad.
Sharad ji,
A nice write up from a true Saigal fan.
Surprisingly, on Friday, within a few minutes of PM Modi ji’s appeal to the nation to light lamps, the first post about the same I received on my classmates’ WhatsApp group was Saigal’s classic from TANSEN
Diya jalao, diya jalao
Jagmag jagmag…..
AKji mentioned in his introduction that Sharadji is a very busy person and I was fortunate to meet Sharadji twice, courtesy AKji. It was on the first occasion I managed to get a copy of the book Ritu Aaye Ritu Jaye, a biography on Anil Biswas penned by Sharadji. I hope he would find time to respond and share some more anecdotes on K L Saigal.
In the meantime, I am posting a link where Sharadji is interviewed by Purushottom Agarwal on the Rajya Sabha TV. I think it was on the occasion of the release of the English version (Paperback edition) of Shardji’s book (in Hindi) on K L Saigal, published in 2005, Sharadji shares a some information on Saigal here and I am sure you will find it interesting .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VQACGGqOWw&feature=emb_title
Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot for giving the above link. You get a lot of trivia about KL Saigal which you were looking for. Interestingly, this video prominently mentions Saigal’s birthday as 11 April. The editors of this video may not have considered it necessary to confirm it with Sharadji. He tells me that Harmandir Singh ‘Hamraz’ now mentions Saigal’s birthday as 4 or 11 April. Vividh Bharati dedicated their 18 January programme of Bhoole Bisre Geet to Saigal. There was no such mention on 4 April, I will now wait for 11 April.
I often joke with Sharadji that I want to believe Naushad’s story about Saigal telling him, काश, मुझे आप पहले मिले होते (then I wouldn’t have become alcoholic), or that Jab Dil hi toot gaya was played in his funeral profession, both of which Sharadji debunks. Why let facts spoil a nice story, as our friend Subodh says.
There are many interviews of Sharadji on the YouTube. Here is an excellent one by Irfan on RSTV under the series, ‘Guftgoo’. This explores multifaceted talents of Sharadji, and since his life is also synonymous with AIR and Doordarshan, this interview takes us on a nostalgia trip to the glorious days of our public electronic media.
Sharadji is Old School with gadgets. He has to wait for his assistant to post his replies. I hope he is able to respond soon.
AKji,
I hope other member of SoY too would go through the link. Quite informative. And also the link provided by you. At least they should listen to the first 10-15 minutes of the link, provided by you, to appreciate his monumental works on Hindi films and various other subjects. It is a privilege to have Sharadji in our midst. Some of our regular members must have met him.
On the question of birth day of Saigal, 4th or 11th. Harminder Singh ‘Hamraz’ and Harish Raghuvanshi together brought out a compendium on K L Saigal in April 2004 to commemorate Saigal’s birth centenary. There were several articles including a four page life-sketch of K L Saigal. To ascertain the correct date of Saigal’s birth they had referred to Raghav R Menon’s book on Saigal, “The Pilgrim of the Swara”. This too, I presume was not a comprehensive biography on K L Saigal. Only the month and year of Saigal’s birth was mentioned in that write-up – April 1904. In the same book the names of three astrologers, whom Saigal had consulted at different times, were mentioned and some astrological details, like Rasi, Lagna and Star, could be found. It seems the authors took the available details to an astrologer and had several horoscopes prepared and according to them only the one prepared on the basis 11th April 1904 matched the astrological details mentioned by Menon in his book. And a detail horoscope thus prepared, with the events and details leading to its preparation, finds a place in the compendium.
‘Why let facts spoil a nice story, as our friend Subodh says.’
Yes, we all love to read and listen to good stories and at time spin yarns in the charkha too. And different times act deaf, dumb and blind to situations.
Yes I do understand Sharadji’s difficulty. Thank you Akji for the response.
Pradeepji @ 6,
A nice coincidence. Posting the song Diya jalao, diya jalao. I believe it was based on Raag Deepak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sWo9fkWdRY
Salutes to you for being the part of the medical service providers during this testing times. Thanks for your wishes and advice.
A query not relevant to this post. Sorry for the digression. Is addressing/ resolving the problem of the deadlock on providing medical assistance to patients of the Kasargode district at Mangalapuram a part of your agenda? I believe the facilities at Kasargode are not adequate and Mangalpuram has 7 Medical colleges and 14 super-specialty hospitals.
Venkataramanji,
I am aware how 11 April 1904 was determined as Saigal’s date of birth by backward comparing of his life with a number of his horoscopes floating around. I believe Sharadji’s determination of 4th April is also on a similar exercise. I don’t know whether he is in a minority of one. Since it is his article I posted it on 4th April. Had it been mine I might have posted it on the 11th April with a reciprocal note. But that is really immaterial. In the olden days when there was no state-mandated registration of births there used to be a great deal of fuzziness. Those of us who were taken to schools, the Masterji assigned some date which became our DOB, for the vast majority which remained illiterate it didn’t matter.
SoY has a number of passionate Saigal fans. I am sure they would participate.
N Venkataraman ji,
Thank you for your kind words. My son Dr ShreeRam is posted at NMPT ( New Mangalore Port Trust) Hospital, Mangalore,on COVID duty.
Kasaragod _ Mangalapuram border has been opened for non COVID cases.
Now that you have mentioned Mangalapuram, let me take this opportunity to tell you all about the rare distinction of Mangalore. It is the only place in the world with as many as 10 names across different languages.
English_ Mangalore.
Kannada_ Mangaluru.
Sanskrit_ Manjarun.
Malayalam_ Mangalapuram.
Tulu_ Kudla.
Konkani_ Kodiyal.
Beary language_ Maikala.
Urdu_ Kaudal.
Arabic_ Manjiloree.
Greek_ Nitra.
Sharad Dutt as usual lavished it with music history. KL Saigal has been his favourite subject. He has researched lot on him. It was lovely to read letters from N Venkatraman. Do post more such articles
Thanks
Vinod Kapoor,
Welcome to SoY.
Pradeepji @ 12,
One hand I am glad to know that your son is one among the frontline warrior in combating the deadly virus. On the other hand I am also concerned, I am sure he is adequately protected and praying to almighty for his well being.
Yes, glad to know that the Kasaragod-Mangalapuram border has been opened for non COVID cases.
WoW, Didn’t know that Mangalore has so many names. I believe during Tipu Sultan’s reign it was known Jalalabad. Is it so.
Vinod Kapoorji,
Thank you for your appreciation . And Glad to have you among us. Namskaar.
Getting back to the rails with the following Saigal’s song,
This was the song through which I got acquainted with his rendition. And I was simply bowled over. And the lyrics too, I do not know who the lyricist was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaXwqwQ0l2c
Venkataramanji,
This is a beautiful song. Heard it for the first time. Thanks a lot. A comment by Harjap Aulia on the YT link says Agha Hashr Kashmiri was the lyricist. He is a well-informed person, but this site managed by Surjit Singhji mentions Kidar Sharma ‘Hasrat’ as the lyricist. I have read somewhere that Kidar Sharma sometimes added the takhallus ‘Hasrat’ in his name. Sharadji may please clarify.
N Venkataraman ji,
Thank you for your kind words and concern. Son is adequately protected. Till now, precautionary quarantine cases only. Please keep him in your prayers.
Yes, indeed. I had almost included Jalalabad, but omitted it because I couldn’t assign it to a particular language,as Urdu was already there. Interestingly, there are several Jalalabads including the one in Afghanistan. Nearer home,we have one near Sakleshpur on Mangalore _ Bangalore highway.
Mere sapnon ki Rani, Roohi Roohi Roohi… from SHAHJAHAN,1946 is special for me because of the unique fact of Rafi being a part of it. Many a times an upcoming singer may not get credited for a few lines like this and he will be another voice in a chorus! Providence! A legend in the making singing with a legend!
Also, isn’t it one of Saigal’s very few light hearted songs?
Again, Saigal does not have many chorus songs, right?
Venkataramanji @1, 3,
Thanks for your kind words for the article, specially coming from a scholar like you. The entire credit goes to AKji who gave me an opportunity to write for his blog. He has been always encouraging me and appreciating my work on the DD for past two decades. You asked me to give more anecdotes about KL Saigal. My biography on the legendary singer had lots of them. But I would like to share some facts which were shared by late Kidar Sharma, Jairaj and KN Singh. Sharmaji told me that two songs of the film Devdas, ‘Baalm aye baso mere man mein’ and ‘Dukh ke din ab beetat naahi’ were composed by Saigal himself and not by Timir Baran. Jairaj and KN Singh confirmed that Saigal was only a social drinker and never took more than two to three small pegs. Saigal was suffering from sciatica and drinks used to reduce his pain. They dismissed Naushad’s theory that he recorded the two versions of ‘Jab dil hi toot gaya’ before and after Saigal’s drinking . Jairaj also acted with Saigal in the film Shahjhahan.
I had a privilege of meeting you on at a luncheon get-together hosted by AKji. Hope to see you in Delhi on your next visit. Thanks once again for appreciating the article.
Saigal Saab was a legend. I knew so many people, when I was in Delhi, who were crazy about his songs. I thank Sharad ji for writing about him.
From the interview of his to RSTV, it is clear that he has done yeoman service to the film industry by his writing on various personalities.
Thank you Sharad ji.
Pradeepji @ 20,
“Many a times an upcoming singer may not get credited for a few lines like this and he will be another voice in a chorus! Providence! A legend in the making singing with a legend!”
Very true, and Rafi’s name neither appeared in film credits nor in the Hindustan record label (H1228).
I think, there may be five to six chorus songs. Posting a duet song with chorus.
Sar Pe Kadamb Ki Chainyya Muraliya Baaj Rahi, with Rajkumari, film Bhakt Surdas (1942), lyrics D N Madhok, music Gyan Dutt
https://gaana.com/song/sar-pe-kadam-kee-chainyya-muraliya-baje-ree-from-bhakt-surdas
Sharadji @ 21,
Namaskaar.
Let me state that I am a not Scholar in any way whatsoever. In the presence of people like you, I would always like to be a follower of film music.
Thank you for the additional information.
It was my privilege and pleasure to meet you in person. Looking forward to our next meet. And when is your book on Shailendra going to be published?
Giriji @ 22,
You may be aware that Saigal rendered two songs in the Tamil Version of Devdas.
The Tamil version of “Devadas” was made in 1936 by New Theatres (NT). Directed P V Rao and T R Rajakumari played the role of Paro. Some say the NT version was dubbed from the Hindi Devdas. You may throw some light on this.
Posting one of the songs rendered by Saigal. Here the lyrics are somewhat clear, compared to the other song,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVU0pbXBNj4
Venkataramanji,
What an absolutely mesmerising song is Koovijay paaduvai. The reason is clear. This reminded me of Kanan Devi’s Tum Manmohan tum sakhiyan sang hans hans khelo phaag from Haar Jeet (1940), music by RC Boral. It appears RC Boral was the music director of the Tamil version of Devdas. Now you see the connection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AybvkqUjKo8
Thanks to AK ji for having brought in the greatest authority on KL SAIGAL , – Sh Sharad ji for the followers of SOY. The main article by Sharad ji has given many details on the life and singing of KL SAIGAL . Special thanks to Sharad ji for the beautiful write up on KL SAIGAL and willingness to interact with the SOY followers. It is a great way to remember the leading singer of that period on his birth anniversary .
What I make out now is that KL SAIGAL not only faced opposition from his father in pursuing with his area of interest but also that he never had any formal education in music and that despite this , he became such a popular singer . This shows that he not only had a passion for singing but also that he was a specially gifted singer. Also , in that age the people liked that type of music . Today I do not find any Bollywood songs in that style . The younger generation also does not have any patience with that type of singing. The present day Hindi film world has a different liking.
Do not know if any breakup is available of his 110 Hindi film songs into number of …Sad songs , romantic songs , party songs , solos and such others .
Another aspect not known is … what drove him to become an uncontrollable alcoholic .
Mr Joseph,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I am hoping Sharadji would be able to participate. Of the 110 Hindi film songs I understand three songs are not available. The link below the Table is a Master List of songs, and fortunately the audio link of the songs (that ara available) are also given. So you have to have patience to hear all the songs and make your own categorisation. But the List is a valuable contribution for Saigal fans.
Dear Manoj ji,
Thanks for the kind words for KLS’s piece on his birth anniversary.AK ji must have told you that I am not a gadget savy hence the delay in reply. Anil Da told me about the story of Dil Jalta hai sung by Mukesh, originally this song was to be sung by Moti Lal the hero of the film. When Moti Lal refused to sing Anil Da decided that he will give the play back for Moti Lal. At this point Moti Lal intervened and told him that niether me nor you would sing this song. Dada was preplexed he looked at Moti Lal. As per Dada in Moti Lal words, “Anil a distant relative Of mine had come to Bombay to become singer/acter but he didn’t succeed. His name is Mukesh and I want you to try him for this song”. I had known Moti since Sagar’s Days and we became friends and I had great regards for him as an actor. He had also sung for me. I couldn’t say no to Moti and I assured him that I will try Mukesh. At that time Sagial was at the top and rage amungs the music lovers. I deliberately recorded this song Dil Jalta hai in typical Sagial style. Rest his history. Mukesh never looked back since then and sang few immortal songs under Dada’s baton.
Manoj ji I like your selection of songs of kLS. My own favourite of KLS is Binaa pankh panchhee hoon main in film Tansen Sagail sabb starts his in low pitch gradually his voice ascends and reachs towards the end.
Thanks for remembering Harish Bhatt the true Sagail lover.
Thanks once again for the post.
PS
It was Vijay Kishore Dube an announcer at radio Ceylon in 1950s it was he who started playing KLS songs at 7:57am on radio Ceylon. I had known him personally and have a CD of Vijay Dube’s programme on KLS death anniversary.
Posting a song from Puran Bhagat (1933), Music Rai Chand Boral,
Simple, but meaningful lyrics; I think it is based on Raag Behag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjZZAo9shUk
Saigal appeared in the film only during his song sequences.
Venkataramanji,
I must here acknowledge if I have to pick up one song from Puran Bhagat, it would be KC Dey’s Jaao jaao ae mere sadhu raho guru ke sang. Out of this world.
Jaao jaao mere sadhu raho guru ke sang by KC Dey from Puran Bhagat (1933), music RC Boral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLYDV0I4epY
I met Sharadji a couple of times at AK’s get together. I had known him through DD days. The most striking thing is about him is that whether in DD programs or that get together or the interview Venkataramanji posted, he is the same natural self. If I borrow a dialogue from Seeta Aur Geeta उनमें कोई बनावट नहीं है. I support him in the matter of gadgets also, because addiction to them takes us away from books.
On the write up he has put in a lot of effort in writing the book, so this write up is easy for him. In the interview he told that he visited a lot of places for getting material for the book. I think he has come to the conclusion about the birthday of K L Sehgal through some material during his visits and I believe him. I would like to know only the source.
About KL Sehgal, my father was an absolute fan of his. He had instructed me to call him from wherever he was before the 7.57 song started on Radio Ceylon. He would always listen to the song like eagerness of a child. He had read a lot about him and he maintained that Sehgal was a hard drinker. He could be called a ‘social drinker’ in a way because in the later days he would appear in the society only after drinking. There is also a story that Suraiyya refused to sing duets with him because of this habit of his.
I give here a non film song ‘duniya men hun duniya ka talabgar nahin hoon’ which is the equal favourite of 3 generations in my home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF3jo21QHck
Venkataramanji @3 and others
You are lucky to live on a historical road and have acquired a love for history. Thanks for information provided by you and also for the interview of Sharadji. You may like to be modest, but you are a storehouse of information. As AK said you know more about SOY than AK himself.
Akji @ 31,
No doubt “Jaao jaao ae mere sadhu raho guru ke sang” is out of this world. “Kya Karan Hai Ab Rone Ka Kaali Raat Hui Ujiyali” is another favourite of mine.
I believe Saigal’s songs also played a major role in the film’s (Puran Bhagat) success.
When the film was complete none of the songs (I think sixteen) were rendered by Saigal. Rai Chand Boral persuaded Debaki Bose to include a few songs by Saigal. Saigal sang them as a person walking by or as an onlooker. And all the songs along with the two songs by K C Dey were great hits. In fact we do not hear the other fourteen songs from this film. Sharad ji has referred this incident in his book.
Let us enjoy this song from Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933)
Ye Tasarruf Allah Allah Tere Maikhane, music Pankaj Mullik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7XBBsAXGy4
Hansji @ 33,
Glad to see you back SoY after two months gap.
Incidentally most of the South Indians coming to Calcutta used to stay in this locality.
Within a radius of less than half a mile from my place, many well known personalities of the film and music world used to live during different times. Especially in the 30s when the studios like New Theatres were located in the vicinity of Tolly Club (Tollygunge), many of them connected to the industry chose to reside here, since it was an upcoming area then and hardly 20-30 minutes by vehicle to the studios.
Besides, S D Burman, K L Saigal, Debaki Bose, Durga Khote (whom I have mentioned earlier), Hemen Gupta, Kanan Devi, Bimal Roy, Asit Baran, Hemanta Mukherjee, Satyajit Ray, Soumitra Chatterjee, Utpal Dutt, Pt. Maniram, Pt. Jasraj, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan are some of the name that I can recollect.
I was destined to be an accountant. Later in my life I felt that I should have studied History or any of the Social Science subjects. Then it was too late.
Thank you Hansji for your kind words.
Posting a song from Crorepati (1936),
Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai, lyric Kedar Sharma, music R C Boral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsS4rfb5qP8
Ak, Hans, Venkatraman ji’s ;
Yes, Like all you , meeting Sharad Ji in person was a great gift of SoY to me. The most polite and polished personality to watch and listen . Yes not only in person but on DD too. A comfortable and cool person that …..not only he is on screen ……but he makes other stars to be as cool. His in depth studies is reflected in question itself. His encounter with film personalities like Dilip kumar is worth watching. Sharad ji told us once how the personalities would come up with two or three alternative answers to choose from ….selecting best one.
The Rajha sabha DD channel is regular in bringing film personalities interview and the information they convey is authentic . Some times they revert back to show earlier programmed interviews which again are entertaining as well. It gave me a great pleasure watching Sharad ji giving interview rather than taking interview !!….looked so comfortable and very poised as usual. All these are available on YT.
Before I met Sharad ji in person , I knew him in my young days as it was a practice to get entertained roaming in and about connaught place where some known faces would emerge taking round of CP and thereafter sit for a sambar vada and coffee in Indian Coffee House with 5 paise Evening News to end the evening before moving on to home. Yes, boot polish was another of a charm while starting reading Evening News .
There are some places I will narrate now where I saw Sharad ji outdoor …..AIR bus stop opposite RBI building, CP inner circle near Wenger Restaurant , Vigyan Bhavan during some film festival, Irwin Road , Mahadev Road [ incidently we lived there for a short time before moving on to Allenby road Banglows ] , Film Auditorium of Mahadev Road. In fact Mahadev Road and Irwin Road Banglows were sort of reserved for AIR officials . Ms. Minoo Talwar’s father used to stay there and I think after retirement the residence was alloted to Minoo talwar . Her brother was my school mate and later on we both qualified for I I T Delhi…he taking Electrical and myself Civil Engineering. P Ghosh used to stay opposite our Irwin road residence and it was a pleasure woken up by beautiful flute music. I think Sharad ji did his degree from Delhi college where my eldest brother also studied ….this needs confirmation from Sharad ji.
Joined all you very late as it was necessary for me to enjoy the songs less heard. I am posting some in my next cutout.
Ak, Hans, Venkatraman ji’s ;
In continuation here are two songs. Surprisingly the second one isa clip that shows the comedy act before and after the recording……a real treat !!
Main Sote Bhaag Jaga Doonga” by K. L. Saigal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1hsQB3vi8
COMEDY SCENE WITH K L SAIGAL IN JIBAN MARAN PAKHI AAJ KON KATHA KOY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icmmsu4HkC0
…..to be contd.
Sharadji,
As I expected Vividh Bharati dedicated their Bhoole Bisare Geet programme today (11 April) to KL Saigal on his ‘birth anniversary’. The presented his following exquisite songs, in that order:
1. Main kya jaanu kya jaadu hai
2. Nuqtacheen hai ghame-e-dil usko sunaye na bane
3. Baagh laga dun sajani
4. Main qismat ka mara Bhgawan
5. Baabul mora naihar chhutal jaye
6. Ek raaje ka beta lekar udanewala ghoda
7. Chhupo na chhupo na chhupo na
8. Gham diye mustaqil, kitna naazuk hai dil
Two songs are common from your list. This shows every song of Saigal is mesmerising and everyone will have his own favourites. Here are the links of songs not included in your post, all my great favourites and most have appeared earlier on this blog. I am putting these in chronological order:
1. Nuqtacheen hai gham-e-dil from Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozY5ItOpLsA
2. Ek tha raaje ka beta from President (1937)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL9694-gbog
3. Main kya jaanu kya jadu hai from Zindagi (1940)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJlHdQlw9y0
4. Baagh laga dun sajani from Tansen (1943)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39L_Q1-6ZHg
5. Chhupo na chhupo na chhupo na from My Sister (1944)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s0EVCeofoI
As the readers are aware Pankaj Mullick has also sung this song.
6. Main qismat ka maara Bhagwan from Tadbeer (1945)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awKlgqz1eSU
Who else but a true fan of KL SAIGAL would take out time to listen to all the songs of ‘Bhule bisre Geet ‘ programme of AIR on 11th April and then promptly list it out with links in the same sequence as it was aired , for the listening pleasure of SOY ? If Radio Ceylon had aired any such programme , then that list would have been interesting . Such lists are never identical . It is not merely the list but the sequence of presentation also is of significance.
If AIR gives 11th April and Sharad ji maintains it as 4th April , then I am sure the controversy of KL SAIGAL’S actual birthdate will never settle .
Bhatiaji @ 36, 37
I love to read (and share) trivia and anecdotes and your write-up was no exception.
Thanks for posting the two links. The first one “Main Sote Bhaag Jaga Doonga” was a familiar one. I was surprised by the second link. I am watching it for the first time. I have listened to the song “Pakhi Aaj Kon Katha Koy”, the full audio version.
All negatives of the movies produced by New Theatres till 9th August 1940 were destroyed in a devastating fire. There was no provision for preservation and archiving of films then. Copies of few films could be collected from the distributors. Again the films thus recovered were not in good condition; since the films were dumped in the distributor’s godown. Aurora Film Corporation was the distributor for Bengali films for New Theatres. In 1946, Aurora Film Corporation too was devastated by fire.
“Jiban Maran” was released on 14th October 1939. Saigal and Leela Desai were in the lead roles. Glad to see the film (or may be a part of the film) survived all the debacles. ( And there is a Grand Piano in the visuals)
All the prints of the Bengali version of Devdas too were destroyed. There was only one copy of the film that was available in Bangladesh, and that too only six reels are in good condition. In 2015 the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) managed to acquire a copy of the film in DVD format.
Posting a Punjabi NFS, lyrics Bismil Amritsari
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJGbIM0mNRs
Akji @ 38,
I had to part with my Philips transistor Radio to a octogenarian relation of mine a few weeks back. Thanks for sharing the songs of Saigal broadcasted by Vividh Bharati. “Baabul mora naihar chhutal jaye” and “Nuqtacheen hai gham-e-dil” must be among the most popular songs. I think, both the songs were among 11th April last year’s list as well as this year’s 18th January list .
Posting another NFS, lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi
Matwaalepane se jo ghataa Jhoom padee hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pje7R2ZrkGg
Venkataramanji,
If you have DTH from DishTV its channels 3900 to 3906 are Vividh Bharati channels.
Yesterday, chanced upon a ‘nok jok’ duet of K L Saigal and Kanan Devi from STREET SINGER, 1938 that culminated in a Harmonium _ Piano contest , apparantly Kanan’s ‘new’ Piano winning over Saigal’s ‘ ancient’ Harmonium. Though looking like a light hearted argument,it is a grim pointer to more serious things to come!
Wanted to post on the Piano theme. Then thought I will post here today,on Saigal’s ‘ official ‘ birthday.
Lachhmi moorat daras dikhaye…
K L Saigal, Kanan Devi; Arzoo Lucknavi, R C Boral.
https:// youtu.be/ ca35XsowPoU
By mistake, Sharad ji has credited Babul mora to Arzoo Lucknavi.
Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Avadh ( 1822_1887…..poet , playwright, dancer, patron of arts, reviver of Kathak) wrote the beautiful piece.
Is it true that Saigal convinced the director Phani Majumdar to record it live as he moves on the streets singing and playing the harmonium?
Babul mora… was used in AAVISHKAR, 1974, as a background song on Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore .
Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh; Kanu Roy.
Of course,all of you know that the Thumri represents the lament of the Nawab when he was exiled from his beloved Lucknow by the British in 1856 ( two days before the ninth anniversary of his coronation) to Calcutta.
Has Satyajit Ray used this in SHATRANJ KE KHILADI?
AKji @42,
No, I do not have a DTH service. The cable channels are provided by a local service provider, whose owner is a long time acquaintance of mine. Since the lockdown our viewing time might have increased. It seems, till the situation improves I will have to continue with this arrangement. Can I receive the service on my mobile phone? Like the FM stations.
Dr Shetty @44, 45,
That was my mistake. Carelessness. Thanks for pointing it out, since corrected. Some experts maintain Babul mora naihar chhuto jaye was a pre-existing traditional tune. Hence I have corrected it as Traditional/Wajid Ali Shah.
It is true that Saigal convinced Phani Majumdar to record it live.
I remember it was used by Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khiladi.
Venkataramanji @46,
It is available on FM, please try 102.8, or 104.6. You can also hear it live streaming online here.
https://onlineradios.in/air-vividh/
Venkatraman ji@25
Thanks for posting the Tamil song by Saigal.
I have read an article by Randor Guy which says that the Tamil version of Devdas was directed by P. R. Rao who also acted as Devdas. He didn’t elaborate on this further. T. R. Rajakumari acting in it is out of question as her first film was in 1939. I think it may be a dubbed version of the Bengali film.
With regard to your query on getting Vividh Bharati on the phone, AK ji has given a solution. Apart from that, you can download the app’all India radio live’ and choose Vividh Bharati.
Venkatramanji,
You say it is destiny that you did not study history. Yes, I sincerely believe it is providence that your abode is in the haloed zone of the musical geniuses and legends of the yore era. It is providence again that thousand others also live there but they don’t have your insight and analytical power. All the stalwarts of SOY contribute valuable content to enrich commoners like me.
Almost all the songs of K L Sahgal are listeners’ delight. One non film gazal is my favourite – Ab kya bataun mai tere milne se kya mila, Irfane gum Hua mujhe dil ka pata mila. The lyricist is Seemab Akbarabadi. I am not sure if he composed it too.
AKji, shall be grateful.Do favour me with the link.
Akji @ 48
Thanks for the information.
Pradeepji & Akji,
If my memory serves me right “Babul mora naihar chhuto jaye” was not used in Shatranj Ke Khiladi. Satyajit Ray used “Jab Chhod chale Luknow nagari” as a response to the deadline for abdication. It is believed that the poem was composed by Wajid Ali Shah while he was living in Calcutta.
Giriji @ 49,
Thank you for your response.
You are right it was not T R Rajakumari. It was G B Rajayee who played the role of Paro.
A thought came to me; Had it been a dubbed film then the director’s name could not be different from that of the original version. So I checked with one Gopalakrishnan who was with MGM in Calcutta. He must be in his late 70s. It was made in Tamil by New Theatres and P V Rao was the director. He also acted in the role of Devdas. S N Vjayalakshmi was in the role of Chandramukhi. And he also told me that the information is available in the book by Pran Nevile. And I have the book and I was looking for the information everywhere.
Sachindra Prasad @ 50,
Thank you for your nice words. I should thank my father for choosing this locality for residence.
Hope it is OK if I post the link to song “Ab kya bataun mai tere milne se kya mila, Irfane gum Hua mujhe dil ka pata mila”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzMJJvg7fTE
Venkatraman ji @52,
Thank you for shedding light on this issue. I was sure that somehow you would get to the bottom of this issue. Not for nothing I call you a living encyclopedia!
Usually Randor Guy is a reliable source. If you have Pran Nevile’s book it is confirmed. But the film didn’t make a mark I think. Those days making a Tamil film in Calcutta was common.
Mukeshji had presented a special Jaymala Program on Vividh Bharti collecting snippets of the following well known people’s appreciations of K L Saigal:
Lataji, Talat Mahmood, Roshan, Naushad, Geeta Dutt, Pran, Ashok Kumar, K N Singh, Manna Dey, Vasant Desai, and Sohrab Modi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_9vfmueoH8
Sharadj
I distinctly recollect the meetings in the Constitution Club, New Delhi and your presence thereon. Since I am a photo buff, snapped a few shots during the powwow and sent them to you. Saigal from up above would definitely bestow his benediction on you for this great and lucid write up of yours on the legendary actor/singer.
I give below a link to the programme done by Rajya Sabha TV in two parts. It is very informative.
https://youtu.be/7wc9PNLuquo?t=16
Part 2 can also be accessed from thereon.
Two delectable and ever green songs of Saigal. The first from the film
Dhoop Chaon (1935), based on the raag MAAND.
https://youtu.be/YtVqyBTDeCw?t=9
M S Subbalakshmi sang a devout song composed by Vadalur Ramalinga Adigal based on this song – Vaanathin meedu mailadakanden, a non film song of 1945 vintage. I tried to upload in Youtube but was shut out.
This one is from Lagan (1941). This is based on raag DESH. There is no better example of a film song in this raag.
https://youtu.be/kqljkZU-LYM?t=101
Respected Mr Sharad Dutt,
I am Nityam Vakil, a software engineer by profession and an enthusiast of rare and old classical Hindi movies.
My grandfather, Swami Bramha Vedantji, 90 years of age has lived and grown up during the time of the Great Era of New Theatres and Ranjit Movietone, with a very deep inclination and love for the voice of Mr K L Saigal. He has held Sangeet Sandhyas in Mumbai with (Late) Mr Harish Bhatt for innumerable years singing songs from Saigal Ji’s movies.
He has watched many of the films which are now available digitally, apart from the following classics containing the best work of Saigal Ji.
Films:
1. Bhakta Surdas – 1942
2. Puran Bhagat – 1933
3. Dharti Mata – 1938
I have searched the internet, many CDs/DVD outlets, contacted some directors and old studios, tried NFAI Pune, contacted movie distributors like Shemaroo, Eagle, Ultra etc, but couldn’t find the movies.
My wish is to screen these movies for my Grandfather.
I would be very grateful if I can get your assistance, or anyone you know from Saigal Ji’s or Mr Chandulal Shah’s family who would know and can help in finding the films.
Since I feel short of contacts and resources now, I request your assistance, knowledge and resourcefulness in finding these films.
Without saying, if found, the movies WILL NOT be made available to the public but used for PERSONAL SCREENING only. And all cost of finding and obtaining it will be paid in full.
Your help will be highly appreciated.
Thanking you.