Kailash Kher’s spectacular journey from a humble upbringing to revered pop … Read Full Bio ↴Kailash Kher’s spectacular journey from a humble upbringing to revered pop star, Bollywood playback singer and television celebrity is nothing less then remarkable. It is also a testament to the strength and appeal of what is undeniably one of the most unique voices in Indian music today.

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.

Ishq Ho Gaya
Kailash Kher Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kise dil ka dard sunaau
Kise apna haal bataau

Gaye kitne badal zamaane
Koi ishq ka marham na jaane

Mujhe ishq ho gaya

Koi dardi dhoond le aao
Ya koi ved hakim bulaao
Koi tees chabak si maare
Meri saans bhare hunkaare

Mujhe ishq ho gaya

Haai jigar saalta jaave
Par rog hai khoob rasila
Naa lajab pade thandi
Naa pade badan mera peela

Main toh rogi ishq da rogi
Mere aur kareeb na aao
Yeh rog pake na phute
Yeh toh bhitar bithar tute

Mujhe ishq ho gaya

RAJA YERRAM

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kailash Kher's song "Ishq Ho Gaya" tell the tale of a person who has fallen deeply in love and is experiencing the pain that often comes with such depth of emotion. The first two lines convey the singer's dilemma, wanting to confide in someone about their heartache but no one to turn to. They address the universal experience of wanting someone to listen to our woes and concerns, to empathize with us as we navigate the choppy waters of life. The next two lines speak to the power of love, that even as everything around us changes, love stays constant and has the ability to heal our wounds. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the impact of the power of love, how it has completely overtaken the singer's heart and being.

The following verse delves into the physical sensations that are often experienced when in love. The singer is in pain, yet it is a pleasurable pain, as the illness that they are experiencing is one born of love. They ask for a remedy, either in the form of a doctor or shaman, but recognize that no one can truly cure them of their lovesick state. They then go on to describe how even though they are sick, their passion has not dulled, and it is this fiery intense feeling of love that is keeping them going. The final verse is a warning to others not to come too close, lest they too become infected with the disease that is love. The singer recognizes that love is unpredictable and irrational, and even though it may bring pain, it is worth it for the possibility of true connection and happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Kise dil ka dard sunaau
To whom should I tell the pain of my heart?

Kise apna haal bataau
To whom should I reveal my current situation?

Gaye kitne badal zamaane
So many changes have occurred in time

Koi ishq ka marham na jaane
No one knows the remedy for love

Mujhe ishq ho gaya
I have fallen in love

Koi dardi dhoond le aao
Find someone who can cure my pain

Ya koi ved hakim bulaao
Or call for a herbal doctor

Koi tees chabak si maare
Someone shoots a thirty-arrow at me

Meri saans bhare hunkaare
I breathe out sighs

Haai jigar saalta jaave
Oh, my heart is burning

Par rog hai khoob rasila
But this disease is enjoyable