Delhi University has started its new academic session and
award-winning singer Kailash Kher, who couldn't be a regular college
student of the university, doesn't regret the fact that he could only do
a correspondence course.
The "Teri deewani" hitmaker, now 42, says when he spent time in the
capital, he had too many things in his kitty and so couldn't focus on
just studies. It made him conscious at first, but now, he doesn't look
back at his teen days as something to regret about.
"I used to feel a bit awkward earlier because I didn't study properly.
Now, its ok. I have met so many people...degree holders, but they are
not necessarily great human beings," Kher, who received the Yash Bharti
Award from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav earlier this
year, told IANS.
The singer, who hails from Meerut, says that earlier he used to "have a complex".
But after getting invited by prestigious institutes like the Indian
Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology to give
motivational speeches, he realised that a 'literal degree' doesn't
matter.
"A real degree is about your character. I don't regret at all (not
studying in a college). God has given me something bigger to enlighten
the world now. So, instead of regretting, I am thankful," he said.
Would he like to go back to college?
"At that time, money wasn't the only concern. There was time constraint
too. I was looking after my parents, trying to earn money to survive...
you know how students try to do things for pocket money and I was also
trying to learn music. So, I couldn't concentrate on one thing. Now
also, I don't have time, unfortunately," he said.
As of now, he is enjoying the love showered by his fans for crooning
songs like "Jal rahin hain" and "Kaun hain voh" for S.S. Rajamouli's
magnum opus "Baahubali: The Beginning".
" 'Baahubali' is not like any other project for me. I was honoured,
amazed, and overwhelmed to be a part of it before the film got released
and became a superhit.
"We always believe that music heals people. In this particular film, I
have also sung 'Shiv tandav stotram'. There is a scientific connect to
it. If you listen to the tune and production of the sound, it has a wave
which connects with each one of us...in our breathing, hormone and
senses," said Kher.
So, is this the best work of the singer, who has given hit Bollywood songs like "Allah ke bande" and "Mangal Mangal"?
"I definitely loved it the most... after 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising',
the kind of music that gave me goosebumps while singing ..., he said.
He is also all praise for "Baahubali" as it doesn't show India in bad light, something that most films based on India do.
"Movies that have won Oscar so far with India as a subject haven't
glorified our tradition and culture. Most of them show our country's
poverty or helplessness. So this way, India's image has become that of a
third world country where only poor people stay," he said.
He believes that "Baahubali" deserves "all the awards in the world" as
it's not just the music but also the storytelling that is worth lauding
for.
"It's a piece of art," said the singer, who is working on an untitled album with his band Kailasa.
