Kailash Kher celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday, July 7, with a unique touch. He organized a bhandara, distributing 200 kg laddoos, and released his new song, ‘Ishq Hai’. In a recent interview, he discussed Indian cinema's presence at the Oscars.
Kailash Kher's Views on Indian Cinema at the Oscars
In an interview with Mid-Day, Kailash Kher criticized the portrayal of India in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2009). Although he didn't directly name the film, his reference was clear. Kher praised S S Rajamouli’s RRR and Baahubali for positively showcasing Indian culture.
Kailash Kher stated, “The energy of the places where the bigger Indian temples are situated is the most prominent. The power of the south Indian temples has enabled movies from this part of the country to reach the Oscars. In the past, there was another film that reached the Oscars; one that showed Indians jumping into a pile of shit. Think about how much that damaged our reputation. But, films like RRR, which also make a reference to Lord Ram, are the ones that shone on [international turf]. I have never seen God’s music being played in movies. But, in films like Baahubali, such music was celebrated. These films also promote a good message. It isn’t like those that run for 20 years but have a shallow [message to propagate].”
Kher's Musical Journey and Achievements
Kailash Kher attributes his unique musical style to his upbringing in an ashram in Rishikesh, surrounded by saints. He shared, “I was never exposed to film music. So, when I entered the industry with the idea of showcasing my music, I introduced a fresh take [to Bollywood music]. Our successive five albums were hits.”
Kher continued, “Even though I have created both film and non-film music, I am known in my concerts for the latter. The reason I received the Padma Shri title in the short tenure of 12 years is because I could bring spiritual music to the mainstream, and change the course of the creation of romantic music.”
