K.L. Saigal

Known for

Acting

Gender

Male

Born

April 11, 1904

Age at death

42

Died

January 18, 1947

From

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India

Kundanlal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal, was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centred in Kolkata during Saigal's time, but is currently centred in 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 a very early and practically primitive recording technology.