Kundan Lal Saigal and his associations with Shimla :
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| KL Saigal |
Born on 11 April 1904, a great singer, stage actor, film personality, and
harmonium player, KL Saigal came to Simla in 1928 from Jammu. He had
enthralling voice and a deep interest in singing. It was National ADC (Amateur
Dramatic Club), Phagli, Simla which provided Saigal the chance opportunity to
perform in a play ‘Puran Bakht’. This was a long play of six hour duration with
two intervals. Its lead role actor and singer fell
ill suddenly with diarrhea. The management went into panic till someone
suggested the name of young Saigal who was having good voice. Since Saigal was
a regular visitor to watch the play every night and every show he knew the
lines and the songs of the play by heart. He was an instant hit with the
audience and the play was a huge success.
While performing on the stage of Gaiety Theatre he was noticed by
Harishchandra Bali, the classic music wizard. Saigal was taken to Calcutta by
him and introduced with RC Boral, the father of film music. There he was hired
by BR Sircar’s studio ‘New Theatre’ for singing.
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| Thacker, Spink & Co. |
While in Simla he stayed at Kodumal Building, Bharari. He served as a
typewriter salesman in Remington Rand Typewriter Company from 1928 to 1931. The
marketing of Remington Typewriter was done by Thacker, Spink & Co., a
famous company which published books, posters and photographs of Simla. The company
also maintained a photographic studio in the building near Combermere bridge.
The place and old studio is now occupied by Bindra Studio.
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| Back of Bindra Studio |
He often would perform at National Amateur Dramatic Club, Phagli and Gaiety
Theatre. He played the role of a eunuch in one of the plays at the Gaiety and
sung, “Saiyyan morey laaye re bataashe ki jori.” The song became very popular
with locals. Sir Rajendra Singhji Dev Bahadur, Maharaja of Jhalawar was so
impressed by KL Saigal that he was gifted with very costly suit purchased from
‘Ranken and Company-Tailors and Drapers,’ on the Mall, Simla.
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| Bindra Studio earlier housed Thacker Spink & Co. |
Saigal often visited the house of Master Madan and Madan’s elder brother
Mohan. Saigal would play his harmonium during long singing sessions at their
residence. He left Simla in 1931 for Kolkata.
His role of Devdas in 1935 made him the first superstar of Indian film
Industry. He re-visited Simla in 1936 and a Charity Show was organized at Kali
Bari Hall in his honor. As a gratitude for respect and love shown to him by the
people of Simla, he sang songs from Yahoodi ki Larki, Puran Bhagat, Devdas etc
leaving one and all amazed. This time he stayed at Grand Hotel.
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| Kodumal Building, Bharari, Shimla |
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| Back of Kodumal Building |
He died on 18th January 1947 at the age of 42 at Jalandhar.
