Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal, was an Indian singer and actor who worked in Hindi cinema|, which was centred in Calcutta (Kolkata) during Saigal's time, but is currently based in Bombay (Mumbai).
Saigal's unique voice quality which was a mixture of baritone and soft tenor was the benchmark for most of the singers who followed him. In fact it remains the gold standard even today shining through very early and practically primitive recording technology.
K. L. Saigal
Publicity Photo of Kundan Lal Saigal
Advertisement for Saigal program published in The Tribune in 1937.
Portrait of Saigal in 1938
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" and "Hollywood". The industry is a part of the larger Indian cinema, which also includes South Indian cinema and other smaller film industries.
Dadasaheb Phalke is considered the father of Indian cinema, including Hindi cinema.
Nargis, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar in Andaz (1949). Kapoor and Kumar are among the greatest and most influential movie stars in the history of Indian cinema, and Nargis is one of its greatest actresses.
Rajesh Khanna in 2010. The first Indian actor to be called a "superstar", he starred in 15 consecutive hit films from 1969 to 1971.
Amitabh Bachchan in 2014.
