Saturday, 03 July 2021 | Ayushi Sharma
Singer Kailash Kher tells Ayushi Sharma that the Gratitude Song keeps in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make yoga a way of life
What was the inspiration behind the Gratitude Song?
It has been a great coincidence that International Yoga Day and World Music Day occurred on the same day this year. And it’s an amazing fact that both yoga and music act as stress busters to keep our body and mind calm. The inspiration to create the Gratitude Song emerged with the urge to commemorate both these special days. I am proud to be a part of this wonderful initiative.
How does the song aim to raise awareness about yoga?
Yoga, a tradition that was once restricted to our country only, is now a worldwide phenomenon. It’s an important part of India’s history and culture. I can recall what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once said, “Many countries which do not know our language, tradition, or culture, are now connecting to India through yoga.” This song not only aims to touch over a million souls but also manages to reinforce the spirit of unity during these difficult times.
Was it difficult to shoot amid the pandemic?
Shooting and creating this song within three to four days was the biggest challenge and a miracle in itself. We had to connect all the dots, gather every artiste from India as well as from the international music fraternity. We were overworked but it turned out well because we had passionate people working towards the same objective. We called a few of our international musician friends, some of whom happen to be Grammy Award winners, and told them about the idea of making a song on the theme of yoga in four days. First of all, they laughed and thought it was impossible, but we worked hard, day and night to make this possible. We also figured out the countries that we wanted to shoot in. I must applaud the team effort that went into the making of this song.
Were there any on-ground challenges?
I feel there were many challenges, majorly because of the current global health crisis. Many countries, like India, were under lockdown and had so many different guidelines. We had to make sure that we did not disregard any of the set regulations. We had to simultaneously complete this project and meet all of the strict instructions that were in place of various cities and countries. There were many places where we were refused entry. Also, many of us had our homes and studios at different locations, and some things could be done only in a studio, so it was quite a challenge. But eventually, we realised our goal and decided to go with ‘plan B’, which was to render the imagery on a green screen because no matter what, we all wanted to release this song. It was a moment glory and pride for us. Luckily, everything just fell in place.
How was your experience singing alongside internationally renowned singers?
By the grace of God, my journey in the music industry has been astounding so far. I am proud of the work that I have been doing all this while. I always try to produce unique, out-of-the-box, quality content. I never wanted to be one of those run-of-the-mill kinds of musicians because music, for me, is a blessing from God. I find myself fortunate enough that God has chosen me to excel in singing. I have always wished to stand out from the crowd and that’s why I have my own style of working. God has given us one life, one chance, so let’s make the most of it and do something hatke. I count music and life as the same thing. For me, if there is no music, there is no life.
I feel music is like food for every soul, especially in such dystopian times. That’s why I wanted to bring together and make some renowned musicians from across the globe a part of this beautiful song. It has been great working with artistes like Wouter Kellerman (South Africa, Grammy Award winner), Lira (South Africa), Aeone (UK), Tito Da. Fire (Nigeria), Gazza (Namibia), Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan, KS Chithra, Shaan, Daler Mehndi, Raageshwari and Naresh Kamath.
We are getting amazing, warm responses from all over the world. I am proud to be the creator of this project and I congratulate my whole Kailasa team and Moving Pixels for having done some exceptional work.
(The song is available exclusively on Damroo.)
