K. L. Saigal
Saigal plays Tansen, the greatest singer who ever lived. He was such a great singer that when he sang a raag, its inherent qualities were manifested:What a wonderful expression of the power of music! Even though the special effects are primitive, and the songs are good but not that good (once in awhile I find myself singing 'diya jalao! jugga-mugga jugga-mugga, diya jalao!') -- the idea that the elements can be affected by music is very compelling. If only we had a Tani, to sing Megh Malhar for us!
In the film Tansen's beloved, Tani, is attacked by a rogue elephant. Tansen sings to it, praising its noble gait, and appealing to its pride. It stops just before reaching Tani, sits and raises its trunk to salute Tansen.
Tansen sings so beautifully at the court of Emperor Akbar that the accompanying instruments begin to play themselves.
He sings a midnight raag at noon, and darkness falls.
Tansen's jealous rivals at the court convince Akbar to force Tansen to sing raag Deepak ('light'). They know that if he fails, he will lose face. If he succeeds, the lamps in the court will light themselves, but he himself will be consumed by fire. Tansen sings 'Diya jalao,' and the lamps spring to light, one after another. But the raag causes his body to burn with fever. Only raag Megh Malhar, which brings rain, can save him. But no one at the court knows Megh Malhar except Tansen himself, and he is too weak to sing. He begs Emperor Akbar to allow him to return to his village, so that he can meet Tani once more before he dies. He is carried to Tani, who had learned from him how to sing Megh Malhar. She does so, and clouds gather (megh = cloud). It rains, quenching the fire in Tansen's body.
The Archive of Hindi Movie Songs has the lyrics of three of the (many) songs from Tansen.
Tansen (1520-1589) was a real person, one of Emperor Akbar's 'Nine Jewels.' He was so influential that even today, a number of north Indian musical gharanas claim descent from him.
Emperor Akbar, Tansen, and Tansen's guru, Haridas#
More about Tansen:
Indian Music and Mian Tansen, by Pandit Birendra Kishore Roy Choadhury
Mian Tansen (1520-1589)
Birbal aur Tansen (in Hindi)
Gardens of the Mughal Empire - Miyan Tansen