Here is some information on Actor/singer Shyam kumar. many people get confused with the 2 Shyams.
One was only an Actor called SHYAM (Shyam sunder Chadha) and the second was Gul Hamid,known as actor/playback singer SHYAM KUMAR. These 2 were different persons. Actor Shyan NEVER sang any songs.
.SYED GUL HAMID, Known as SHYAM KUMAR was born in1913 in Poona.he got first break in Sukhi Jiwan-42 as an actor,dut to his muscular physique.He knew singing,so Naushad recommended him to Kardar who employed him as a Playback singer.His first playback came in Namaste-1943.In Kanoon-43 also he sang 3 songs with Suraiya.He acted in about 100 films,but sang in only 17 films- Namaste,kanoon,Sanjog,pehle aap,mamta,nirmal,Sanyasi,Sagartarang,Dillagi-49,Lachak,Rattan-44,Chacha chaudhari,Gujara,Vijaygadh,Tilasmi Duniya and Kala Ghoda-1963. then he suffered from Throat problem and stopped singing,but continued to act. He died on 22-4-1981 due to Throat cancer.
His famous songs included Tu mera chand-Dillagi( shot on actor Shyam) and O jaanewale Balamawa-Rattan-44,with Amirbai karnataki.
This information is available in Listeners’ Bulletin No. 48 of Feb-82,Swaron ki Yatra-by Anil Bhargava pp126,and articles by Shirish kanekar, in his book ‘Yadon ki baaraat’.The confusion comes because less knowledgeable people call Shyam Kumar even to Shyam. In his entire lifetime,as if he knew the future,actor Shyam never wrote his name as Shyam kumar. the suffix KUMAR was used indiscriminately,causing all the confusion.
.SYED GUL HAMID, Known as SHYAM KUMAR was born in1913 in Poona.he got first break in Sukhi Jiwan-42 as an actor,dut to his muscular physique.He knew singing,so Naushad recommended him to Kardar who employed him as a Playback singer.His first playback came in Namaste-1943.In Kanoon-43 also he sang 3 songs with Suraiya.He acted in about 100 films,but sang in only 17 films- Namaste,kanoon,Sanjog,pehle aap,mamta,nirmal,Sanyasi,Sagartarang,Dillagi-49,Lachak,Rattan-44,Chacha chaudhari,Gujara,Vijaygadh,Tilasmi Duniya and Kala Ghoda-1963. then he suffered from Throat problem and stopped singing,but continued to act. He died on 22-4-1981 due to Throat cancer.
His famous songs included Tu mera chand-Dillagi( shot on actor Shyam) and O jaanewale Balamawa-Rattan-44,with Amirbai karnataki.
This information is available in Listeners’ Bulletin No. 48 of Feb-82,Swaron ki Yatra-by Anil Bhargava pp126,and articles by Shirish kanekar, in his book ‘Yadon ki baaraat’.The confusion comes because less knowledgeable people call Shyam Kumar even to Shyam. In his entire lifetime,as if he knew the future,actor Shyam never wrote his name as Shyam kumar. the suffix KUMAR was used indiscriminately,causing all the confusion.
To stress again,there were only 2 SHAYAMS. One- only Actor SHYAM and two- actor/playback singer SHYAM KUMAR.
The confusion may also be due to the fact that in Dillagi Shyam and Shyam kumar both acted. In his entire career,SHYAM KUMAR the actor/singer never sang for himself. May be because the type of roles he did ( side roles,unimportant or Villain roles etc), did not qualify for a song in the film.
Please note that in Ratan-1944 Shyam kumar had not acted at all. The credits do not show his name. I just now checked before stating this
by :Arunkumar Deshmukh
Apnaarchive 
Mustafa (@mubarak_sayeed)
May 29, 2016 at 1:33 pm
Hi this is Mustafa Sayeed Mubarak, grandson of Shyam Kumar (Gul Hamid Ali)
Shyam
October 29, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Hi Mustafa, I am so glad I found your address and all the more so to know that you are the grandson of Mr Shyam Kumar. I would like to know a little bit more about this very good looking, well built, manly personality called Shyam Kumar. I tried to locate Mr Shyam Kumar via Wikipedia but unfortunately, I could not find any, why?? I am as baffled as anyone could be as your grandfather, Mr Shyam Kumar was not an ordinary person, a good actor with great acting skills and what a personality. I remember first seeing Mr Shyam Kumar in “Phool Aur Patthar” along with my grandfather when I was barely 8-9 years old, and there I vividly remember asking my grandfather in the cinema hall who this actor was amongst the others and guess what he said that he is ‘Shyam Kumar’, and my name too is Shyam, that is when I had a tryst for liking your grandfather’s films and from there on I tried to watch as many films of Mr Shyam Kumar’s as I could, but unfortunately by the time I grew up as an adult he did not appear much in Hindi films.
I shall appreciate if you could tell me something about Mr Shyam Kumar, his history from birth until now. Even today I keep watching a few clips on youtube every now and then where your grandfather has acted, in fact, at the moment I keep on watching the song from “Teesra Kaun” enacted by Shashikala in the film and the song is ‘Acha Sanam…’ where Mr Shyam Kumar’s entry is so grand, with great poise, well dressed with suave looks and cool macho walk, I guess he took the cake here.
I hope to hear from you and thank you for your time, and take care.
Kind regards,
Shyam Morjaria.
V Josh
August 2, 2020 at 11:57 pm
I like your Grandpa ….please give more info like where he was born and when he died
I love his role in Shikar and Phool Aur Patthar
Shirish Waghmode
September 24, 2018 at 8:52 am
Wasn’t ‘O jaanewaale balamava” picturised on Karan Dewan the hero ?
gulshan nadeem
October 9, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Very nice information thanks a lot
Shyam Morjaria
November 14, 2018 at 10:01 am
Thank you, Mr Nadeem, for the lengthy text about both the Shyam(s), yes, I know about Mr Shyam Sunder Chaddah and where and how he started his film career in Lahore and how, unfortunately, he passed away due to an accident (horse riding) while filming for “Sebastian”, but I was more interested to know about Mr Shyam Kumar (Shamu of “Phool Aur Patthar”). What lovely memories, all gone by, good ol’ days…
Shyam Morjaria
November 14, 2018 at 10:02 am
Thank you, Mr Nadeem, for the lengthy text about both the Shyam(s), yes, I know about Mr Shyam Sunder Chaddah and where and how he started his film career in Lahore and how, unfortunately, he passed away due to an accident (horse riding) while filming for “Sebastian”, but I was more interested to know about Mr Shyam Kumar (Shamu of “Phool Aur Patthar”). What lovely memories, all gone by, good ol’ days…
PRASHANT L. NEMANI
September 7, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Thanks for bringing this into light the complete details. Always used to get confused. Also never knew that Actor / Singer Shyam Kumar’s real name was “GUL HAMID”.