Kailash Kher Exclusive: First break from Ram Kripa, Rehman Sahab's mother considered me as her younger son

I was born on 7th July 1973 in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh. In a way, music is inherited. My father Mehr Singh Kher used to get pujas done in the village and used to sing bhajans in temples. Born in a Brahmin family, I have been watching Yagya, Havan, and worship lessons since childhood. My father used to sing bhajan kirtan in temples.

I learned music from him in my childhood. I had no idea what a film song used to be in those days because I had never heard a film song. Stayed in Gurukul in childhood. From the very beginning, I grew up in a spiritual environment. Studied through correspondence.

Sangeet Bharati was also a student of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya but I believe that music is something that no institute can teach you. Music comes from birth, you just have to know how to nurture it.

blessings of saints

A family friend Manjit Singh lived in Delhi. He had an export and import business. Started his business with him, which caused a lot of loss. In those days I also went into depression. Tired of life, wanted to commit suicide. After getting out of all this somehow, he went to Singapore and Thailand to earn money.

If he did not feel like it, he returned even in six months. This time went straight to Rishikesh. Here the company settled with the sages. There was a lot of singing going on. It would be a big deal to speak your mouth, but hearing my song, the biggest saint used to shudder.

Everyone is blessed that one day my star will rise. If someone praises your work, there is no better encouragement in the world than this. It was only with this enthusiasm that I moved to Mumbai.

Mumbai's first blow

This is exactly 20 years ago. From Rishikesh, I had left here the address of a sannyasa ashram located in Vile Parle. A Mahamandaleshwar Swami from Rishikesh had given this address, so I was in full confidence that if I got a place to set foot in Mumbai, then everything would happen.

Coming here and meeting Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishweshwar Anand, he brought my dreams to the ground of reality.

Speak-

There will be no arrangement to stay here. Now finding a place to live in Mumbai is no less a struggle. That too when you don't have much money in your pocket. Started living in a cheap lodge at Rs 50 per day. You can understand what Rs 50 means in the days of struggle, that too 20 years ago.

Ram gave the first break with the grace of Ram

Mumbai is a Mayanagari. Also because no one gets anything here without hard work and if you do not give up hard work, success is sure to come. I also worked hard day and night here. Visited a lot of sound studios. But you will not believe it is a matter of those days when no musician was ready to meet me.

But Lord Ram was pleased and I met musician Ram Sampath. He gave me my first break here to sing an ad song. The first earning was five thousand rupees. That was a huge amount for me. For the first time, the lines of worry on the face reduced a bit. The blessings of the parents started to bear fruit now. After this, the line of ad jingles was started.

'Allah Ke Bande' brought the first big fame

Slowly people started recognizing my voice in Mumbai. The thing is from the year 2003. Music composer Vishal Shekhar was composing music for the film 'Waisa Bhi Hota Hai'.

When Vishal's call came, I first understood that Vishal Bhardwaj has called. Well, we met Vishal Shekhar made me sing the song 'Allah Ke Bande'. The film did not work but this song alone made a household name.

After this, the song 'Yun Hi Chala Chal Ho' from 'Swades' or 'Mangal Mangal Ho' from 'Mangal Pandey' all helped me and the series went on. In both these films, virtuoso composer AR Rahman successfully experimented with my voice. Rehman Sahab's mother Karima Begum considered me her younger son. Whenever I went to her house, she used to cook food with her own hands.

First solo album Kailasa

Going back a little, if I want to share some things from my struggle days, then my first album was released by Sony Music Company in 2006, Kailasa. I made many music albums during my struggling days but at that time no music company wanted to release my album. And as soon as the songs became hits, these companies started calling me and giving them songs.

I featured in the video of the song as well and I believe that harmony between the melody and the visuals is very important in any music video.