KL Saigal the voice behind ‘Ek Bangla Bane Nayara’ commemorated by Google Doodle

On the 114th birth anniversary of music maestro K. L. Saigal, google doodle commemorated the iconic multi talented star of Bollywood. Born as Kundanlal Saigal in Jammu, on April 11, 1904, this gem of a piece became the first Indian superstar. He lived in the era when the film industry of India was based in Kolkata.

KL Saigal’s Memorable Songs

·         Ek bangla banenyaara (President)

·         Jab dil hi toot gaya (Shah Jehan)

·         Diya jalaao (Tansen)

·         Dukh ke ab din (Devdas)

·         Babul mora nai har chhooto hi jaaye (Street Singer)

·         So jaa rajkumari sojaa (Zindagi)

·         Nukhtacheen hai ghame dil (Yahudi ki Ladki)

·         Kisne sab yeh khel rachaya (Dhartimata)

·         Rain gayee ab mera savera (Bhakta Surdas)

·         Jo beet chuki so beet chuki (Pujarin)

In his more than a decade-long career, Saigal acted in more than 36 films, 28 in Hindi, seven in Bengali, and one in Tamil and sang around 185 songs including a mix of ghazals, films and non-films, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil and Persian.

K L Saigal’s remarkable films

·         Devdas

·         President

·         Mohabbat Ke Ansu

·         Subah Ka Sitara

·         Street Singer

·         Bhakt Surdas

·         Zinda Lash

·         Dushman

·         Meri Bahen

·         Karodpati

·         Chandidas

·         Lagan

Mohabbat Ke Ansu was the first film in which Saigal acted, followed by Zinda Lash and Subah Ka Sitara, they were all released In 1932.

Before embarking on a musical journey, the noted singer contributed in the Indian railways and also worked as a salesman. His father Amarchand Saigal served in the court of Raja of Jammu and Kashmir and mother Kesarbai Saigal was a religious lady who was warmhearted of music. It was in the 1930s that Saigal came in contact with music composer Raichand Boral who recognised the talent of the young singer and was under his guidance that Saigal gained prominence in ghazal singing. His voice gave expression to the lost love in soul-stirring ghazals like songs like “Premnagar mein bassaaoonga ghar main” and “Nuktacheen Hai Ghame Dil”.