KL Saigal: The Self-Taught Phenomenon of Indian Cinema

In an era before high-tech recording studios, KL Saigal’s natural baritone was a miracle. Moving from selling typewriters and working as a railway station master to becoming the superstar of New Theatres in Kolkata, his rise was meteoric. His role in ‘Devdas’ (1935) set the standard for tragic heroes in Indian cinema. Saigal’s songs bridged the gap between complex classical ragas and the common man’s emotions, making him the first true superstar of the playback era.