Pavithra Chari is a cross-genre vocalist, lyricist and composer. She is a One Beat 2018 fellow and a US Department of state alumna. Her current research works include a review of the possible undertones of patriarchy in Khayal compositions, and a socio-cultural study on lullabies.
SHADOW AND LIGHT
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As the founder and one half of the contemporary-classical duo Shadow and Light, she has written and released three studio albums of original music worldwide to critical acclaim and has toured extensively in India, Sri Lanka and the USA. Through Shadow and Light, her associations include Karsh Kale, Talvin Singh, Amaan-Ayaan Ali Bangash, The Berklee Indian Ensemble, Anoushka Shankar and Ranjit Barot. Shadow and Light's third album ‘Sabar’ has over 2.5 million streams since its release and they were on the cover of Rollingstone India as ‘The New faces of Fusion Music’ - April 2018.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS BASED THERAPY
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A UNESCO certified Expressive Arts based therapist, Pavithra has worked with at-risk children/adults, LGBTQIA+ community, and children with learning challenges to address sexual assault, trauma, self awareness through art, music, dance, movement. She currently leads the Music Basti program (life-skills training through music education for underprivileged children), at Enabling Leadership Foundation, a for-purpose organisation. She has been associated with CREA, The Queer Muslim Project, IDEA, The American Center, for projects on mental health and wellbeing among children, adolescents and young adults.
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC
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She began her training under Shri. Satya Narayan Maharana has been a disciple of Smt. Shubha Mudgal for khayal and thumri since 2013. A recipient of the Sahitya Kala Parishad scholarship for advanced training in Hindustani Classical music, she regularly performs in the Indian classical and independent music circuit. She also provides vocal support for dance performances and prodcutions.
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BHARATNATYAM DANCE
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She is a Bharatnatyam dancer, with over 15 years of training under Smt. Kanaka Srinivasan. She has performed as a solo artist as well as part of a troupe, across India since 2013. She did her arangetram at India International Center, New Delhi in 2010.
RECORDING ARTIST
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As a recording and playback artist, Pavithra has been part of voice overs, studio albums, advertisements and campaigns for different brands like DS group, HCL, Indigo Airlines, Sesame Street School, Hero Moto Corp, CREA, The Indian Navy, Horlicks, Canon and Mentos. ‘Aaradhyam’ an album of ten devotional songs composed by Pavithra in Tamil was released in 2015. She recently composed and sang a track in the new album Infinity, in collaboration with Amaan, Ayaan Ali Bangash and Karsh Kale. Most recently, Pavithra sang for the Himachali film Saanjh, with reputed vocalist Mohit Chauhan and the Malayalam film ‘Pretham Undu Shookshikka'. She has been vocal faculty at Global Music Institute, One World School of Music and regularly conducts workshops and masterclasses for students.