Born July 7, 1973 in Merut on the outskirts of Delhi, India to a family with Kashmiri roots, Kher moved to New Delhi as a young child. Kher’s father, a Hindu priest, was an amateur musician whose performances of traditional folk songs were a regular household event. Even as a four year old, Kher revealed a natural musical talent and he would often impress friends and family by belting out songs with his prematurely powerful voice. At the age of 14, Kher left home in search of a guru to further his musical training, and he embarked on years of classical and folk music study.
At first, his parents discouraged his dedication to music, and in deference to their wishes Kher tried his hand at the import/export business. Clearly, his passions lay elsewhere, as this endeavor proved a dismal failure. In 2001, Kher left New Delhi for Mumbai, the epicenter of India’s highly competitive music industry, to seek his fortunes as a professional singer. For a while, Kher struggled, living in cheap residence hotels and eking out whatever musical work he could find to make ends meet. Kher’s first recording was on an advertising jingle for a diamond company, for which he was paid the equivalent of $100.
Soon after recording a handful of jingles, the raw, earthy and soulful strength of his voice - often compared to the late qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - caught the attention of every production house and film composer in Mumbai. His big break came with the song “Allah Ke Bande” from the movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II. The song became more famous then the film itself, and its success made him a household name. By 2004, Kher had been catapulted into the national spotlight, and has since performed on over one hundred and fifty Hindi film soundtracks, has sung in over fourteen languages on a number of regional Indian films, not to mention recording more than four hundred radio and television advertising jingles.
Though the Bollywood playback world has proven rewarding, Kher finds more personal satisfaction in the music he writes and records with Naresh and Paresh Kamath, brothers and prominent members of his band Kailasa. Fixtures on the Indian rock and pop scene, Naresh and Paresh were veterans of the popular band Bombay Black.
Combining Kher’s strong traditional folk sensibilities and lyrics invoking Sufi mysticism, with Naresh and Paresh’s more modern rock, electronic and funk influences, Kailash Kher & Kailasa released their first album, Kailasa, in 2006, which resulted in the smash hits “Teri Deewani” and “Tauba Tauba.” This was followed in 2007 by their second album Jhoomo Re, which was also a critical and commercial success.
In 2008, Kher was invited to become a judge on the television series Indian Idol, the local version of the successful singing competition. With his bubbly spirit and an infectious, expansive personality, Kher endeared himself to the Indian mainstream. It is impossible for Kher to walk the streets anywhere in India without his being besieged by adoring autograph seekers, and he has earned even further admiration for the openness with which he treats his fans.
In 2007, Kher participated in a concert tour in the US, Canada and the Caribbean entitled The Incredibles, a massive stage extravaganza that also starred fellow Bollywood singers Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam and Kunal Ganjawala. While the show allowed Kher to perform in front of huge audiences at major amphitheaters, it was his appearance with Kailasa at the January 2008 edition of GlobalFest at New York’s Webster Hall where Kher’s true artistry was on display. The group’s performance that evening electrified the audience, and proved to be the first step in launching Kher’s career as a global world music star.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, 2009 promises to be an entirely new adventure for Kailash Kher & Kailasa with the release of their first international album on the acclaimed independent record label Cumbancha. The album will feature new songs, re-recorded versions of their most appealing tracks and acoustic versions of enduring hits. The time has come for the world to discover a voice that millions of Indians already consider one of the greatest in music today.
Bheeg Gaya Mera Mann
Kailash Kher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behake behake se baadal uninde
Geet gaati hawa mein gungunaati ghata mein
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (2)
Ho mastiyon ke ghunt pi, shokhiyon mein tair ja
Ishq ki galiyon mein aa, inn palon mein thehar ja
Rab ka hai yeh aaina, shakl haan isako dikha
Chamake chamake yeh jharano ke dhaare
Tan pe malamal si padati phuaare
Ped hai manchale se, patte hai chulbule se
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (2)
Ho dagmagaati chaandani, has rahi hai josh mein
Aur patange ga rahe, haan raag maal kos mein
Banake naache behaya besahram pagali hawa
Jindagi milake gale has rahi de de duwaan
Barase barase re ambar ka paani
Jisako pi pike dharati deewaani
Khilkhilaane lage hai muskuraane lagi hai
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (4)
The lyrics to Kailash Kher's "Bheeg Gaya Mera Mann (Cherrapunjee)" beautifully capture the essence of the monsoon season in a small town. The writer describes the sharp and piercing raindrops which are so abundant that they weave and dance with the clouds. The character speaks of the wind blowing so gently that it sings a song, a song of joy and freedom. He describes his mind being soaked by the rain, and as such, he finds inner peace and clarity.
The writer urges the character to indulge in life's pleasures and allow himself to get lost in moments of jubilation. He tells him that time passes too quickly and that he should try to enjoy every second. The writer finishes the song with a description of nature deliriously rejoicing in the rainfall. With the sky poured and drenched, the earth too is in good spirits, shining and bursting with life.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
Tikhi tikhi nukili si bunde
Sharp, pointed droplets
Behake behake se baadal uninde
Unstable clouds swaying carelessly
Geet gaati hawa mein gungunaati ghata mein
Singing in the winds and humming in the clouds
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (2)
My heart is drenched in the rain - (2)
Ho mastiyon ke ghunt pi, shokhiyon mein tair ja
Take a sip of joy, swim in playfulness
Ishq ki galiyon mein aa, inn palon mein thehar ja
Come into the alleyways of love, stay in these moments
Rab ka hai yeh aaina, shakl haan isako dikha
This is God's mirror, it shows us our true form
Jindagi ghud daud hai, do ghadi le le maja
Life is a race, take a moment to enjoy
Chamake chamake yeh jharano ke dhaare
The streams sparkle and shine
Tan pe malamal si padati phuaare
Soft, cottony winds brush against your skin
Ped hai manchale se, patte hai chulbule se
The trees sway and the leaves dance
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (2)
My heart is drenched in the rain - (2)
Ho dagmagaati chaandani, has rahi hai josh mein
The moon staggers and laughs with excitement
Aur patange ga rahe, haan raag maal kos mein
And the kites fly, playing a melody
Banake naache behaya besahram pagali hawa
The shameless, crazy winds dance
Jindagi milake gale has rahi de de duwaan
Life hugs and laughs, grant us blessings
Barase barase re ambar ka paani
The water from the sky pours and pours
Jisako pi pike dharati deewaani
Which the delirious earth drinks and drinks
Khilkhilaane lage hai muskuraane lagi hai
Everything appears to sparkle and smile
Bheeg gaya mera mann - (4)
My heart is drenched in the rain - (4)
Writer(s): Naresh Kamath, Kailash Kher
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sameer
on Mann Jogi Re
Let me listen
Sameer
on Mann Jogi Re
Best meaningful