She may be a Gurung, but the way she sings in the Maithili, Bhojpuri, Dhimal, Tharu and Awadhi languages, one feels she's a native speaker of all those languages. Madhu Gurung, 38, has sung more than a dozen songs in Bhojpuri and recently released the Bhojpuri album, Naya Sanes. She also sings with Gopal Thakur in Bhojpuri in an album called Nirmohiya.

Madhu's love for madhesi music led her to participate in Madhes Night, held in Kathmandu. She often travels to the madhes to sing in concerts, and doesn't believe people are being forced out of the plains. "Small factions, bent on disturbing the kinship between madhesis and pahadis, are creating these problems." She says that madhesi communities with whom she works have always welcomed her and treated her as one of their own. "I am proud that my music has become the bridge between the tarai and pahad," says Madhu.

Bato Roje, an anthology of Madhu's songs has recently been published, and she teaches music in Kathmandu.