Back in Mumbai, she signed up for music lessons from noted singer Kaumudi Munshi, who hails from Varanasi. "A master of both, the thumri style of singing and folk music, she has a rich collection of Bhojpuri songs; a treasure I haven't come across elsewhere," says Pranita. Her upcoming independent debut album, Rang, features six songs in Bhojpuri, Malwi, Punjabi, Marwari, Marathi and Urdu. A single from the album will be released online on August 15. She plans to release more singles in Bhojpuri in the coming months.

(From left) Rahul Gajjal (melodica), Pranita Nair Pandurangi (vocals and guitar), Mrunmay Chavan (dholak) and Yashashree Uchil (mandolin)

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Speaking about Aail Phagunwa, a traditional phaag geet from Uttar Pradesh, which is a part of the album, the artiste says, "A joyous song sung during Holi, it is about two girlfriends exploring the colour-drenched streets of the village with abandon — a stark contrast from the Holi we see in India today. These songs are a world apart from their film counterparts. They give us a peek into the lives of rural women from the region, and their themes range from longing for the lover to female desire, the close companionship between nanand [husband's sister] and bhauji, and the trials and tribulations of being a woman."

Asked why she picked Bhojpuri for her upcoming singles, Pranita explains, "Because it hasn't been explored much. Even when Coke Studio had a session on folk music, they invited singers from several languages, except Bhojpuri." But like Aail Phagunwa, where the guitar and beats of cajon blend seamlessly with the dhol and dholak, she plans to add a more modern touch to her songs. "Think folk lyrics with a rap vibe and electronic layers. The idea is to contemporarise this rich tradition and make it more accessible."

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Gaalis with melody

In a patriarchal set-up, wedding ceremonies are replete with instances of high-handedness from the groom's side, even as the "ladkiwale" strive to keep them pleased. The tradition of gaali geet — "songs of abuse" literally — challenges this attitude, even though it's all in jest. The women in the bride's family poke fun at the groom’s relatives. No one minds it; it's their first and last chance to do this.

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