Though, personally when it comes to film songs, I prefer to listen to the original singers, I must applaud fact that in these days when playback singing has come down mostly to recording instruments and singers on different tracks; shows like Bhelande’s bring in focus the mastery over the craft of each of the artistes, especially the instrumentalists, performing as they do in perfect harmony and sync. The songs ranged from old favourites like Ayaega Ane Wala to newer numbers. Bhelande who used to sing Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum numbers has ‘ kept with the changing age group of her audience, and switched to include newer compositions. ‘I like to sing songs with some gayaki in them,’ she says,’ and sing even Arijit’s songs, though they are for a male voice, as the melody in them gives me satisfaction.’
Like many singers and musicians who feel the need to return to their classical base; Bhelande finds a need to ‘sing my own songs’. Raga in a Song is her foray into creativity. The five songs in her first album are based on Bhatiyar, Darbari Kanada, Sur Malhar, Bhairavi,and Tilak Kamod. Each weaves a song around old bandishes. ‘In some cases, I have added a stanza, as a bandish only spans four lines,’ she says.