An Indian playback singer, a music composer, and the man who redefined Sufi music in the Bollywood music industry, Kailash Kher is one of the top Indian musicians in the country. With his strong, soulful, and raw vocals to his earthly music, Kailash Kher has given Bollywood some of the all-time favorites. He is known for playing around with Sufi and Indian Folk Music and has given over 500 songs to the Hindi music industry.
Born on the 7th of July 1973 to Mehar Singh Kher, a traditional folk singer, in the city of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Being brought up in a family so closely associated with music sparked his interest in it from an early age. Even as a child he would listen to his father play and sing, surprising his friends and family members by belting out the lyrics in his prematurely strong voice. Even as a child he showed exceptional music talent, so much so that by the age of 14, he left home in search of a Guru who would teach him music professionally.
The next couple of years turned out to be tough for Kailash Kher as he attended music lessons while simultaneously giving music sessions to other kids for a minimal fee to pay for his expenses. Although he couldn’t find a proper teacher and ended up learning music simply by listening to music. He majorly listened to Indian Classical Singers like Pandit Gokulotsav Ji Maharaj, Pandit Bhimsen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Lata Mangeshkar.
He also dabbled in a family business for a while which later on collapsed, sending Kailash Kher into dark times where he even tried killing himself. He then spent some time in Thailand and Singapore just getting his head back together before he came back to India. In 2001, Kher relocated to Mumbai to pursue his music dream and started taking up any jobs that came his way, just kept trying to make ends meet.
Kher started his musical career by singing for ads, jingles for brands like Coca-Cola, Nakshatra Diamonds, IPL, Honda Motor Cycles, and Pepsi. Although it wasn’t easy Kher started playback singing for smaller movies but his first big break came as the song “Allah Ke Bande” from the movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II. This song became an instant hit and remains one of the most popular Bollywood songs. From then onwards he went on to sing some of the most popular Bollywood songs of all time, such as;
Chand Sifaris (Fanna), Jay Jay-Kara (Bahubali-The Conclusion), Teri Deewani (Teri Deewani), Saiyaan (Jhoomo Re), Aloo Chaat (Aloo Chaat), Ishq Na Ishq Ho Kisi ( Bheega Bheega Sa), Allah Ke Bande (Kailasa), Ab Tumhare Hawaale Watan Saathiyo, Arziyaan (Delhi 6), Rabba Ishq Na Hove (Andaaz), Ya Rabba (Salaam-E-Ishq), Pandagala (Mirchi) amongst others. He has also given scores to numerous movies like From Chandani Chowk To China, Sacred Evil, Desi Kattay, Kaal, amongst others.
By the year 2014, Kailash Kher has sung in over 20 Indian languages, given over 500 songs to Bollywood movies, and worked on over 1000 scores and jingles to radio and advertisements. Apart from his Bollywood work, he also has a band named “Kailasa” and through the band, he has produced over four albums. Kailash Kher has left his mark on the smaller screen as well in shows like Saregamapa Lil Champs, Indian Idol 4, Rock On, IPL Rockstar. And he has done live music performances and shows not limited to Asia but even in some of the world’s greatest stages.
He has won over eleven awards, Start Screen and Star Guild Awards in 2004, he won Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Chand Sifarish (Fanna), he won the Indian Television Academy Awards, and Indian Telly Awards for Tere Liye, Best Male Playback Singer in Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards for his movie Pandagala Digivachchavu (Mirchi), and was also honored and awarded with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest Indian National honor given by the Government of India.
On his 49th Birthday, Saregama wishes a happy birthday to Kailash Kher and celebrates his contributions to the Indian Music Industry.
Now you can stream and download all your favorite Kailash Kher songs on Saregama Carvaan. Saregama Carvaan is a portable audio speaker with preloaded 5000 evergreen Hindi songs that you can listen to anywhere anytime without ad breaks or internet connection. It consists of other features like Bluetooth, FM/AM radio, USB, and AUX connectivity.