Singer-composer Kailash Kher got a chance to perform in Pakistan for the very first time and he was overwhelmed by the kind of response he got for his act. Kher says Pakistan is much like India, where people are very warm and friendly.
“Performing in the neighbouring country was an overwhelming and interesting experience. My band and I crossed the Wagah border on foot. The custom officers and everyone else there greeted us with open arms and were very warm,” Kher told IANS.
Kher performed with his band Kailasa in Karachi on Saturday. The enthusiasm level of the audience reached a new high every time the troupe performed on songs like “Teri Deewani”, “Tauba Tauba”, “Saaiyan”, “Dhol Vajda”, “Babam Bam”.
“The audience was very enthusiastic and cheered for my performance after every song,” said Kher.
“When we reached the venue, we were told that the concert tickets are being sold in black and police had to intervene to stop that. The tickets were sold out, so many waited outside the gates in the hope of getting tickets,” said Kher, who has sung in 14 languages for regional films and over 200 songs for the Bollywood.
Kher said they were planning to visit Pakistan for a long time but couldn’t due to lack of permissions. “I was told not to go to Karachi but it is my fans’ love that took me there. I had been planning to visit the country for sometime but there were problems getting permissions. But as soon as we got them, we booked a date,” he said.
The singer said he would love to visit the country again. “I did not have enough time to shop and go sightseeing, yet I found Pakistan much like India. People are lovely and very friendly. I would love to visit the place again,” he said.
After performing in Karachi, the singer and his band will head to the US for a 35-day tour and perform in 15 states in North and South America. They would be performing a total of 16 shows between April 25 and May 3.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Bilal: It's easy to show that you don't like Indans, just stop watching their films and going to these kind of concerts - they are smart enough to get the message, and then you can entertain yourselves with your version of fireworks. Or possibly muslim countries like Bangladesh will be more obliging? To all Pakistanis who have not made asinine comments - apologies, these taunts are not for you.
@Bilal
Maybe you want musicians to stop coming to Pakistan as well
Shallow people got always got negative thoughts about everything...
To all negative commenting Pakistanis , you are the reason why you are begging Bangladesh to come and play in Pakistan. And yet they rejected.
We'll wait for you again Kailash. . It shows that real people have totally different experience from those who are just go online and put negative comments! One real visit wipes of millions of negative comments from haters!
no pakistan is much better than india..but appreciate if it was a compliment
Great you finally came but he should make know that Indians make it very hard for Pakistanis to visit India and if they do treat them like criminals.
kailash kher is a true musician. just wonderful!
Thanks kailash for visiting karachi and entertaining people. You are a great singer and we love you.