Kailash Kher (born July 7, 1973) is an Indian playback singer, composer, and live performer known for a powerful, distinctive voice shaped by folk, Sufi, devotional, and pop-rock traditions. His work has made him one of the most recognizable male voices in Hindi film music, while his recordings with the band Kailasa have established a parallel career in contemporary Indian fusion.
Kher developed an early interest in singing through the musical environment around him, particularly the folk traditions associated with his family. He later moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in music, initially supporting himself through advertising jingles. That experience helped him develop the vocal control and direct, memorable delivery that would become central to his professional identity.
His first film recording came with "Rabba Ishq Na Hove" from the 2003 Hindi film Andaaz. The same year, he gained much wider attention with "Allah Ke Bande" from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II. Written and composed by Vishal-Shekhar, the song stood apart from the more polished mainstream playback style of its period. Its spiritual overtones, stark arrangement, and Kher's emotionally forceful performance turned it into a career-defining success. The song also earned him a Star Screen Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
Kher soon became a sought-after playback vocalist. His credits have included songs for films such as Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Fanaa, Salaam-e-Ishq, Chandni Chowk to China, and Delhi-6. His performance of "Chand Sifarish" in Fanaa, composed by Jatin-Lalit, won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 2007. He has also recorded in several Indian languages, extending his work beyond the Hindi film industry into Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and other regional traditions.
In 2005, Kher formed Kailasa with musicians Naresh Kamath and Paresh Kamath. The group's first album, Kailasa, appeared in 2006 and presented his voice in a setting less restricted by film narrative or character playback. "Teri Deewani" became the album's signature song, combining the language of romantic devotion with Sufi imagery and a modern band arrangement. Other important Kailasa releases include Jhoomo Re (2007) and Yatra (Nomadic Souls) (2009). Songs such as "Saiyyan", "Tauba Tauba", and "Jhoomo Re" reinforced Kher's reputation as an artist who could move between spiritual expression, romance, and celebratory folk energy.
Alongside recording, Kher has remained an active concert performer and television personality. His live work emphasizes improvisation, audience participation, and the dramatic range of his voice. He has also contributed title songs and music to television and non-film projects, and has appeared as a mentor and judge on Indian singing programs.
Kher's career has been recognized with several industry honors, including awards for playback singing and popular music. In 2017, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in the field of Art. His importance lies not only in the number of songs he has recorded, but in the way he brought a raw, devotional vocal character into mainstream Indian popular music. Through both his film work and Kailasa, Kher has helped keep Sufi and folk-inflected singing commercially visible in the modern Indian music industry.