Hindustani light classical music bridges the gap between pure classical and mainstream music, appealing to both the connoisseur and the layperson. To musically elaborate a word or phrase is the idiom that defines Hindustani light classical music. Weaving variations of a word or phrase displays the singer's range of imagination and distinguishes this genre.

This style of singing is associated with Benares and Lucknow, and from Lucknow is Begum Akhtar's youngest disciple, Rekha Surya, who has also trained under Girija Devi. She has, however, taken a different turn by mainly singing mystical poetry in the romantic style of Thumri, Dadra and Ghazal. Like two sides of a coin, most mystical poetry is both sensual and spiritual.