'Sachin ko bologe ek chakka laga ke dikha?': Kailash Kher refuses to sing two lines at Delhi concert

Kailash Kher believes that casually asking singers to perform a few lines at public events “takes away from an artist’s dignity.” While it’s a common sight for hosts to make such requests to entertain the audience, the acclaimed singer refused one at a recent awards ceremony, stressing the need to respect musicians and their craft.The singer attended the seventh edition of the Six Sigma Leadership Summit in Healthcare at Taj Palace, Delhi, on April 25. During the event, the host invited him to sing a few lines, a request that left the singer visibly uncomfortable. Addressing the moment, Kailash said, “Yahi main badalna chahta hoon, yahi mere mann main lalak lagi hui, yahi badalna hai. Ki gayak ko, sangeet ko aise naa mana jaaye ki sir do line aa gaa dijiye, mood bana dijiye. Yeh bahut galat hai. Yeh request hi mat kijiye (This is exactly what I want to change—this is something I deeply feel about. A singer and music should not be treated in a way where you just ask them to sing two lines and set the mood. That is very wrong. Please don’t make such request).”Kher added, "Aap kya Sachin Tendulkar ko bolenge ki ek zara chakka lagake dikha dijiye? Is Prithvi pe koi nahi aisa karta. Yaa kisi army ke jawan ko nahi bolenge ki aapni position leke ek zara shot laga dijiye. Voh mat kariye please. clown mat banane dijiye kalakar ko. Sadhak ko ek manoranjak mat banaiye. Artists, Sadhak hote hain, voh aapne mann ke hote hain (Would you ever ask Sachin Tendulkar to just hit a six for you on the spot? No one does that. Or would you ask a soldier to take a position and fire a shot just like that? Please don’t do this. Don’t turn artists into clowns. Don’t reduce an artist to mere entertainment. A true artist is a seeker; they belong to their inner self).”The feted singer's comments sparked a divided response on social media. While a section of users backed his viewpoint, others disagreed and criticised him. One user wrote, “If singing two lines can bring a smile on someone’s face, I think it’s alright.” Another commented, “He wouldn't have replied the same if it were a director, producer, a rich businessman (in whose weddings they sing), a star or any influential person who would've asked him to sing. He would have started singing instantly.” At the same time, supporters of the singer praised his stance, with reactions like “Powerful reply” and “Finally, someone said it.”Kailash Kher's big break came in 2003 with ‘Allah Ke Bande’ from ‘Waise Bhi Hota Hai Part II’. A year later, he teamed up with brothers Paresh and Naresh Kamath to form the band Kailasa. Their 2006 debut album featured ‘Teri Deewani’, which became immensely popular across India. Over the years, he has delivered several memorable tracks, including ‘Ya Rabba’ from ‘Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love’, ‘Kaun Hain Voh’ from ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, and ‘Jay Jaykara’ and ‘Jal Rahi Hai Chita’ from ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, among others.