Pavithra Chari: ‘I Feel Blessed to Be Able to Have Multiple Creative Outlets Where I Can Challenge Myself’

In a captivating intersection of talent and musical exploration, New Delhi artist Pavithra Chari emerges as a dynamic force, leaving an indelible mark on the contemporary music scene. From working with composer A. R. Rahman, Pavithra has seamlessly blended tradition and innovation, creating a unique sonic landscape. As a key member of the Anirudh Varma Collective, she has toured across the U.S., enchanting audiences with her ethereal vocals and electrifying stage presence. Beyond her collaborative endeavors, Pavithra is also set to unveil new material with her duo Shadow And Light alongside Anindo Bose, promising a fresh sonic experience that transcends boundaries. Read our interview with Chari below.

You’ve had a whirlwind of a year, if you had to sum it up, how would you describe 2023 for yourself?

2023 has been a year of great exploration for me. It has been a whirlwind of opportunities, challenges, collaboration and I have thoroughly enjoyed it, every step of the way. I have found the space and scope to express many new artistic identities of myself. I debuted as a composer, worked on a dance production as a performer, and toured with multiple performance outfits of varied genres. Exploring music in films has been an exhilarating journey and I have discovered so many layers to my vocal versatility and capacity. I have also worked with incredible composers like D.Imman, Santhosh Narayanan, Darbuka Siva, Ofro and Reva whose music I have greatly admired. For me, 2023 has set the momentum for a great 2024.

Tell me what it was like to work with A.R. Rahman — how’s he like to be around and how do you prepare for a session with him?

I am so proud to be a part of Rahman sir’s musical universe. He has been an artist I have looked up to since I can remember. When I got the call, I really didn’t know what or how to prepare, I just went in with an open and curious mind, ready to give it my best. And the entire process of working with him, understanding the composition, taking his feedback, and delivering the song – all of it will be etched in my mind forever. He was so wonderful and warm in the studio, and I remember just being in awe of his compositional process, how he built the song from scratch. From singing it at the session, to listening to the final version before release, and performing it at the audio launch – has been one of the biggest highlights of 2023 and ‘Utchanthala’ will forever be a song I will be proud of.

In terms of contributing to films and OTTs, are the approaches different going into either or do they sort of have a similar approach? 

In terms of the musical components, I would say the process is pretty similar. When singing for visual media, I have come to understand that the music is an important but still a smaller part of the much larger production which involves so many other elements. This has been a great change in my perspective from being a classical musician or an indie artist where the music has always been the most significant part of the creation and performance process. I’ve been a part of some truly wonderful OTT projects in 2023, and even got to debut a Carnatic rendition for Made in Heaven season 2. All of these experiences gave me the chance to sing for a variety of themes, narratives and situations, many of which I may not have ever thought of exploring as a songwriter.

What was the tour like with Anirudh Varma across the U.S., what are some memories from it that you can share?

I have been one of the vocalists in the Anirudh Varma Collective since its inception in 2018. The USA tour was exciting and taxing in equal measure, and as touring indie artists, we are always prepared for anything when we are on the road. I got the opportunity to perform in cities I hadn’t been to in my previous USA tour with Shadow and Light – including Portland, L.A., Houston and Dallas. We had many memorable performances this time, including UCLA, Alberta Abbey, JLF Colorado and I was excited to explore different compositions that I sang for the first time in the collective. I have seen so much growth in each musician in the band over the last five years. Beyond the performances, I got the opportunity to nurture genuine friendships with my bandmates and have countless memories to cherish from our travels.

‘Chitrahaar live’ is quite an interesting concept – talk to me about it evolved into what it is now. 

‘Chitrahaar live’ began as an Instagram series during the pandemic that has now evolved into a live performance outfit. I have tried to highlight a strong sense of nostalgia through the music and aesthetics of the project. The production involves recreating my living room on stage, and sharing personal memories I have associated with each song that I perform. The response I have received from the audience both in person and online has been heartwarming. It is so much fun to perform on stage, with everybody vibing to the songs, dancing and having a great time. I am looking forward to expanding it further in 2024, and bringing it to new listeners across the globe.

Shadow and Light has kept you on your toes too – a busy India tour that went by, what were those shows like and what can you tell me about the upcoming UK tour?

Though we didn’t release new music this year, Anindo and I got the opportunity to work on an incredible collaboration called Damaru. It was an Indo-UK dance production which we composed for and performed, commissioned by Serendipity Arts Foundation and Sampad Arts Foundation, UK. Conceptually it was something unique and open to multiple interpretations. We created the piece with wonderful dancers Shyam Dattani and Nilava Sen, and premiered the production through an India tour in December. It was a new experience for us to write for dance, and I was excited to not just perform as a singer, but also lend in a bit of my experience as a dancer on stage. I am looking forward to expanding this aspect in my future projects whenever possible. We are planning to take Damaru to more cities in India as well as the UK in 2024, and will release details about it very soon!

As an artist involved in multiple projects, how do you balance it all? 

It takes a lot of focus, attention to detail and multiple lists to keep things on track. I feel blessed to be able to have multiple creative outlets where I can challenge myself, push out of my comfort zone and discover new interests and areas of exploration. There is a different kind of growth for me in each of these identities, and they all help me develop an immense sense of self-awareness. I sometimes feel like I can switch from one project to the other when I need a change of pace, but such a process also brings with it the risk of burnout. So as of 2023, I have begun to focus on prioritising my mental health, valuing rest and finding the joy in everything I do. 2023 has been a very stressful but a blessed year and I am truly grateful to each and every person who made it memorable for me.

What’s next?

I have multiple releases scheduled for 2024, starting with some playback projects in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu and new releases as Shadow and Light with Anindo, as we celebrate 11 years of writing music together. I am also exploring my craft in a way that helps me level up, while constantly challenging myself and putting myself in new situations. I am looking forward to composing more for films and contributing to interdisciplinary collaborations. And I am excited to travel more in 2024, hopefully through my work and music. Though I take pride in being a meticulous planner I am also reminding myself to take things as they come in the new year, and I hope to always remain grounded and grateful for growth.