Kailash Kher turns solo Bollywood composer

Over a decade-long career, Kailash Kher has become the go-to musician in popular Sufi music. While he has composed for Bollywood before (Dasavidanya and Chandni Chowk To China) before with his Kailasa bandmates Naresh and Paresh Kamath, this year, he goes solo.
“My image of a Sufi singer will change. Sufi ab goofy ban jayega,” says Kailash with a chuckle. The current set-up will see the Kamaths doing the background score for the films Kailash composes for.He says Naresh and Paresh asked him to go solo even as they continue to be a trio for Kailasa. He adds, “We are a family and we work closely as a team always and will continue to do so.”
Kailash feels, “Film music has to take care of the tastes of the masses.” And given how people love to hear his voice, does he intend to sing any of the songs he composes? He quips, “Uss taqleef se main nahi guzarna chahta. Ya khuda, mujhe aisi khudai na de, ke apne siva kuch dikhai na de. I’d rather gauge the situation and the demands of the song and then decide.”
Rekha Bhardwaj, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shankar Mahadevan feature on director Anand Kumar’s Desi Katte soundtrack (it has seven songs), which also sees Prasoon Joshi on board as lyricist. “I am also composing for another untitled film by Anand as well as Dr Chandra Prakash Dwivedi’s Z Plus and Hansal Mehta’s forthcoming film. All films are expected to release this year,” he says. “I am looking forward to my new definition of filmi music,” he concludes.
Films he is working on...
Desi Katte and another project by Anand Kumar
Z Plus by Dr Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
Hansal Mehta’s forthcoming film