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K. L. Saigal

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Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who worked in Hindi cinema, which was centred in Calcutta (Kolkata) during his time, but is currently based in Bombay (Mumbai). Saigal's unique voice, a blend of baritone and soft tenor, set the benchmark for many singers who followed him. Even today, it remains the gold standard, shining through despite the limitations of early and relatively primitive recording technology. Unlike other singers, he did not record songs for actors to lip-sync on screen. It was only in the final years of his career, from 1945 to 1947, that he recorded songs for studio release; these recordings were for his own performances as an on-screen actor. Thus, while most singers in Hindi cinema became playback singers, Saigal was not.