Father and Daughter duo,work on Basava Vachana's in folk rock style.

The Vachanas of Basava, the 12th-century philosopher, have been set to rock music.

The album 'Basava in You', the Vachanas of the revolutionary thinker who shunned the caste system, has a strong rock flavour. Kannada words flow to the accompaniment of the guitar and drums.

The project began when Vinay Shindhe and his daughter Amrapali, 16, thought of celebrating Basava Jayanthi, which falls on May 13, in a unique way. "Vachanas are usually sung in classical, Hindustani style," says Amrapali, who started a rock music band Alaap six months ago.

She's a family of musicians with mother Monalisa a sitar player. "My grandfather Ram Kumar Shindhe translated the Vachanas into Hindi and came up with a CD. I'm interested in music and my family has been very supportive," says Amrapali, a I PU student at Jyothi Nivas College.

Six Vachanas have been chosen for the collection. "Similar efforts were made by musician Raghu Dixit for his composition 'Santa Shishunala Sharif Sorutihudu Maneya Maalige'. But the Vachanas have never heard in rock form," says Vinay, an IT professional.

"Taking the Vachanas to a larger audience through rock was needed as Basavanna's poems have a universal appeal," says Amrapali.

To cater to the non-Kannadiga audience, some Vachanas are rendered with a brief note in English on what they convey. In her rendition of the Dayavillada Dharmavaya Vachana, Amarapali says: "The root of religion is compassion. Indeed, God has given us body, instruments, world and enjoyment. Primarily due to the compassion on us are we incapable of returning the favour. Thanks to God Koodala Sangama Deva."