Kailash Kher’s journey from humble beginnings to Padma Shri is truly inspiring. Through his music, he has touched millions, sharing the struggles and moments that shaped his path and the deep connection he holds with his fans, says SAKSHI PRIYA
“tks VwV dj cuk] ftls ekSr us tkuk]
oks D;k VwVs] oks vkSj D;k ekjs”
(What was broken and revived,
what death tried to take away,
how could it be broken again?)
These words, spoken with quiet strength, hold the raw truth of Kailash Kher's life. A life that, much like the music he creates, has been a journey of hardship, healing and everything in between. He has faced loss, endured difficult times and seen some of the darkest days. Yet, his songs are always filled with hope. This is what makes him not just a singer, but a storyteller of the human experience, a poet of strength. His music isn’t just sound; it’s a conversation with the soul. A conversation that comes from the heart of Kailash Kher, a man whose very being is felt in every note he sings.
When he speaks about his journey, you can almost hear the weight of each experience in his voice, as if every word he shares is filled with emotion, shaped by years of struggle and success. In December 2016, a moment that would forever change his life arrived, though it took another few months for the reality to sink in. By April 2017, it was confirmed, he was to receive the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards. The news was a whirlwind of emotions, not just for him, but for his family. “I first told my sister,” he recalls with a soft smile. “It was a moment of joy because, in Delhi, we had suffered a lot. We left our homes, lived like orphans and went through many different experiences. We saw the world changing, relationships changing and people's attitudes changing, all of these shifts happened at a young age”
His journey from hardship to honour is one of resilience. He talks about his childhood in Delhi, a city that seemed to change before his very eyes, as people, relationships and even attitudes shifted. Yet, despite the hardships, Delhi, in all its complexity, gave him the opportunity to realise his dreams. The recognition came not just for his music but for the spirit with which he has approached life. From a young age, music was more than just a passion, it was his way of being. “As a child of 4 or 5, I was already curious about music, but I didn’t sing the popular songs of the time,” he shares. Instead, he gravitated toward unique sounds that defied the norm. “I didn’t sing filmi songs, ghazals, bhajans or qawwalis. I didn’t sing what was already there. People were curious, what does this child sing and how?” It was this originality that later led to the birth of Kailasa, a name that would become synonymous with spiritual and soul-stirring music.
As his career grew, his live performances became a way for him to connect deeply with his audience. “In Kota, Rajasthan, a girl came to one of my shows with a blade, saying she would harm herself if she didn’t get to meet me. She was a devotee and my music was more than entertainment to her, it was her lifeline,” he remembers. “When I found out, I asked her to drop the blade, and she did. It was one of those moments that reminded me of the emotional power music holds. It’s not just about melodies; it’s about healing.” Every song he writes, sings and composes holds a piece of his soul. “When I sing, it’s a reflection of my own emotions. But once it’s out there, it becomes part of someone else’s story too,” he explains. His music resonates with listeners in a way that breaks through language and culture, offering a universal connection.
Despite his success in Bollywood, he differentiates the impact of film music from his non-film compositions. “Film audiences are looking for light entertainment but non-film music carries deeper emotions,” he says. “Non-film music touches the soul, while film music is more fleeting. Each platform has its unique audience and I enjoy the challenge of catering to different frequencies.” But no career comes without its challenges and his own journey wasn’t without rejection. He remembers the time when his song “Allah Ke Bande” was initially dismissed. “At the time, I didn’t understand the film industry very well. They told me it was a film song but it didn’t have the usual budget. I had doubts. But when the song became a hit, the same people who rejected it came asking for collaboration.That song did become a turning point in my career and it was a lesson that sometimes the smallest beginnings lead to the biggest breakthroughs.”
Reflecting on his career, he is humble about his influence. “People often ask me which of my songs defines me. It’s difficult to choose. Life is so full of shifting emotions. Each song represents a different phase. Take ‘Piya Ghar Aavenge,’ for example, it’s about the anticipation of a reunion. Or ‘Teri Deewani,’ which is about the intensity of love. And then there’s ‘Saiyyan,’ a song about surrendering to something greater than yourself. Each one reflects a part of my journey but none can define it entirely.” As for the impact of his music, he says that whether he is performing in India or abroad, the connection is the same. “Wherever I go, people connect with my music because it speaks to their hearts. Whether in the US or India, our indian audience understands the joy of life. But in Delhi,” he adds with a mischievous grin, “there’s a certain energy here, a special ‘dhamaal’ that is unmatched.”
He may not have imagined this journey when he first started singing as a child, but today, his music has touched the hearts of millions. It is the story of a boy who didn’t follow the conventional path, a boy who sang from his heart and whose voice continues to resonate with the world. The Padma Shri award is just one chapter in his extraordinary journey, a journey that continues to inspire and uplift. Kher’s journey is a beautiful reminder of the power of music to connect us to something deeper within ourselves. Kailash kher doesn't just make music; he shares pieces of his own story, inviting us all to reflect on our own. Every track, Kher insists, is a piece of his soul. “They’re not just songs,” he says. “They’re my prayers, my truths. And once they’re out in the world, they take on lives of their own.”
Much like the lyrics of Piya Ghar Aavenge, “vkt esjs fi;k ?kj vkosaxs] gs&jh] l[kh] eaxy xkvks jh] /kjrh&vacj ltkvks jh] mrjsxh vkt esjs ih dh lokjh”, they speak of waiting, of anticipation, of the quiet joy that comes from knowing something beautiful is about to happen. Waiting isn’t always celebrated, but his music shows us that there is beauty in the moments in between. The stillness and hope that accompany the wait remind us that sometimes the most profound moments in life aren’t the arrivals, but the journeys we take while waiting. In his own way, Kailash Kher teaches us that there is an art to waiting. It’s in those moments of anticipation when we hold our breath and trust that what we’re waiting for will be worth it. Just like the joy in the song, the waiting itself is part of the magic, making the reunion all the more meaningful when it finally arrives.
Photos: Pankaj Kumar
