Kailash Kher
| Kailash Kher | |
|---|---|
 Kailash Kher | |
| Background information | |
| Native name |
Kashmiri: کیلاش کھیر Hindi: कैलाश खेर |
| Born |
7 July 1973 New Delhi, India |
| Genres | Indie, Bollywood, Pop Rock, playback singing, Sufi, folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, music composer |
| Instruments | Vocalist, harmonium |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Website |
www |
Kailash Kher is an Indian pop-rock singer with a music style influenced by Indian folk music. He is a prominent singer in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Urdu languages. He has sung in 7 languages for Indian films, and more than 50 songs for Bollywood.[1] He was inspired by the classical musician Pandit Kumar Gandharva, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and the Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and lately by Mika and Rahul Ram. They remain his inspirations.[2] He has won Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Bollywood movie Fanaa (2007), and has also won Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Telugu for the film Mirchi. Kher is known for his unique voice, style and music. Kher has established himself as one of the most successful and popular singer of India.
Early life
Kher learned music from his childhood.[3] Kailash Kher was brought up in a musical atmosphere, and from his school days, he was fascinated by music and used to listen to his father's Indian folks songs all day.[4] Even as a four-year-old, Kher revealed a natural musical talent and he would often impress friends and family by belting out songs with his prematurely powerful voice.[5]
At the age of 4, Kher left home in search of a guru or an institution to further his musical training, and he embarked on years of classical and folk music study. According to him, "It was because I wanted to pursue my passion for music. It required me to stay in isolation".[6] He also attended music classes and would teach the same to students for just Rs. 150 per session to maintain himself, taking care of all his personal expenses from lodging to food, plus his education and music expenses.[7]
Although he couldn’t find the right guru or a school, he started learning music by listening to it. He listened to Indian classical singers like Pandit Kumar Gandharv, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Gokulotsav Maharaj and later even Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lata Mangeshkar and their contemporaries[8]
He then experimented with a family friend's Indian handicraft export business till 1999.[9] His depression phase started and he even attempted to suicide once, in the beginning of the year 1999, when his business collapsed. [10] He went to Singapore and Thailand, and stayed there for six months.
Later, after he relocated to Delhi with his family, he graduated from Delhi University through the correspondence program[11] [12]
In 2001, Kher left New Delhi for Mumbai, the epicenter of India's highly competitive music industry, to seek his fortunes as a professional singer. For a while, Kher struggled, living in cheap residence, hostels and eking out whatever musical work he could find to make ends meet.[13][14]
Career beginnings
Jingles
He moved to Mumbai in the year 2001, where he began his foray into the music industry.[15]
When he moved to Mumbai, he already had a few friends in Mumbai who were connected to the film industry. His name was recommended to musician Ram Sampath, who was then looking for a different voice for a jingle for Nakshatra diamonds. The jingle may not have given Kher instant recognition but fetched him Rs.5000 ($100) which he needed desperately at that time "just to survive”.[16]
This was his early attempt in getting into the music industry, by singing jingles for TV and radio commercials. He received critical acclaim for his unique style of singing. Some of the brands that he sang commercials for are Coca Cola, Citibank, Pepsi, IPL and Honda Motor Cycles.[17]
Playback singing and regional singing
Kailash had to struggle to get a chance in Bollywood. He got opportunity to sing a song for the movie Andaaz. In this movie his song "Rabba Ishq Na Hove" became much popular. His song "Allah ke Bande" from the obscure movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II became very popular and this song made him a popular singing star in Bollywood.[18]
He sang a number of the songs in the Bollywood film Mangal Pandey: The Rising, in which he had a cameo appearance. His another famous song is "O Sikander" from Corporate.[18] The song "Teri Deewani" from the album of the same name by his band Kailasa and the song "Ya Rabba" from the movie Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love had record sales.
A. R. Rahman says
I remember how I first heard of him. I had asked Mehboob, our lyricist, for a new voice that is earthy and strong, and he said, I have just the person for you. That voice can only be that of Kailash!' And he sent Kailash to meet me. The moment I heard him, I knew that here was a voice that was so wonderful, and which had its own unique space.... I want to say that Kailash Kher's voice has something that had been lacking a lot – it had pure soul! Allah Ke Bande is one of my all time favorite songs.[19]
By 2014, he had sung in 20 Indian languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali, Sindhi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Konkani, etc. for Indian films and more than 500 songs for the Hindi film industry and recorded more than one thousand radio and television advertising jingles.[20][21]
He has also ventured into the Kannada film industry. His hits from Kannada films include the songs "Hale Patre" from the movie Junglee and "Ekka Raaja Raani" from the movie Jackie.
Currently, he has composed and sung the title track of Star Plus's no. 1 serial Diya Aur Baati Hum along with Shubha Mudgal. It is a very soulful, classical-based Rajasthani folk song. He has also sung the title track of Colors serial "Udaan" along with the anthem for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the national campaign for cleaning India spearheaded by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vocals and music style
Kher has a rarely raw, soulful, fresh, high-pitched and sharp voice. Unlike others, he mainly sings Ghazal, Sufi, Qawwali, folk and other devotional songs. He has been greatly influenced by the classical singers including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Kumar Gandharva, Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi etc.
He can sing from high-pitched songs to even low-pitched songs, being breathless and comfortable. His most of the songs has been famous for it's unique, soulful music and classical lyrics. Kher is only the singer in india, who often includes a classical lyrics and folk language in his solo albums and films. His most of the filmy or non-filmy albums includes a romantic tracks with the classical music, lyrics and traditional languages.
Film music as music director
He has given music score's for the movies like "Chandni Chowk To China", "Dasvidaniya", "Sacred Evil", "Sangini" and others including Desi Kattey. He has also penned lyrics in few movies like "Chandni Chowk To China", "Dasvidaniya", "Kaal" and "Traffic signal".[22]
He composed the song "Ambar Tak Yehi Naad Gunjega" for Anna Hazare anti corruption movement, and sang it in Ramlila Maidan during Anna Hazare protest.[23]
Forming Kailasa band
He formed Kailasa in Mumbai in 2004, with Mumbai-based musician brothers, Paresh Kamath and Naresh Kamath, whom he met in Mumbai.[24]
Playback singing happened by chance. I had lost everything in business. That was when my friends told me to try my luck in Mumbai where I first recorded a private album with composers Paresh and Naresh. Together we now represent a music band called Kailasa.
Albums and other non-film work
The band's first album ‘Kailasa’, released in March 2006, went on to revive the Indian pop music market. The album was an immediate smash hit.
Their second album, Jhoomo Re released in May 2007, went on to be an equally smash hit. With songs like "Saiyaan" and "Agad Bamm" touching the right chords with Indian as well as international audiences.
Kailasa's third album Chaandan mein released in June 2009, was yet another smash hit! This Hattrick Hit got him his first international album on the acclaimed independent record label Cumbancha.[25]
He released his fourth album Rangeele, which was released by his owned company Kailasa Records in January 2012. This album was widely acclaimed amongst the fans of Kailasa, and was critically acclaimed worldwide.
In 2013, Kher collaborated with singer Shreya Ghoshal for the first time for a mission titled 'The Project Resound: Upgrade your Ears', in which Kher wrote, composed, and invited Shreya to sing along a song named "Naina Chaar". This online initiative by Sony Music India, aimed to make people aware of the rising technological advancement in the field of music, which may make it difficult to distinguish between noise and music. The project also promoted the use of Sony headphones.[26][27] Kher has also sang a non-filmy nepali pop song "Bolnai parcha bhanne K cha ra" from the album called 'Only Love' in 2011.
Performances and International concerts
Kailash Kher and his band Kailasa has performed over 10 concerts in approximately ten years across the globe. He has not only performed for the south east Asian diaspora, but also for international audiences in festivals and venues such as GlobalFest at New York's Webster Hall, Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco), Celebrate Brooklyn, Santa Monica Pier Festival (LA), Fillmore Center (San Francisco), Hollywood Bowl (LA), Hammersmith Apollo (London), Symphony Hall (Birmingham), Massey Hall (Toronto).[28]
In 2007, he participated in a concert tour in North America entitled "The Incredibles", also starring Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam and Kunal Ganjawala. In March 2011, Kailasa performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the Maximum India festival.[29] Kailash Kher performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.[30]
In 2012, as part of Kailasa's 3rd Nepal tour, Kher performed at Dhaka in Bangladesh, Nairobi in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Congo, Karachi in Pakistan and Muscat in Oman.[31] His performance on 14 April 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan received overwhelming response.[32][33]
Television and reality shows
He has appeared in various television shows, including Saregamapa Lil Champs (Zee TV), Mission Ustaad (9X), Indian Idol (Sony), IPL Rockstar (Colors) and Rock On (MTV).[34][35]
Personal life
He got married to Mumbai-based film student Sheetal, on 14 February 2009, and they have a 5-year-old son Kabir.[36][37]
Awards and recognitions
Kailash Kher has received the following recognitions:
| Year | Award(s) | Category | Film | Song(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Star Screen Awards | Best Male Playback | Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2 | "Allah Ke Bande" | Won |
| Star Guild Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Nominated | |||
| 2007 | Filmfare Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Fanaa | "Chand Sifarish" | Won |
| 2013 | Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Telugu | Best Male Playback Singer | Mirchi | "Pandagala Digivacchavu" | |
Other honours
- Nepal Tourism Year Goodwill Ambassdor 2011- (While kher performed in a live concert at Nepal in 2011).
Discography
Film appearances
Lyricist
As music director
Solo albums
Title Songs
See alsoReferences
External links
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