GW Lisner Auditorium and WPAS
Kailash Kher and Kailasa

Kailash Kher’s meteoric rise in the Bollywood scene, and subsequently the world music community, has garnered attention for the plethora of talent residing in Mumbai. A representative and proponent of the traditional sounds of Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, Kher’s passion for the songs of his father’s spirituality and his raw and earthy voice catapulted the young singer from playing jingles to becoming one of the most recognized performers in India in just four years. In 2001, Kher moved from New Delhi to Mumbai, without a job, he began auditioning for all opportunities. Kher’s 2002 hit single, Allah Ke Bande, won over fans and critics alike, and by 2004, he had recorded on over sixty film soundtracks and almost 200 jingles.

Influential Bollywood composers Salim and Sulaiman introduced Kher to brother musicians Naresh and Paresh Kamath, creating magic with the group Kailasa. The Kamath brothers’ modern rock sensibilities enliven Kher’s powerful prose, speaking to the heartbreak and insanity of love and the beauty of true spirituality. Kailasa’s self-titled debut album was released in 2006. Influenced heavily by the traditions of Niryuni Bhajans, or Sufi devotional songs, the album features hit singles Tauba Tauba and Teri Deewani. Jhomme Re, the group’s second album, was released in 2007, featuring Saiyyan, which garnered international acclaim for the trio.

Kher’s popularity earned him a coveted position as a judge for the 2008-2009 season of Indian Idol, and Kailasa is currently preparing to release a third album, compiling and remixing old favorites with new pieces on North-American based world music label Cumbancha Records. The universality of Kailasa’s songs is winning over audiences across the globe, because, as Kher reminds his fans, a good song is one that should melt the heart.