Ashwini Bhide of the Gwalior Gharana, who has sung six kirtans in Music Today's just-released twin album, Krishna Seva, Shrinathji Ke Ashtachhap Kirtan, speaks about her relationship with God, the influences on her music and the future of the guru-shishya parampara.

Q. What is the relationship between God and music?
A. It is simple: music is a form of dialogue between God and man. I believe in God but not in the rituals. I bow down before the creator but my god could be my tanpura, shadaj or the taal.

Q. Your gayaki has lots of influences. Comment.
A. Yes, it has the influence of my mother Manik Bhide, my aunt Sarla Bhide, Kishori Amonkar and my scientist father, who played sitar, tabla and harmonium. Later I was attracted to Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar and Mallikarjun Mansur. The other person who deeply influenced me is Pandit Ravi Shankar-his hold on laya is terrific.

Q. Do you think gurus will exist in future?
A. As long as there are people willing to go in search of vidya to quench their thirst for knowledge, there will be gurus.

Q. How has personal loss affected your music?
A. My approach to music changed after I lost my six-year-old son three years back. Earlier, my priority was my family. I started composing only after that ... my feelings and emotions found an expression. I feel the need to concentrate on music.

What is a sign of success? Expansion and diversification. In the case of Music Today, it is the launch of a sublabel, Rhim Jhim. "It is an economy brand with music for the masses to suit a broader section of music lovers," says Dilip Venkat Rolla, coo of Music Today. The first four products launched under Rhim Jhim feature Gayatri Mantra, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Vidya Praapti Mantra and Shanti Mantra. Each album is priced at Rs 35 and cd Rs 99. Watch out for the soundtrack of the Bengali film Nil Nirjane by the Kolkata-based rock band Cactus, a first-time venture of Music Today.

NEW TUNES: BMG Crescendo Music, hitherto identified with the genres of Indi-pop and western music, is also moving on ahead. It is acquiring the OST of Hindi films Paanch, Valentine's Day, Sandhya, Boom and Pardesi Re. Also await the launch of Indi-poppers Neha Nagpal and Pankaj Awasthi.

Every music company worth its faith seems to have realised that nothing sells like devotional music. So much so that most of them are devoting a major chunk of their budget to godly music. Expectedly, there is a surfeit of albums featuring bhajans either by well-known artists or upcoming ones, or mantras which are beyond the purview of copyright acts. A cursory look at the divine fare on offer:

SHRI NARAYAN KAVACH
Protect yourself with Narayan Kavach-an armour that was gifted by Visvaroopa to Lord Indra. All songs have been composed and sung by Bhagwat Acharya Shri Venugopal Goswamiji. Tuneful chanting and able accompaniment by Rakesh Chaurasia (flute), Niladri Kumar (sitar) and tabla by Kedar Pandit.

AVAN KI HARI
A new company and new singers rendering bhajans of Mirabai, Surdas, Chandrasakhi and Lakshman Kulkarni. Sita Nath Biswas has an unusual voice which is nostalgic of the style of Kumar Gandharva. Traditional music arrangement.

MOOL MANTRA
This Mool Mantra of Sri Kalki and Padmavathy Amma has been put to music by the Indi-pop group Seven. Experimental music with lots of electronic instruments. Funky, yet traditional.

KRISHNA
A recompilation album with bhajans describing the traits of Krishna, it features top classical singers-Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Jasraj and Shubha Mudgal. Memorable.
Clearly, the gods seem to be ruling the world of music as well.