The musical communities of Pondicherry and Auroville with their diverse range of musicians from differing backgrounds have always lent themselves to great possibilities of linking musical styles and cultures. The word "fusion", which has long been used to describe music that unites in this way, has sometimes led to misrepresentation, since it is rare that music from different cultures can be convincingly fused together. Jalshaghar aims to move away from this notion, allowing the genres of both Indian classical and Jazz to run side by side and transport their music on parallel tracks rather than attempting to merge them together. In this project, accomplished musicians from both fields have come together, resulting in a blend of each player's individual style, combined with the inspiration and ideas of the other musicians.

The compositions have emerged from selected Indian ragas played on the sarod and sitar, interspersed with Jazz and western leads on saxophone and guitar. These compositions are complemented by traditional rhythms on drums, tabla and programmed patterns, while the bass has provided the underlying link. Raga is a multi-faceted concept. While some ragas are born out of the natural propensity of balanced scales and are thus highly musical, the melodic and aesthetic patterns of many ragas are abstracted from desi traditions and folk-songs.