The daughter of the legendary singer Anuradha PaudwalSinger-performer Kavita Paudwal is carving out her own space while staying rooted in devotional music. After launching Kirtan Klub, it is taking the format across India with an ambitious plan of 52 shows a year, blending devotion with a high-energy, community-driven experience. The tour starts in Mumbai on May 3rd at 6:30 PM at Ajiwasan Hall, Juhu.With over two decades of stage experience and training with Pandit Jialal Vasant and Suresh WadkarKavita brings with it a heritage and a vibrant and deep connection with bhajan. In an exclusive chat with ETimes, he talks about Kirtan Klub, his journey, growing up Anuradha Paudwal, and lasting inspiration Asha Bhosle.
Your ‘Kirtan Club’ session sounds like a very special experience. Tell us about it. Is it a fusion between classical and western?
No, it’s classical music with some elements of western music. It is different, as the name suggests, in the sense that it is more traditional. These are songs that people sing a lot at festivals, that’s the key.When we say “club,” we mean that happy, free state of mind. The idea is to sing the same traditional songs, but without boundaries—very open, very inclusive. They are songs that have been sung by generations. Everyone sings, everyone listens. We are trying to create a platform where everyone can sing and dance together.At the same time, we are very conscious of maintaining sanctity. It’s like a family reunion—people of all ages, someone playing guitar, someone playing drums, adding a twist—but it maintains a certain purity. No alcohol or anything like that. It is a place of joy, familiarity and solidarity.
Can the audience participate too?
Of course This is not a performance in the ordinary sense. It is like a satsang. No one sits back and watches, everyone participates.If one person sings “Ganpati Bappa Morya”, it is not the same when everyone sings together. It is this collective energy that we want. It’s interactive, immersive and very community driven.We also plan to share stories about Indian pilgrimages, festivals and traditions. On the same day, different festivals are celebrated in different parts of the country, each with its own song and language.For example, Diwali has its own language and context, Makar Sankranti another, but the essence is celebration. So we will have Krishna bhajans, Radha bhajans, Shiva chants, mantras, Ganpati songs. We will also bring several languages: Gujarati garba, Punjabi bhajans and more. Everything is very lively and festive.
What kind of experience do you want people to come back with?
I want people to feel warm and happy. During those 90 minutes or two hours, they don’t have to think about anything else. They should sing, dance and be present.Today, people feel alone. When you enter such an environment, you feel a sense of belonging. And when you’re happy, you don’t judge anyone. That’s the feeling I want people to get back.It is by invitation, but also open. The capacity of the hall is about 150 people, so we have to limit it. It is the first. If people come from 16:30 to 17:00, they are welcome.
How did your music career begin?
It started in my childhood. Every day, we joined in the aarti. During the festivals, especially during those 10 days, we eagerly waited; it would last until 2-3 in the morning.That was my upbringing. A family that eats together, stays together, prays together, sings together, that’s how we grew up. Those are my earliest memories of kirtans.I started as a child artist. I sang for composers like Bappi Lahiri and Nadeem-Shravan. My father, Arun Paudwal, was an arranger with Bappi Da, so we were always around music. I was also training with Suresh ji.As a child, I got an opportunity to sing for a Mahesh Bhatt film Junoon starring Rahul Roy and Pooja Bhatt. I didn’t even realize it was a big deal, I recorded the song and forgot about it. A month later, I found out that it was used in the film.
How did your career progress after that?
There was a gap because I was still in school. Later, in college, I made an album that became quite popular in the indie pop phase. After that, I started doing live performances and playback singing.I also got offers to host reality shows like Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma, but I turned down one because it clashed with my B.Com exam.I eventually worked with composers like AR Rahman. Then I had the opportunity to go to the US.
How did that shape you?
My mother, Anuradha Paudwal, encouraged me. He said that when you grow up, you have to work hard and explore opportunities.At first I went on an unpaid internship, as well as working at the United Nations. Then I got a job as a producer and writer at a television station. I was already writing scripts for devotional shows in India, so it came naturally.I later did a master’s degree at NYU. After that, I had the choice to stay or go back – and I chose to go back. I came back very happy.
Did being outside influence your playback singing career?
Yes, yes When I came back, the industry had changed. Reality shows took over, and many new singers were already popular.Even if you disappear sometimes these days, people will notice. I was away for 4-5 years. People thought I was still abroad. So yes, from Bollywood’s point of view, it made a difference.Then I was gone for years. Even now, people sometimes say to me, “You were in the US, weren’t you?” I said, “No, I’ve been back for 15 years.”But in general, music and culture have always been part of who I am.
Did you struggle to establish your identity, especially being Anuradha Paudwal’s daughter?
That is definitely a challenge. When you come from a musical family, there’s a lot of expectation. People know you, respect you, but also compare you.There is pressure. People initially appreciate you because of your background, but that doesn’t last. If your work is good, you will be accepted. Otherwise, they don’t.In fact, I feel like it’s more of a pressure than a privilege. Because you have to constantly prove that you are not just someone’s daughter, you are your own artist. And that journey is not easy.
Does coming from a musical family make things easier in the industry?
Not really. It might help you get an entry, but after that, it all depends on your work.People will treat you with respect, but they won’t keep giving you work unless you prove yourself. This applies everywhere, not just in movies.Even in business or medicine, children grow up in that environment, so they naturally gravitate towards it. But when you enter the real world, you still have to prove yourself.
What kind of parent was Anuradha Paudwal?
When we were young, he was quite strict, like most parents of that generation. My father was even stricter. Back then, parenting first meant discipline, even if it was a lot of love.He didn’t show love the way people do today—like going out a lot or making big gestures—but he showed it in his own way. For example, he baked the cakes himself, decorated them, made ice cream, that was the way to express his love.They didn’t let us do everything freely. School trips were sometimes denied, outings were restricted. That was normal for kids growing up in the 80s and 90s. There were rules: you had to study, you had to follow the discipline.
What was it like growing up around his music?
A lot of my learning was completely unconscious. There is a difference between sitting down and learning something and being around all the time.I used to listen to his riyaaz early in the morning; even in my sleep, his voice reached me. This has a very deep effect on you.As I got older, I began to understand his art: how technically strong he is, how beautifully he expresses certain lines, how precise his singing is. That appreciation came much later.
What values did he instill in you growing up?
He was a very strong and positive person. At that time, things were very different. Today, it’s common for 17-year-olds to study abroad, but back then it was rare—especially for girls.My father was not around then, so he raised me as a single parent. Making that decision—to send myself to another country for 4-5 years—was incredibly brave.He said to me: “If you play football and live independently, you will understand what you want to do in life.” That was a huge decision for my mother to make at the time.Because of that, I gained a level of confidence that I didn’t think I would have gained otherwise. I will always be very, very grateful to him for that.In our family, it was always important for a child to study, play a sport and learn an art. For us, music was an art in itself, because it was part of our daily life.There was a strong foundation in discipline, structure and values. But at the same time, there was a lot of positivity. He always maintained a very strong mindset.
What did you learn from legends like Asha Bhosle?
Asha Bhosle is a great inspiration. He had every reason to limit himself. He could easily have said, “I’m classically trained, I’m not going to sing certain types of songs.” But he never did that. Whatever he sang – whether it was classically based or completely different – he did it beautifully. That kind of openness is very rare.I met him, but from a distance. I said namaste. My father Arun Paudwal was a sound arranger and worked closely with people like Kishore Kumar, Lata ji and Asha ji. Back then, the industry was smaller – there were very good musicians, but not too many – everyone knew everyone.One of the biggest things to learn from his life is that what is happening in your personal life should not affect your performance. In fact, sometimes challenges make your performance even stronger. If someone says: ‘My situation is not good, how can I do it?’; then just look at his journey. It is very inspiring.He was still singing at the age of 92. That kind of passion and commitment is incredible. It is so, so inspiring. In interviews, he would say that he enjoys cooking for his family. Imagine a legend of his stature finding joy in something so simple. That is true greatness. That’s how they were as people.Artists like Asha ji, Lata Mangeshkar or Mohammed Rafi never spoke publicly about their struggles or used them for sympathy. They never capitalized on difficult situations. Whatever challenge they faced, they focused on themselves and achieved incredible heights through it. Today, many people highlight their struggles, but that generation didn’t. For me, the biggest learning is: focus on your art and let your work do the talking.
Do you plan to return to playback singing?
Right now, I’m more excited about Kirtan Club because it really connects with who I am.Everything I’ve learned—my education, my travels, my experiences—comes together here. For me, it’s not just about acting; it’s about creating a space where people feel joy and connection.If people come back happy, even in those two hours, that’s enough for me.
