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.
Tauba Tauba
Kailash Kher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tauba tauba is a Hindi song by Kailash Kher that expresses the inner conflicts and struggles of a person who is repenting for their wrongdoings. The phrase "Tauba tauba" is an expression of remorse and regret in Urdu, and the song's lyrics use it repeatedly to emphasize the singer's guilty conscience.
The song's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the lyrics: "Tauba tauba, kya hoga, na jaane zindagi ka raaz hai." This translates to "Oh my god, what will happen, no one knows the secret of life." The singer is deeply introspective and questioning their past decisions, wondering what consequences they may face for their actions. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Tauba tauba" several times along with the line "Main teri aankh ka tara hoon" which translates to, "I'm just a star in your eyes."
Through the song, the singer grapples with feelings of shame, regret, and uncertainty about the future. However, the song ends with a message of hope and redemption, as the singer offers a prayer for forgiveness and a chance to start anew. Through his soulful delivery, Kailash Kher captures the emotional depths of the song's lyrics and offers a powerful commentary on the struggles of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Tauba tauba karta hai yaar
Oh my friend, I am repenting and feeling remorseful
Na insaafi hai yeh
This is injustice
Waqt ka saja hai
This is the punishment of time
Kaisa hai yeh bandhan
What kind of bond is this?
Kyon tune toda hai
Why did you break it?
Kasam hai tujhe kasam hai mujhe bhi
I swear to you and you swear to me
Raaste mein hum dono hai akela
We both are alone on this path
Tu kyun bhala chhod diya
Why did you leave me?
Chhode waalon se mila de mujhko
Introduce me to those who have left
Uske dil mein bhi dard hai
There is pain in their heart too
Badle mein kaisi ye saza hai
What kind of punishment is this in return?
Tauba tauba karta hai yaar
Oh my friend, I am repenting and feeling remorseful
Contributed by Victoria L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rahulray9983
Back when songs used to have better stories than the films today
@goodtimeswithatharva1101
So true....Just loved this vicious circle of crushes 😍
@terrorist6928
Kalank , race3
@sudhanshus8546
Bang on!!!
@himanshu-im6ts
Most relevant comment of the era
@prajakta9329
Who is that actress
@vasanthsr9006
Nostalgia.this song was such a hit,MTV used to play it every 10 mins. Was the fav song for whole family. Later bought the cd and played non stop. Amma used to find him very cute and told us learn from his inspirational life. loads of love from kerala kailash.
@navyamurali3
V true 2006 I guess
@gurumeena5088
@@navyamurali3 yes
@fr_625
Tauba tauba ☝️☝️☝️