Gayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma

I have attempted a traditional North Indian wedding song in colloquial Hindi. This charming, lively song is addressed to the bride-to-be by her maid -companion. She teasingly urges the beloved, pampered daughter of the house ('laado') to go and comb her hair, as her groom has already entered the gardens of their residence. She also laughingly warns the bride that she will charge her in gold coins for plaiting her braid and tailoring her wedding blouse as this is a special day.

On the occasion of India's Republic Day 2022, I have attempted one of the favourite Bhajans of Mahatma Gandhi, Bapuji, Father of the Nation. Written in the 15th century in mediaeval Gujarati vernacular by the Vaishnav saint Narsinh Mehta of Junagadh, this bhajan has endured because of its wonderful simple expression of what lies at the core of Hindu spiritual philosophy: the saint explains who is a true devotee of Vishnu? S/he is one who understands the suffering of those unknown to oneself, who works to alleviate their hardships without becoming arrogant, who tries to be pure of thought, action and heart, tolerate various ways of being and work for the good of others as a way of worshipping the Supreme.

My amateur attempt at this delicately romantic song from the classic Hindi film 'Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam' (1962). It's music composed by Hemant Kumar, is inspired by Raag Brindavani Sarang, which suits the mood of lively, innocently playful, feminine anticipation for the beloved, that the charming colloquial Hindi lyrics of this song, steeped in Shringaar Ras, express.

Have attempted this beautiful, seene Christmas carol, originally written in German in the early 19th century by a humble Catholic priest, Joseph Mohr in a small Austrian town, and set famously to music by Franz Xaver Gruber. This carol evokes the still calmness and simple purity of the momentous night of Jesus' Nativity. First performed in a tiny village in Austria in front of a handful of people and picked up from there by some folk singers, it spread across the globe and has moved the hearts and spirits of millions of people. Yet another proof, if any is needed, that miracles happen all the time and everywhere, in mysterious ways.

I have attempted a favourite Geet-numa-Ghazal (Ghazal rendered in song format) from the classic Indian film 'Umrao Jaan' (1981). The ghazal is preceded by some introductory comments by me to set the context of the lyrics. The ghazal, in simple Hindi-Urdu, expresses the intense mixed feelings of both joy and sorrow as 19th century courtesan Umrao Jaan, uprooted from her base in Lucknow, glimpses her long-separated mother in a chance encounter while giving musical performances on the move. It's a moment when, as a woman slowly approaching middle age, she turns and looks back at her strange life and circumstances, which denied her of love, be it from a lover or a family.

I have attempted a medley of some favourite Vaishnav bhajans or devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna, also invoking hin at points as another prominent Vishnu Avatar, Lord Ram. Sung to a brisk traditional Indian devotional beat, these age old bhajans/chants in Sanskritic and colloquial Hindi invoke the Divine Spirit in joyous mood. To be 'in God' in His Krishna form, is to suspend ego and reason, and surrender to the living, loving Divine Spirit that glows within each of us, letting it take us up and carry us along where it will.

I have attempted the beautiful love ballad from the famous English film 'Titanic'. Sung unforgettably by Celine Dion with haunting music by James Horner amd lyrics by Will Jennings, the song's inspiration clearly goes back to medieval traditional European folk and operatic ballads as reinterpreted in 1970s rock music. The vocals mix and merge with the enveloping music that uses the tin whistle along with the guitar and electronic instruments, amd starting softly amd wistfully, rises to a dramatic, powerful crescendo. The tin whistle ( or similar simple woodwind instruments) have an old history in Celtic, English and Native American folk music traditions apart from others.

On India's 75th Independence Day, this is my attempt at the poignantly beautiful, patriotic song from classic Hindi film 'Kabuliwala' (1961) originally sung in the magical voice of Manna Dey, with folksy Pathan music by iconic music director Salil Chowdhury and touching lyrics by Prem Dhawan. The Kabuliwala in the film sings of his Afghan homeland, but ofcourse it resonates with our love for our own homeland, India, Bharat, Hindustan.

This feisty, passionate, folk-inspired love song in Punjabi-Urdu from film 'Dhoom 3', successfully merges traditional Indian melody and lyrics with a Western fusion rendition. Originally sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, the lyrics are inspired by traditional Heer-Ranjha poetry of Punjab, and have a deeper mystic meaning: they evoke a love that is both physically and spiritually deep, that causes the singer to completely surrender her self in an unworldly manner like a 'jogin'. She knows that her emotional state and behaviour is such that she would be called 'Kamli' (Crazy), a name she proudly addresses herself by in the song.

This is my devotional attempt at the centuries-old hymn 'Rudrashtakam Stotram' composed by 16th century Bhakti saint, poet and scholar Shri Tulsidas, as part of his sacred epic Ramcharitmanas. In eight stanzas (ashtakam) the prayer invokes Lord Shiv, praising His beautiful form, qualities and deeds in lyrical Sanskrit.