Kher says that music rooted to the earth is witnessing a surge in Bollywood films, and that is the reason why Punjabi and Rajasthani folk tunes and lyrics are getting popular in the past 10 years.
Talking to PTI, Kher, who has sung more than 50 songs for Hindi films, named Vishawl Bharadwaj, Asutosh Gowariker, Shimit Amin and Dibakar Banerjee among some filmmakers in whose films music gets a fresh treatment.
He said, "In recent times I sang in the national award winner 'Bahubali' and the title song of "Dum Laga Ke Haisha". I am happy at the way my brand of music is being blended with the present-day films."
Asked about the reason behind the non-film folk albums not getting as much popularity as film songs, Kher said, non-film songs did not enjoy the publicity of film music supported by big budgets.
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"There comes the role of the film market to popularise such a song," Kher, who gave such hits like 'Teri Deewani', 'Tauba Tauba' and 'Ya Rabba', said.
"I don't say you have to be a performer for being a singer. God makes one bonsai and one big tree at the same time and both co-exist. More than being a performer, the pre-requisite of a singer is to be a good soul which will reflect in his personality," Kher said.
Kher, who counts Parbati Das Baul among his friends among singers in Bengal, said being oblivious about one's physical existence (bholapan) made the baul music, Lalon Fakir's genre of music, soulful.
"The young people are more dedicated as they will go all the way to purchase my albums while the older generation will just appreciate or criticise, seldom spending money to buy music," Kher observed.