कैलाश खेर

Kailash Kher brought the raw, earthy timbre of Sufi and folk singing into the centre of 2000s Hindi film music. Born in Delhi in 1973, he arrived in Mumbai in 2001 after a failed export business, surviving on advertising jingles for brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi before his voice exploded into public consciousness with 'Allah Ke Bande' from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003). In 2004 he formed the band Kailasa with brothers Paresh and Naresh Kamath; their self-titled 2006 debut produced 'Teri Deewani', which remains his signature song, followed by albums including Jhoomo Re, Chaandan Mein, Rangeele and Ishq Anokha. In playback he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Chand Sifarish' from Fanaa, and delivered memorable songs such as 'Ya Rabba' from Salaam-e-Ishq and devotional numbers for the Baahubali films. A rare singer who also composes and writes — as on 'Jai Ho Kashi' (2025) — he received the Padma Shri in 2017. His full-throated, ecstatic style has made him the defining devotional-Sufi voice of his generation, from film soundtracks to independent bhakti releases like 'Shambhu Har Har' and 'Dham Dhadak' (2025).