Striking a harmonious chord between entrepreneurship and inner devotion, Nirvaan Birla has stepped into the music world with Shankaraa, a contemporary devotional track dedicated to Lord Shiva. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, Nirvaan opens up about channeling his Shiva bhakti into music, how spirituality shapes his leadership style, and why he believes bhajans blended with modern sounds can anchor today’s restless generation
Needhi Gattani
Between boardroom meetings and brainstorming sessions, Nirvaan Birla found himself drawn to a different kind of rhythm—one that resonated with faith, inner calm, and purpose. As the sacred month of Shravana unfolds, the young entrepreneur, educator, and now musician marks a deeply personal milestone with the release of his first solo track, Shankaraa. It’s not just a devotional tribute to Lord Shiva, but a call to look inward, pause, and reconnect—with the divine and with oneself.
“The inspiration was Mahadev himself because, from a young age, I have been a Shiv devotee. Many significant moments in my life have been connected to Shiva. Quite a few times, Shivji has saved me, and of course, since I’ve been performing a lot of live shows, concerts, and keertans, I thought I should start writing my own music. And there’s no better way to start than with Shiva.”
At its heart, he believes Shankaraa is about finding the Shiva within you, not outside. He aims that the songs help one to discover Shiva and the Shiva essence within oneself. The choice of Shiva is driven by the belief that Shiva represents an amalgamation of masculine and feminine energy. “I feel that Shiva represents the ideal harmony of male and female energy, which I believe remains essential even now. Many people see being a man as all about bravery, protection, boldness, and strength, while being a woman is often viewed as delicate, shy, or feminine. But I believe every man and woman should be a good mix of masculine and feminine energies. Shiva best personifies this; he has feminine traits, like being the greatest dancer the world has known, and masculine traits, like being bold and a protector. That’s why I chose Shiva as my inspiration,” he shares.
The first notes of Shankaraa came to his life late one evening after a concert, “When I attended a musical concert by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, I felt very inspired. After the concert, I saw how much of an impact he had on others, and that made me realise I needed to share my music. I saw how much happiness it brought people,” he recalls. That’s when he decided he wanted to compose his own songs. “That very night, after the concert, I sat with a tanpura in my room in C Minor, and within ten minutes, I composed Shankaraa. As soon as I finished, I sent it to my master engineer, Kalyan Bharua. We then met at his place, and together we created the track,” he shares with excitement.
Though the world might think music was a new chapter in Nirvaan’s world, it has always been playing in the background. He was doing music behind the scenes all along, but now he is bringing it into the spotlight. He explains, “Music wasn’t a shift, it was part of this journey from the start. It’s been a supplement to my professional career because, outside of work, you need something to balance you out.”
Carrying down a legacy, it might get tough to embrace and share the musical and spiritual side, but for Nirvaan, it never felt that way; for him, when he sings, the world disappears. He never felt the weight or pressure of his family legacy or background, compelling him to tie that into his music. He balances music and entrepreneurship; he sees it as an exercise of both sides of the brain. “I believe they complement each other. For example, if I hadn’t had a business mind or an understanding of how to run and grow a company, I might be singing just for fun, for a few mates or myself. I wouldn’t know how to broaden my reach or manage my releases. You need a business mindset for that. Similarly, in business, if you only think logically and from your own perspective without understanding your team, competitors, or market, success will be difficult. Music helps me find that peace of mind for making good decisions and boosts my creativity,” he shares.
Shankaraa blends devotion with a contemporary musical vibe. Nirvaan wrote this song and composed the tune himself, and the person who brought it all together was his master sound engineer, Kalyan Bharua. He shares how he grew up listening to rock and combining the genres, “I grew up listening to rock music, and I started singing bhajans with a rock influence in high school, so my voice has a bit of a rock energy combined with traditional elements. This helps create a style where I can sing traditional songs in a modern way and make sure it appeals to today’s youth.”
At times when people are turning to meditation apps and wellness needs, Nirvaan believes, “Spiritual music is one of the strongest elements contributing to good mental health, stress relief, and anxiety reduction.” Many people connect with devotional music because it offers a feeling of thoughtlessness and brings joy. For him, the spiritual practice has affected his perspective and leadership, “I think it has increased my empathy. It has also intensified my concentration. I am entirely engaged with work, both mentally and physically. It has provided me with the clarity and concentration to make improved choices.”
Shankaraa is just the beginning. Nirvaan is working on a full album, titled Sounds of the Soul. It consists of 7 tracks, three spiritual songs and four Hindi songs, and he plans to release it gradually over the next two months. He is also preparing for live performances. Shows are lined up in Mumbai and Jaipur, between August 24th to 30th, where he will be posting the details on his social media soon.
In the fast-paced world, Nirvaan’s main goal through Shankaraa is to help people find Shiva within themselves, not outside. He affirms it’s about discovering that quiet, still space inside yourself. “When you connect with that space, that’s where you meet Shiva. When you have anchored yourself in that space, anxiety, stress, and negativity won’t impact you. It provides you with the power and assurance to face all challenges, pressures, and concerns in life. That’s what Shankaraa is trying to help people do, reach that inner space,” he shares.
