My voice is all about romance and mysticism

Back in 2004 when Kailash Kher picked up his first award for “Allah Ke Bande” from the film Waisa Bhi Hota Hai II, racing past stalwarts like Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam, many wondered who this new kid on the music scene was. “Kaun hai yeh Kailash Kher is what everyone said,” remembers the singer, who had to face much criticism and ridicule about his unusual, earthy voice. Today, just 13 years down the line, as he pockets the coveted Padma Shri, accolades pour in with “everyone calling it a well-deserved honour”.

While the 43-year-old is no stranger to awards anymore — having lost count of the number he’s received — the news about being conferred with the country’s fourth highest civilian award nevertheless “came as a bit of a surprise. And to think I was chosen from about 18,000 names is a great honour,” says Kher, who decided to become a nirguni — another name for bhakti or sufi singer — early in life.

It was his father, a priest, who unwittingly became Kher’s inspiration. “I remember being fascinated by the mystical thoughts and words he used in his songs — about life, philosophy, the universe — which I may not have understood as a child, but their essence is what would grip me.” But when his father learnt about his son’s dreams, he was far from pleased. “That’s because, like most parents, he wanted me to concentrate on my studies,” he remembers. And thus began a “tough journey” of rebellion and determination.

“But, apni zid thi,” says Kher, remembering the time he left home at the age of 13 to look for a guru. “Whoever I spoke to, laughed on my face and after hearing my voice would simply state that it was not suited for either classical or Bollywood. Ghazals and even Mata ka jagran were ruled out,” he recalls. So, with no music teacher to guide him, he became “aape hi guru, aape hi chela”. This probably was a blessing because this ‘rejection’ resulted in a voice that, despite no formal training, is raw and unique, laced with a mystical, soulful quality.

Along the way, to make ends meet, Kher started doing odd jobs to fend for himself and even started an export business that soon collapsed. Finally, in deference to his parents’ wishes, he landed in Rishikesh to learn ‘panditai’. “My father wanted me to learn the puja vidhi after which he planned to send me to the US,” says Kher.

But fate intervened. “A learned man there” who had heard him singing, suggested Kher look for opportunities in the city of dreams. And that’s what he did — but not to become a Bollywood singer, a mission high on every singer’s agenda, but to make an album of nirguni music.

The Mumbai chapter of Kher’s life opened with jingles — “after all, I needed money to survive”. As his voice started getting noticed, Vishal-Shekhar summoned him to their studio for a trial of “Allah ke bande”. And to his surprise, after the recording, he was told that his take was the final version. There was no looking back after that. Kher’s album, Kailasa (2006) further strengthened his foundations in the music world. “Many of my ‘well-wishers’ thought I was crazy, singing about a ‘deewani’ in a male voice. But, my music is all about romance, philosophy and mysticism and that’s what clicked with my listeners,” he says. With a repertoire of more than 700 film songs and over 100 he’s written, composed and sung, Kher now wants to introduce new talent to the music world. 

“For the first time, a singer is promoting new talent — singers who are not related to him,” he smiles talking about two music groups he has he formed — Indie Roots and SurFira. “Every day I meet so many youngsters, who inspite of classical training, have no one to guide them. That’s why I decided, after a tough screening, to offer them a platform,” he adds hoping that as new paths open up, many more musical journeys will begin... — P S