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K. L. Saigal

K. L. Saigal

The Definitive Biography

Pran Nevile
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A tribute to the first Singer-Superstar of Indian Cinema

Hailed as shahenshah-e-mausiqi (emperor of music) and acclaimed as the ghazal king, K.L. Saigal became a phenomenon in his own lifetime. Idolized for his distinctive style by the first generation of Bollywood playback singers, he is now also the subject of study by several scholars.
With no formal training, Saigal recorded 185 songs, including the immortal Diya jalao jagmag jagmag, Rumjhum rumjhum chaal tihari, Baag laga doon sajani and Jab dil hi toot gaya. He also acted in thirty-six feature films, including Tansen, Street Singer and Shahjehan. His popularity, however, skyrocketed with Devdas in which he played the doomed lover to perfection, a portrayal which would influence every actor playing a tragic hero thereafter.
This book, interspersed with archival photographs and appended with a filmography and selected songs, provides a fascinating account of one of Hindi cinema’s greatest legends.

Imprint: India Penguin

Published: May/2011

ISBN: 9780143414063

Length : 246 Pages

MRP : ₹299.00

K. L. Saigal

The Definitive Biography

Pran Nevile

A tribute to the first Singer-Superstar of Indian Cinema

Hailed as shahenshah-e-mausiqi (emperor of music) and acclaimed as the ghazal king, K.L. Saigal became a phenomenon in his own lifetime. Idolized for his distinctive style by the first generation of Bollywood playback singers, he is now also the subject of study by several scholars.
With no formal training, Saigal recorded 185 songs, including the immortal Diya jalao jagmag jagmag, Rumjhum rumjhum chaal tihari, Baag laga doon sajani and Jab dil hi toot gaya. He also acted in thirty-six feature films, including Tansen, Street Singer and Shahjehan. His popularity, however, skyrocketed with Devdas in which he played the doomed lover to perfection, a portrayal which would influence every actor playing a tragic hero thereafter.
This book, interspersed with archival photographs and appended with a filmography and selected songs, provides a fascinating account of one of Hindi cinema’s greatest legends.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback
Ebooks

Pran Nevile

Pran Nevile was born in Lahore and took his postgraduate degree there. After a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service and the United Nations, he decided to become a freelance writer and specialized in the study of social and cultural history of India. His particular fascination with the visual and performing arts inspired him to spend many years researching in libraries and museums in the UK and USA.

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