Delhi University has started its new academic session and award-winning singer Kailash Kher, who couldn’t be a regular student at the university, doesn’t regret the fact that he could only do a correspondence course.
The Teri deewani hit maker, now 42, says when he spent time in the Indian capital, he had too many things to do and so couldn’t focus on just studies. “I used to feel a bit awkward earlier because I didn’t study properly. Now, it’s ok. I have met so many people ... degree holders, but they are not necessarily great human beings,” Kher, who received the Yash Bharti Award from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav earlier this year, said.
The singer, who hails from Meerut, says that earlier he used to “have a[n] [inferiority] complex”. But after getting invited by prestigious institutes such as the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology to give motivational speeches, he realised that a ‘literal degree’ doesn’t matter.
“A real degree is about your character. I don’t regret at all [not studying in a college]. God has given me something bigger to enlighten the world now. So instead of regretting, I am thankful,” he said.
He recalls the hardship he faced in what would have been his college years. “At that time, money wasn’t the only concern. There was [a] time constraint too. I was looking after my parents, trying to earn money to survive ... you know how students try to do things for pocket money and I was also trying to learn music. So I couldn’t concentrate on one thing. Now also, I don’t have time, unfortunately,” he said.
As of now, he is enjoying the admiration of his fans for songs such as Jal rahin hain and Kaun hain voh, which he sung for SS Rajamouli’s Bahubali: The Beginning.
“Bahubali is not like any other project for me. I was honoured, amazed, and overwhelmed to be a part of it before the film got released and became a superhit.
“We always believe that music heals people. In this particular film, I have also sung Shiv tandav stotram. There is a scientific connect to it. If you listen to the tune and production of the sound, it has a wave which connects with each one of us ... in our breathing, hormone[s] and senses,” said Kher.
So is this the best work of the singer, who has sung Bollywood songs such as Allah ke bande and Mangal Mangal?
“I definitely loved it the most ... after Mangal Pandey: The Rising, the kind of music that gave me goose bumps while singing ..., he said.
He is also all praise for Bahubali as it doesn’t show India in a bad light, something that most films based on India do, he believes.
“Movies that have won Oscar[s] so far with India as a subject haven’t glorified our tradition and culture. Most of them show our country’s poverty or helplessness. So this way, India’s image has become that of a third world country where only poor people stay,” he said.
He believes that Bahubali deserves “all the awards in the world” as it’s not just the music but also the storytelling that is worth applauding.
“It’s a piece of art,” said the singer, who is working on an untitled album with his band Kailasa.
