TO coincide with Janmashtami, Music Today has come out with this two-part Krishna album in its devotional segment. It features traditional Haveli Sangeet comprising original devotional songs called Shri Nathji ke ashtchhap kirtan. These are performed in the authentic style of the rituals of nitya seva in Vaishnava temples.

Nitya seva describes the days of little Krishna with Yashoda while she brought him up as the most beloved and pampered one in the haveli. Hence the name Haveli Sangeet.

The songs illustrate the various rituals that are performed during different services and offerings that are made to little Krishna starting from the ritual of waking up the God in the morning and bathing him, till bedtime at night. While these customs represent only an activity, the maternal love comes to the fore when the devotees, filled with affection and piety, sing the kirtans.

Parental love and affection come alive in the sentimental couplets written by eight poets, popularly known as Ashtachhap or ‘eight seals’. These have been rendered by great maestros of Hindustani music like Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Ashwini Bhide, Padma Talwalkar, Shruti Sadolikar, Ravindra Sathe, Nirmalya Dey and Rinku Baneerjee.

Private albums are supposed to be poor cousins of film music, unless they happen to belong to a particular genre like ghazal or pop or qawwali. But this cassette of Anuradha Paudwal begs to differ. She has sung songs which could have made it into any film with ease. Music and lyrics are also of good caliber.

She has two duets with Babul Supriyo ("Pyar tumse karte hain …" and "Tumhein dil mein …") while all other six songs are solo numbers. Yet, monotony does not set in. Credit for this should also go to composer Lalit, who has set to tune five songs and Dalip Verman who has composed the other three.

The album uses the pens of Hasrat Jaipuri, Nawab Arzoo (five songs), Naqsh Lyallpuri and Abhilash. Variety ensures that there is considerable variation in the poetry.

The thread running through the songs is underplayed romance. The best creations are those in which there is longing and pain of separation, such as "Yadein teri yadein …"