Ghazals Of Saigal Options

[Prabhakar]

Dear friends,

Starting a new thread on Ghazals of Saigal.

There were many who sang ghazals before Saigal but he is the one who popularised them. Acting in movies was for livelihood, singing ghazals was his love. You can hear him pour out his heart when he sings them.

I have taken the liberty of attaching a couple of write-ups I could find on the net here :

It is as the 'Ghazal King' that Saigal is remembered most by connoisseurs of music who seldom went to cinema. The first ghazal he sang and which created a countrywide sensation was Ghalib's Nukta-chin hai game-dil in 'Yahudi Ki Ladki' released in 1933. Not belonging to any gharana (school) and without any formal training, Saigal stunned the music maestros of his time with his instinctive knowledge of the ragas and his regal and resonant voice. He mesmerised his audiences with his rhythm which had a touch of the divine.
The great Mirza Ghalib was, however, the most favourite of Saigal. In his own inimitable way, Saigal immortalised Ghalib by singing his verses with his heart and soul, interpreting the deep meaning of every syllable. It is through Saigal that Ghalib gained vast popularity even with the non-Urdu knowing audiences. Again, it is Saigal's choice of Ghalib's ghazals which found place in the famous movie "Mirza Ghalib" produced by Sohrab Modi in 1954. Sung by Saigal, these ghazals continue to enchant listeners all over the subcontinent and abroad even to this day. Many other singers, both male and female, have sung 'Ghalib' but no one has been able to match Saigal, who identified himself with the poet's thoughts and feelings. No wonder, the most popular ghazals of Ghalib till today are those which Saigal sang during the 30s and 40s.
(From Jalandhar online)

In the recorded history of ghazal singing, the name of Kundan Lal Saigal will remain amongst the foremost for a long time to come. The genre was further enriched by another legend, Begum Akhtar. These two great singers did not sing for merely lyrics but sang with their heart and soul. Ghalib seemed to come alive whenever they sang his ghazals. One has to really listen to them with concentration for the soul-stirring experience. Saigal sang nine compositions of Ghalib. Among them were "Aah ko chahiyey", "Dil se teri nigah" and others.
Begum Akhtar also sang nine ghazals of Ghalib, including "Ibne Mariyam", "Aa ko chahiiyee" and others. When we compare the 18 fabulous masterpieces of these two great singers, we cannot miss the unique quality of voice, diction, their total involvement and the nobility of the accompanying instruments, be it harmonium, tabla and tanpura. But for Saigal, Begum Akhtar and some other ghazal singers, feel some scholars, Ghalib's works (Diwan) and those of other legendary Urdu poets would have remained buried in the archives of universities and research institutions.
Saigal was followed by other singers in bringing a number of Urdu poets into limelight and keep them alive. Seemabh Akbarabadi was a poet of some stature. Saigal, by singing some of his ghazals made him immortal.
He also took Arzu Lakhnavi to great heights. Besides Ghalib, Zauq and Seemabh, he also sang the compositions of some of his contemporary poets. "Chaat barbaad karegi hamein', "Jab dil hi toot gaya", "Aie dil-e-beqarar kyoon" by Kumar Barabankvi in the film "Shahjahan" not only brought glory to the poet but further enhanced the prestige of the master composer.
(Satish Chopra in Hindu - June 2,2006)

Here with begin with Saigal and Ghalib - Aah ko chahiye.

Prabhakar

[Prabhakar]

Here are a few more Ghalib ghazals by Saigaji. Listen to them and note the fluidity with which he sings with minimal accompaniments - a harmonium and a table.

Enjoy these.

Prabhakar

Dear friends,

Starting a new thread on Ghazals of Saigal.

There were many who sang ghazals before Saigal but he is the one who popularised them. Acting in movies was for livelihood, singing ghazals was his love. You can hear him pour out his heart when he sings them.

I have taken the liberty of attaching a couple of write-ups I could find on the net here :

It is as the 'Ghazal King' that Saigal is remembered most by connoisseurs of music who seldom went to cinema. The first ghazal he sang and which created a countrywide sensation was Ghalib's Nukta-chin hai game-dil in 'Yahudi Ki Ladki' released in 1933. Not belonging to any gharana (school) and without any formal training, Saigal stunned the music maestros of his time with his instinctive knowledge of the ragas and his regal and resonant voice. He mesmerised his audiences with his rhythm which had a touch of the divine.
The great Mirza Ghalib was, however, the most favourite of Saigal. In his own inimitable way, Saigal immortalised Ghalib by singing his verses with his heart and soul, interpreting the deep meaning of every syllable. It is through Saigal that Ghalib gained vast popularity even with the non-Urdu knowing audiences. Again, it is Saigal's choice of Ghalib's ghazals which found place in the famous movie "Mirza Ghalib" produced by Sohrab Modi in 1954. Sung by Saigal, these ghazals continue to enchant listeners all over the subcontinent and abroad even to this day. Many other singers, both male and female, have sung 'Ghalib' but no one has been able to match Saigal, who identified himself with the poet's thoughts and feelings. No wonder, the most popular ghazals of Ghalib till today are those which Saigal sang during the 30s and 40s.
(From Jalandhar online)

In the recorded history of ghazal singing, the name of Kundan Lal Saigal will remain amongst the foremost for a long time to come. The genre was further enriched by another legend, Begum Akhtar. These two great singers did not sing for merely lyrics but sang with their heart and soul. Ghalib seemed to come alive whenever they sang his ghazals. One has to really listen to them with concentration for the soul-stirring experience. Saigal sang nine compositions of Ghalib. Among them were "Aah ko chahiyey", "Dil se teri nigah" and others.
Begum Akhtar also sang nine ghazals of Ghalib, including "Ibne Mariyam", "Aa ko chahiiyee" and others. When we compare the 18 fabulous masterpieces of these two great singers, we cannot miss the unique quality of voice, diction, their total involvement and the nobility of the accompanying instruments, be it harmonium, tabla and tanpura. But for Saigal, Begum Akhtar and some other ghazal singers, feel some scholars, Ghalib's works (Diwan) and those of other legendary Urdu poets would have remained buried in the archives of universities and research institutions.
Saigal was followed by other singers in bringing a number of Urdu poets into limelight and keep them alive. Seemabh Akbarabadi was a poet of some stature. Saigal, by singing some of his ghazals made him immortal.
He also took Arzu Lakhnavi to great heights. Besides Ghalib, Zauq and Seemabh, he also sang the compositions of some of his contemporary poets. "Chaat barbaad karegi hamein', "Jab dil hi toot gaya", "Aie dil-e-beqarar kyoon" by Kumar Barabankvi in the film "Shahjahan" not only brought glory to the poet but further enhanced the prestige of the master composer.
(Satish Chopra in Hindu - June 2,2006)

Here with begin with Saigal and Ghalib - Aah ko chahiye.

Prabhakar