It’s raining film offers for singer-composer Kailash Kher. The Kailasa trio is gung-ho about scoring music for Bollywood after a fleet of albums. From hit song’Allah ke bande’ to triumphant albums Kailash Kher along with brothers Naresh-Paresh, has come a long way.
In conversation with Radioandmusic.com’s Anita Iyer, the Sufi singer opens up about his journey to fame, stepping in the international arena and the prevailing plagiarism in the music industry.
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Is Pranali your first film as a composer?
Pranali is our second venture by Kailasa band, the first being a movie titled’Sacred Evil’. The movie ran into controversies and the music obviously went unnoticed among the audiences. Also, we have composed for Nikhil Advani’s film Chandni Chowk to China but the music of Pranali got released before it.
Since Pranali is one of your first Bollywood ventures; how was the experience?
Producing music for films is a completely different experience. The vision for Bollywood music is way challenging. After our previous albums, Kailasa and Kailasa Jhoomo Re, which did well commercially as well as received critical acclaim, fetched us many Bollywood offers. However, Pranali was a great experience.
You have designed erstwhile songs for the film, must have been a drastic change…
If there is no challenge involved in composing a song, there is hardly any excitement. It was a subject oriented project, so the music had to compliment it. Also, the constant fear was to compose music for masses and at the same time stick to the theme of the movie.
One witnesses repetition in Pranali’s compilation, why is that so?
It is a short-length film and certainly demanded only three songs. The song Sach na Batana which was originally sung by me was crooned by Udit Narayan as well. The funniest addition to the album is the song Bikhar Gayee sung by me. The song is originally sung by Madhushri. My version was just a sample version and the director added that in the final album. So, the lyrics in the song’Mein Janani hu, mein hu devi’, speak about women, but seems weird when I sang it!
What are the other Bollywood projects lined up for 2008?
Apart from Pranali and Chandni Chowk to China, we are composing music for a film titled Allah ke Bande by debutant director Faruque Kabir. We have also started composing for Shashant Singh’s next comedy film. The songs are heart touching. When it comes to compositions by Kailasa band, the songs are originated from us. I usually write the lyrics and sing; while the Kamath brothers compose the music.
You have been in the indi-pop scenario for quite sometime. Aren’t you eyeing the international market?
Oh yes! I am working in collaboration with DJ Paul Oakenfold for an upcoming album. The Kailasa trio Kailash-Paresh-Naresh has composed music for the same. It should be out sometime in January next year.
The world of jingles seems to have captivated you…
I have sung, if not composed, over 500 jingles for the industry. While creating jingles for a brand – the words and music should revolve around the brand and it must give it an independent identity thereby enhancing the brand. People remember me for HDFC, Dermi Cool or even’Udna hai aasman.’
As you are known as a face, does it help your band?
Absolutely! Kailasa came to be recognized as a band just because Kailash Kher is the face of the band. Today there are ten boys in the band and they have slowly created a brand value for themselves. Much awareness about the band has been created and the other names in the band apart from Kailash-Naresh and Paresh are getting recognized.
You were the one to acquaint the Indian masses to Sufi music. Where do you see it heading today?
Sufi music has been popular among the masses because it entertains and touches the hearts of common people. Sufi music reaches out to God by and does not fail to entice even the 60 plus audience to listen to my songs. Some of my compositions like Allah ke Bande, Albela Sajan, Saiyan and others depict passion for true love which establishes a connection with the audience. Every music director tries to add atleast one Sufi music creation.
With some music composers turning into music producers, are you also planning to go the same way?
Today Kailasa is not into hardcore commercialisation but are still in the process to establish ourselves. We are still in the brand creating stage and do not lay our terms and condition to the movie director. Today, our compositions are liked by the music industry and people are approaching us to compose music. So, once we establish ourselves, we might expand our commercial venture.
According to you, why is it that many composers are lifting tunes from other’s compositions?
In the music industry so many activities are happening that the quality of work gets affected. There is no excitement in lifting up tunes and claiming them to be yours. I believe the composers should come up with original products. If they pick up tunes, it simply implies that they are not talented enough to compose originals and be called music directors.
How do you protect your music rights?
We register our music before its release. In the industry, where lifting of tunes is very rampant, so we prefer being careful.
