‘I sing straight from the heart’
It’s probably a first for an album, but Kailash Kher has pulled it off for Rangeele, his latest offering. While superstar Amitabh Bachchan has narrated a few lines in one of the songs, Kher’s one and half-year-old son, Kabir lends his voice to another. “My album has the seniormost personality from the industry and also the youngest one,” says Kher. Kher is known more as a sufi singer, but his new album will show his diversity.
His latest album comes after a span of two years after his last album, Chaandan Mein which was released in 2009. Rangeele was made in a month by his Indian fusion band Kailasa. “Apart from Naresh and Paresh, our team comprises a bunch of talented musicians who worked hard to present the soulful music,” says Kher. Talking about Bachchan’s voice, Kher informs that he had composed a song for Amitabh Bachchan for the last season of Kaun Banega Crorepati titled Dharti Pe Jannat Ke Nazare. “During my shows, audiences used to ask for that track. And on popular demand I included the track in my new album and requested Bachchan Sir to narrate two lines.”
And one person who managed to help Kher control his temper and stay focused during the recording was his son, Kabir. There were days when Kher would lose interest in his project. However, Kabir, accompanying him to the studio, made Kher take his work more seriously. “Finally I decided to allow my son to sing a few lines in the album,” says Kher.
The song Allah Ke Bande featured in the Waise Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2002) made Kher a household name. Often Kher’s style of music is said to have been greatly influenced by Sufism. But he rejects the Sufi singer tag. “I have no particular style. I write and compose my own songs and sing straight from my heart. Often listeners find the songs real, folksy and devotional,” corrects Kher.
A Delhi boy, Kher spent his formative years in Mayur Vihar Phase II and fondly remembers his time spent in the Capital. Mandi House and Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts were the addas where Kher would catch up with friends. “I miss the lovely weather and wide roads of the capital. However, the traffic was always bad,” he says. But, for now, it’s the Maximum City.
Post new comment