Kailash Kher

Last updated

Kailash Kher
Kailash Kher 61st Filmfare Awards South (cropped).jpg
Kher in 2014
Background information
Born (1973-07-07) 7 July 1973 (age 52)
Delhi, India
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Composer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Harmonium
Years active2003–present
LabelsSoor Mandir
Website www.kailashkher.com
Awards Padma Shri (2017)

Kailash Kher (born 7 July 1973) is an Indian playback singer, live performer, and composer. His music infuses Indian folk and Sufi traditions with pop rock and spiritual influences. His most acclaimed songs are Teri Deewani, Saiyaan, Kaun Hain Voh, Jay Jaykara, Bam Lahiri, Yuh Hi Chala Chala, Ya Rabba and Allah Ke Bande. [1] [2] In 2017, he received the Padma Shri from the Government of India. [3]

Contents

He has received two Filmfare Awards for playback singing in Hindi and Telugu. [4] Since 2014, he promotes Indian folk culture through the Kailash Kher Academy (KKALA) and the reality series Bharat Ka Amrit Kalash, showcasing traditional music from across India. [5]

Early life

Kher was born on 7 July 1973 in Vinod Nagar, a village in the Mayur Vihar area of East Delhi, into a Kashmiri family. His father, Mehar Singh Kher, was a traditional folk singer and his mother is Chandrakanta Mehar Singh Kher. [6] [7] [8] Kher also spent a significant part of his childhood in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. [6]

Kher’s passion for music began in childhood. [9] At 14, he left home to find a guru or institution for classical and folk music training, as pursuing his passion required isolation. [10] To support himself, he taught students for ₹150 (~$1.7) per session, covering his living and educational expenses. [11] Unable to find a suitable guru or institution, Kher continued his learning by listening to renowned masters of music. [12]

Kher worked in a family friend’s Indian handicraft export business until it collapsed in 1999. [13] Following this, he faced depression and attempted suicide. He then spent six months in Singapore and Thailand. [14] After returning to New Delhi with his family, he completed his graduation from Delhi University via a correspondence programme. [15] [16]

Career

Beginnings: 2001-2003

In 2001, Kher moved to Mumbai to pursue singing, living in hostels and taking jobs in the advertising music industry to support himself. [17] [18] He was referred to Ram Sampath for a Nakshatra diamonds jingle, providing a decent start with ₹5,000 (~$57) earnings. [19] He recorded jingles for various television and radio commercials, gaining recognition for his distinctive singing style with brands like Coca-Cola, Citibank, Pepsi, IPL and Honda Motorcycles. [20]

Breakthrough: 2003-2005

Kher performing in 2012 Kailash Kher 1Madan300.jpg
Kher performing in 2012

In 2003, Kher's breakthrough came with song Rabba Ishq Na Hove from Andaaz after initial efforts in Bollywood. [21] [22] Allah Ke Bande from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003) significantly enhanced his popularity. [23] He sang in Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), in which he also had a cameo appearance, and recorded “O Sikander” for Corporate (2006). [24]

Rising popularity: 2006 onwards

In 2006, Kailash Kher released Teri Deewani on his debut album Kailasa, performed by his Sufi fusion band Kailasa. The song was acclaimed for its soulful expression of love and devotion, highlighted by Kher’s powerful vocals. [25]

In 2007, Ya Rabba from Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love was widely popular and received well by audience. [26] [27] In addition , he sang Kaun Hain Voh for Baahubali: The Beginning ; [28] [29] and Jay Jaykara and Jal Rahi Hai Chita for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion . [30]

Artistry

Kher's voice has been described as raw, soulful, fresh, high-pitched, and sharp. [31] He mainly sings Ghazal, Sufi, Qawwali, folk, and other devotional songs. [32] Most of his film or non-film albums include romantic tracks with a touch of classical music, traditional lyrics, and regional languages. [33]

His musical influences encompass legends such as Gokulotsavji Maharaj, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Kumar Gandharva, Bhimsen Joshi, Lata Mangeshkar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. [34]

Commercial music

Kher composed music for films including Chandni Chowk to China , Dasvidaniya , Sacred Evil , Sangini, and Desi Kattey , among others. He also penned lyrics for films such as Kaal and Traffic Signal . [35]

By 2014, he had sung in more than 20 Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali, Sindhi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Konkani, and Rajasthani, and had recorded over 500 songs for the Hindi film industry and more than 1,000 radio and television jingles. [36] [37]

He later ventured into Kannada cinema; songs include “Hale Patre” from Junglee and “Ekka Raaja Raani” from Jackie .

He composed and sang the title track of Star Plus’s series Diya Aur Baati Hum with Shubha Mudgal, and also sang the title track of Colors’ series Udaan , as well as the anthem for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Non-film work

Kailasa

Kher formed the band Kailasa in Mumbai in 2004 with Mumbai-based musician brothers Paresh Kamath and Naresh Kamath. [38]

Kher launching his album "Ishq Anokha" in Kolkata, 2016 At the kolkata launch.jpg
Kher launching his album "Ishq Anokha" in Kolkata, 2016

The band's first album, Kailasa , was released in March 2006. Their second album, Jhoomo Re , was released in May 2007. [39] Kailasa's third album, Chaandan Mein , was released in June 2009. He made his first international album on the independent record label Cumbancha. [39] He released his fourth album, Rangeele , through his own company Kailasa Records in January 2012. In 2016, Kher returned with his new album Ishq Anokha. [40]

As part of a recent output of Kailasa, a devotional single "Gajaananaa" was released in August 2025. This song was a musical prompt on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. [41]

Kher with other Bollywood playback singers Bollywood Playback Singers.jpg
Kher with other Bollywood playback singers

He performed for the Southeast Asian diaspora and for international audiences at festivals and venues such as GlobalFest at New York’s Webster Hall, the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco), Celebrate Brooklyn, the Santa Monica Pier Festival (Los Angeles), Fillmore Center (San Francisco), the Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles), Hammersmith Apollo (London), Symphony Hall (Birmingham), and Massey Hall (Toronto). [42]

In 2007, he joined a North American concert tour titled “The Incredibles,” alongside 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. [43] Kher also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. [44]

In 2012, as part of Kailasa’s third Nepal tour, Kher performed in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Nairobi (Kenya), Zimbabwe, Congo, Karachi (Pakistan), and Muscat (Oman). [45]

Television and reality shows

Kher has appeared in various television shows, including Wind of Change (Bangladesh) (Gaan Bangla), [46] Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs (Zee TV), Mission Ustaad (9X), Indian Idol 4 (Sony), IPL Rockstar (Colors), and Rock On (MTV). [47] [48] In 2009, he appeared as a judge on Indian Idol 4 alongside Javed Akhtar, Sonali Bendre, and Anu Malik.

In 2013, he collaborated with singer Shreya Ghoshal for the first time on a campaign titled “Project Resound: Upgrade Your Ears,” for which he wrote and composed the song “Naina Chaar” and invited Ghoshal to sing. [49] [50] The online initiative by Sony Music India promoted listening awareness and also marketed Sony headphones.

On 15 March 2014, he appeared on the celebrity talk show Comedy Nights with Kapil during Holi celebrations.

Personal life

Kher married Sheetal Bhan in February 2009, and their son Kabir was born in December 2009. [51] [52]

Kher was accused of inappropriate behaviour and harassment by multiple women during the Indian Me Too movement in 2018. [53] [54] Kher, however, denied the allegations, stating, "Accusing without a formal complaint isn't authentic." [55] He later issued a public apology for any unintentional behaviour on his part that may have made the complainants uncomfortable. [56]

Music for social causes

In 2011, Kher composed a song called “Ambar Tak Yehi Naad Goonjega” for the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, popularly known as the “India Against Corruption Movement”. Kher did not charge a professional fee for singing the song. [57]

Kher was featured in the Clean India Mission theme song “Swachh Bharat ka Irada Kar Liya Hum Ne,” [58] written by Prasoon Joshi. To promote the Clean India Mission, he visited several places in the prime minister’s parliamentary constituency.

Kher appeared in a viral video campaign titled #KyaKisikoPadiHai with Jose Covaco as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign was directed by Harnish Ambaliya. [59]

Kher was invited by the prime minister to accompany him on his first US tour, and performed at the SAP Center community reception in San Jose, California, on 27 September 2015. [60]

In 2019, Kher sang a song titled “Bol Re Dilli Bol,” based on contemporary political events in Delhi; it forms part of the seven‑episode web series “Transparency: Pardarshita.” [61] [62]

Awards and nominations

Kailash Kher awards and nominations
Kailash Kher 2011.jpg
Kailash Kher
Totals [a]
Wins10
Nominations4
Note
  1. ↑ Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.

Film accolades and other honours

YearAward(s)CategoryTitleSong(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
2009 Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Telugu Arundhati "Kammukunna Cheekatlona"Nominated
2010 GiMA Award Gima Award for Best Popular Music Album Chaandan Mein Solo AlbumWon
Indian Television Academy Awards Best Title Song Tere Liye "Tere Liye"Won
Indian Telly Awards Won
2011 Zee Rishtey Awards Favourite Guru-Shisya Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs —Nominated
2011 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Kannada Best Male Playback Singer Jackie "Ekka Raja Rani"Nominated
2012 Indian Telly Award Best Title Singer for a TV Show Diya Aur Baati Hum Title SongWon
2013 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer Mirchi "Pandagala Digivachchavu"Won
2014 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Telugu Best Male Playback Singer Mirchi "Pandagala Digivacchavu"Won
2015 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Kannada Best Male Playback Singer Un Samayal Arayil "Ee Janumave Ahaa"Nominated
YearAward(s)CategoryResult
2011Nepal Tourism Year Goodwill Ambassador 2011Overall ContributionWon
2010Yash Bharti AwardExcellence in folk and classical musicWon
2017Padma Shri – Fourth Highest Indian National HonourArt-MusicWon
2019 SIIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu Bharat Ane NenuNominated

Discography/Filmography

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kailash Kher : I composed Teri Deewani while performing on stage in Delhi". The Times of India. 23 March 2019. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Dive Into 5 Of Kailash Kher's Beloved And Impactful Songs". IndiaWest News. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  3. ↑ IANS (25 January 2017). "Moment of pride, celebration: Kailash Kher on Padma Shri honour". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Kailash Kher". Ranker. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Kailash Kher to welcome 2024 with a reality show, new albums and a music academy". Moneycontrol. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 "EP-39 Soul-stirring conversation with singer Kailash Kher ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash". YouTube. ANI News. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024. See 1:15 to 4:03 - "I was born in Delhi, but people think my birth place to be Meerut. In Delhi, I was born in a village called Vinodnagar, in Mayur Vihar"
  7. ↑ Bhatia, Parvinder (13 August 2019). "Revocation of Article 370 is like end of leprosy: Kailash Kher". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022. It may be mentioned here that Kailash Kher was born 7 July 1973 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to a family with Kashmiri roots. His father's name is Mehar Singh Kher and his mother Chandrakanta Mehar Singh Kher.
  8. ↑ "Learning music from his father". Yahoo! News. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Easy to give up when you're just starting off: Kailash Kher". The New Indian Express. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Grover, Purva (21 July 2009). "I didn't have money to pay the fees: Kailash". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "Before she got famous, She used to scrub toilets!". Mid Day. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Learning Music". 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Experimenting with export business". Archived from the original on 21 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Wanted to commit suicide once: Kailash Kher". Hindustan Times. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Graduation". Yahoo! News. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "I didn't have money to pay the fees: Kailash". The Times of India . 31 July 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Shifting to Mumbai from Delhi". 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "Kailash Kher's journey". Yahoo! News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Experimenting with export business / moving to Mumbai". Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  20. ↑ "Kailash Kher's journey". Yahoo! News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Kailash Kher's journey". Yahoo! News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Rabba Ishq Na Hove (From "Andaaz")". Gaana. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  23. ↑ "Allah Ke Bande – full audio". YouTube (Zee Music). 10 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Kailash Kher's journey". Yahoo! News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Birthday Treat: 5 soulful Kailash Kher songs, as 'Teri Deewani' singer turns 43". India TV News. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Kailash Kher's journey". Yahoo! News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "Sanam Teri Kasam could beat Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani re-release record? Details inside". OTTPlay. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "This man singing Kailash Kher's 'Kaun Hai Voh' song from 'Baahubali' will give you goosebumps!". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Baahubali 2: Kailash Kher reveals how Rajamouli turned greedy during song recording". Hindustan Times. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Jay‑Jaykara". YouTube (Zee Music). 2 July 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  31. ↑ "Agunpakhi soars with Kailash Kher's soul-stirring voice". The Times of India. 3 October 2025. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Birthday Treat: 5 soulful Kailash Kher songs, as 'Teri Deewani' singer turns 43". India TV News. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  33. ↑ "Kailash Kher voices emotion". The Tribune. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  34. ↑ "Inspiration". Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  35. ↑ "Writing lyrics" . Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  36. ↑ "Regional singing". Yahoo! News. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  37. ↑ "Regional singing and Bollywood singing". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  38. ↑ "Forming band". Yahoo! News.
  39. 1 2 "Site Suspended – This site has stepped out for a bit". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  40. ↑ "Kailash Kher happy with response to Ishq Anokha". The Indian Express. IANS. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  41. ↑ "Spotify – Web Player". Spotify. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  42. ↑ "performances and concert". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  43. ↑ "Music – maximum India – March 1–20, 2011 – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Washington, D.C." Kennedy-center.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  44. ↑ "commonwealth games". Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  45. ↑ "Kailasa as popular as Coldplay". The Times of India . 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  46. ↑ "What's happening on 'Wind of Change' season 5?". The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  47. ↑ "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs". Hindustan Times. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  48. ↑ "Reality shows". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  49. ↑ "Kailash Kher and Shreya Ghoshal team up". Hindustan Times . Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  50. ↑ "Kailash Kher and Shreya Goshal on a mission". The Times of India . Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  51. ↑ "Kailash Kher's first anniversary bash". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  52. ↑ "Kailash Kher's wife Sheetal Bhan talks about her suicide attempt and battle with depression". Hindustan Times. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  53. ↑ Cornelious, Deborah (27 December 2018). "When #MeToo shook Bollywood". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  54. ↑ "#MeToo in India: Singer Kailash Kher faces fresh allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women". Firstpost. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  55. ↑ "Kailash Kher: Accusing without formal complaint isn't authentic". Hindustan Times. IANS. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  56. ↑ Basu, Nilanjana (8 October 2018). "Accused Of Sexual Harassment, Kailash Kher Says: 'Don't Remember Any Such Act'". NDTV. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  57. ↑ "Anna's movement mobilised entire country: Kailash Kher". The Times of India . 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  58. ↑ Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (2 October 2014). "Swachh Bharat ka Irada Kar Liya Hum Ne – Special Audio Track by Prasoon Joshi". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  59. ↑ "This Amazing #SwachhRap By Jose Covaco & Kailash Kher Is Asking A Really Important Question!". MissMalini. March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  60. ↑ PTI (24 September 2015). "Kailash Kher to perform at Modi's reception in Silicon Valley". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  61. ↑ "Kailash Kher's song against political corruption in Delhi". Bhaskar Live.in. 28 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  62. ↑ "दिल्ली में राजनीतिक भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ रिलीज हुआ कैलाश खेर का गाना". Bhaskar Live.in. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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