Reach Higher

FOUR youngsters follow Kailash Kher on the streets singing, "Toota toota ek parinda aise toota... It's the first line from Allah Ke Bandhe, ...

FOUR youngsters follow Kailash Kher on the streets singing, 8220;Toota toota ek parinda aise toota8230; It8217;s the first line from Allah Ke Bandhe, Kher8217;s solo debut for Waisa Bhi Hota Hai. Composed by Vishal-Shekhar, the simple track with a Sufi base and catchy guitar work has set Kher8217;s Bollywood axle in place. Not only has he grabbed AR Rahman8217;s attention, but has also begun composing for By Chance, a yet-to-be released film directed by Mukesh Mallik, who assisted Shyam Benegal on Zubeida.

This is not the first time Kher has been stunned by people8217;s response to his talent. His singing style has been compared to the inimitable Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan8217;s and a concert recital at Delhi8217;s Russian Cultural Centre was brought to a halt because the crowd went berserk. 8216;8216;It8217;s like comparing a human being to the almighty,8217;8217; says Kher, who grew up on the legend8217;s music.

8216;8216;I wonder how the real biggies deal with all this fame,8217;8217; he says, overcome by childlike glee, having bagged a track in the Aamir Khan-starrer Mangal Pandey set to score by Rahman. The folk song is rendered in the aalhaah style. 8220;I felt I was transported to a holy place when I was recording8212;call it a dargah or a gurdwara8212;it was an unforgettable experience,8221; he says.

Kher8217;s musical career, upon moving to Mumbai three years ago, took off on the conventional route8212;advertising jingles. Starting with Nakshatra diamonds, he has also lent his vocals to the throaty Chhoona Hai Aasmaan jingle for Hero Cycles. 8220;I didn8217;t know what product it was, but went over the lyrics in my head. I imagined touching the sky and seeking the power above,8221; he says.

The philosopher in Kher is pretty vocal, but that8217;s also because his calling was founded on bhajans. 8216;8216;I didn8217;t have a chance to listen to film music as a child and still don8217;t have a kink for Bollywood music,8217;8217; says the Meerut-born musician. 8216;8216;And singing is like worship, so I8217;m glad that my first song has to do with God.8217;8217;

Kher8217;s father, a Sufi singer and priest, was the first to fill his ears with music. 8216;8216;I was fascinated by his ektara nirgun bhajans,8217;8217; he reveals, breaking into a Meera bhajan.

You can hear the soul8212;whether it8217;s a bhajan, or a fabulous Nusrat number like Ishq Ka Rutba or one of his original compositions, while he plays his harmonium. 8216;8216;That8217;s how singing should be8212;the soul should leave the body.8217;8217; While you chew on this out-of-body experience, Kher is busy reaching for the sky.