Kailash Kher(born 7 July 1973) is an Indian pop-rock singer with a music style influenced by Indian folk music. He has sung in 18 languages for regional films, and over now 300 songs for the Bollywood.^[1] He was inspired by the Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the classical musician Pandit Kumar Gandharva. They remain his inspirations.^[2]

Early life[link]

Kailash Kher was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on 7 July 1973 to a family with Kashmiri roots.^[3] His father Pt.Mehar Singh Kher and his mother Chandrakanta Mehar Singh Kher were from Meerut. Kher’s father Mr. Mehar Singh, a Hindu priest, was an amateur musician whose performances of traditional folk songs were a regular household event.^[3]

Kailash used to learn music from him in his childhood. ^[4] 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 the day.^[5] 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.^[6]

At the age of 14, 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".^[7]. He also attended music class and would teach the same to students for just Rs 150 per session to maintain his livelihood as after leaving home he used to take care of all his expenses from lodging to food, plus manage education and music expenses.^[8]

Although he couldn’t find the right guru or a school and he started learning Music by listening it. His playlist then use to be Indian classical, Pandit Kumar Gandharv, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Gokulotsav Maharaj and later even Nusrat Fetah Ali Khan,Lata Mangeshkar and their contemporaries ^[9]

He then experimented with a family friend’s sari export business till 1999^[10][11].His depression phase started in the beginning of the year 1999 when his business collapsed. To come out of which he went to Singapore and Thailand, and stayed there for 6 months.

Later, after he shifted to Delhi with his family, he graduated from Delhi University through the correspondence program ^{[12] [13]}

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. ^[14][15]

Career beginnings[link]

Jingles[link]

He moved to Mumbai in the year 2001, where he began his foray into the music industry.^[16]

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 Sampat, 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 which he needed desperately at that time "just to survive”.^[17]

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.^[18]

Playback singing and regional singing[link]

Kailash had to struggle a lot to get a chance in bollywood. He got opportunity to sing a song for movie Andaaz. In this movie his song "Rabba Ishq Na Hove" became much popular. His song "Allah ke Bande" from obscure Movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, became very popular and this song made him a popular singing star in bollywood.^[19] Kher has a uniquely soulful, raw, high-pitched voice. He sang a number of the songs in the Bollywood film Mangal Pandey: The Rising, in which he also had a cameo appearance. His another famous song is "O Sikander" from movie Corporate.^[20] 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 both had record sales.

A R Rahman says

By 2004, Kher had been catapulted into the national spotlight, and has since performed on over three hundred and fifty Hindi film soundtracks, has sung in over eighteen languages on a number of regional Indian films, not to mention recording more than five hundred radio and television advertising jingles.

By 2004, he has also sung in 18 regional Indian languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali, Sindhi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi ,Konkani, etc for regional films and more than 350 songs for the Hindi film industry and recorded more than five hundred radio and television advertising jingles..^{[22] [23]}

He has recently ventured into the Kannada film industry. His hits from Kannada films include the songs Hale Patr 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.

Film music as music director[link]

He has given music score's for the movies like "Chandni Chowk To China", "Dasvidaniya", "Sacred Evil", "Sangini" and others. He has also penned lyrics in few movies like "Chandni Chowk To China", "Dasvidaniya", "Kaal" and "Traffic signal". ^[24]

He composed the song "Ambar Tak Naara Gunjega" for Anna Hazare anti corruption movement and sung it in Ramlila Maidan during Anna Hazare protest.^[25]

Forming Kailasa band[link]

He formed Kailasa in Delhi, with Mumbai based musician brothers, Paresh Kamath and Naresh Kamath, whom he met them in Delhi .^[26]

Albums[link]

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” touching the right chords with Indian as well as international audiences.

Kailasa’s third album Chandan mein released in June 2009, was yet another smash hit! This Hattrik Hit got him his first international album on the acclaimed independent record label Cumbancha.^[27]

He released his fourth album Rangeele was released by his owned company Kailasa Records in January 2012. ^[28]

Performances and International concerts[link]

Kailash Kher and His Band Kailasa Has performed over 800 concerts in the span of approximately eight years across the globe. He has not only performed for the south east Asian diaspora but has also mesmerized the international audiences in the festivals & Venues as GlobalFest at Webster hall, New York’s Webster Hall, Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco), Celebrate Brooklyn, Santa Monica Pier Festival (LA), Fillmore Centre (San Francisco), Hollywood Bowl (LA), Apollo Hemmersmith London, Symphony Hall (Birmingham) Messy Centre,(Toronto).^[29]

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, he performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the Maximum India festival.^[30] Kailash Kher had given an astounding performance in the closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2010 on 14th October at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.^[31]

Recently band has given their great performances at Dhaka in Bangladesh, Nairobi in Kenya, London and Leicester in UK and Karachi in Pakistan. ^[32] His performance on 14th April 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan received overwhelming response. ^{[33] [34]}

Television and reality shows[link]

Because of his gaining popularity all Major television channels has roped in Kailash Kher on Various shows including Saregamapa Lil Champs (zee), Mission Ustaad (9X), Indian Idol (Sony), IPL Rockstar (Colors), Rock 0n (MTV).

^{[35] [36]}

Personal life[link]

He got married to Mumbai based Kashmiri girl Sheetal on 14th February 2009 and they have a 2 year old son Kabir.^[37][38]

Discography[link]

See also[link]

• Kailasa (band)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Kailash Kher at the Internet Movie Database
• Rediff interview with Kailash Kher
• indiafm's Kailash Kher filmography