Kavita Paudwal has trained in Hindustani classical music under Pandit Jialalji Vasant and Suresh Wadkar along with her parents Arun and Anuradha Paudwal. As a child artist she sang for with the leading music composers of the time like Bhappi Lahiri, Lakshmikant Pyarelal and Anu Mallik in films like Tohfa, Karate and TV serials like Kachi Dhoop. She debuted as a playback singer with Junoon for Pooja Bhatt and did playback for Kajol in Sapnay, Sonali Bendre in Love you Hamesha, Aishwarya Rai in Jeans and Rakshak.  She also released non-film albums like Haiyya, Mirch Masala Tareef Bollywood MSMT mix, Julie I love you and many other pop albums. She has sung in almost all Indian languages including Oriya Bengali and Nepali and has 40 odd devotional CDs like Gayatri Matra, Krishna and Lakshmi Amrutvani, Ramji ke bhajans, Mata ki bhentien, Shiv bhajans, Sai bhajans, Gujrathi Mata Ke Geet and others.

Kavita has also anchored a cultural travel show Yatra on Star Plus, Anveshan on Zee TV and Bhakti Sagar on Doordarshan. Her devotional appearances in India and abroad are constantly seen on Sanskaar, Asthaa and Divya.

This talented singer is a graduate from Narsee Monjee, done her production basics from St Xavier’s College and a Masters Degree New York University in new media and communications. She has worked United Nations NY and the UN Radio. She was a TV producer at the American Indian channel at TV Asia while she was in the USA and has performed at the New York Stock Exchange for the President Bill Clinton along with a concert in the United Nations General Assembly. Kavita lives in Mumbai with her family.   

Her latest venture is a soft rock love ballad Dil Ki Baatein to be followed by other songs of the album during the year.  The new song Dil Ki Baatein is composed by Priyesh Vakil, sound engineer Bhanu and DOP Amogh Thakur. It is a very memorable and melodious song.

Verus Ferreira met up with Kavita Paudwal to talk about her music and also her latest love ballad Dil Ki Baatein.

Your latest venture is a soft rock love ballad 'Dil ki Baatein'. You plan to release an album later this year. What are other songs that would make it on the album, and what is their sound like. Is it similar to this one?

This album is a combination of popular music and the kind I personally listen to! So there is soft rock that I have grown up with and the Sufiyana andaaz that is so popular today. There will be a happy Punjabi song that plays in baraats and definitely a groovy R n B song that you could sing along on a long drive. It has also helped me explore different genres as a vocalist and given me the opportunity to experiment with my voice.  The idea is to attempt versatility in vocals and the sound. We are still producing the songs and would like to surprise the audiences as we go.  

'Dil ki Baatein' is also a song from the 1972 movie ‘Roop Tera Mastana’, though the song has a full on dance tune to it compared to yours. Any inspiration drawn from this Jeetendra – Mumtaz song, besides the title?

I think it’s a superb song, hearing it for the first time. It’s a very scintillating song and an evergreen one. Fresh prince, Jeetuji and beauty queen, Mumtaz, in this classic having a great time. A very good romantic song from a very good movie.

When sung by the two master singers Kishoreda and Lataji it is really a beautiful song. This song adds more grace when sung, on screen, by the most beautiful actress I have ever come across of our Indian Cinema, namely Mumtaz. What a face and what a smile. Her smile puts Mona Lisa to shame. Mumtaz was said to be the complete actress of her time, the ultimate package containing glamour, beauty, sex appeal and acting talent combined together.

‘Dil Ki Baatein’ – the song title has very personal and touching words. Are there any emotional or personal attachment / experience of your life to it?

I think everyone who s fallen in love knows that it’s at its passionate best before it’s expressed! The chase drives you nuts but very enjoyable. Like everyone else I have been through the experience enjoyed it and tried to put it into a melody. The composition and the lyrics convey the feeling wonderfully. It’s a free fall all the way 

While it’s a very scintillating and melodious number, to someone who may not understand the words, what is Dil Ki Baatein talking about?

‘Dil ki Baatein’ (a dialogue within the heart) happens when words fail to convey the extent of an emotion, what you feel is so overwhelming that you can't put it into words! That’s why we've said dil ki baatein dil main samajh jao...

When is the album expected to release, how many songs you plan to use and how many more music videos are you planning on doing?

We intend doing videos for all the songs as people want good visuals along with the song. I would also love to get feedback from people as to what they want to hear from me, it would go a great way in establishing a rapport with the listeners and whale the album.  

What do you feel about the current crop of singers in the film industry today?

Surviving, flourishing and making a mark in today’s world be it the music industry or any other creative field is heroism at its best as you need be good at a lot more than your craft. So all the singers today should take a bow, but would be really nice if every musician had his / her own identity in the crowd. That’s what all artists want! 

What are you presently working on (besides this album) in Bollywood?

I am looking to do some good work in Bollywood with so many avenues opening up. Other than Classical music, it is the most recognized genre of music that is recognized from India.

Being the daughter of Anuradha Paudwal, what have you learnt from your mother that you can take forward in your career? Who are your musical inspirations?

I have inherited my vocal genes and musical sensitivity from my mother. My earliest memory of sur is hearing her sing Lata Mangeshkar's Bhagvad Geeta at 5 am when she would do her riaz. The feeling still stays and is as ethereal. Certain memories and moments stay with you all your life, music does that to people. I have heard everyone from Lataji Ashaji and my mother to Barbara Streisand and Whitney Houston and my current favorites begin Beyonce and Adele, I would kill for the power they have in their vocals.

You have done a large volume of work from solo work for films to playback and even released a couple of albums, some devotional ones too, not forgetting being a TV host. Among all these, which would you say fits you the best and makes you the happiest?

I wouldn’t call it large, but I started singing professionally very early in life but didn't realize it as I was also doing my college and living like a normal teenager. Hosting a show or traveling for a concert was never work, I was never followed by a secretary or nobody took appointments for me. When I got a call from Rehmanji office for my first song with him in Gentleman (the Tamil version) I thought it was a crank call. But looking back I realize it was a great profile for someone within her twenties! Then there was this flight of fantasy and I took off to the US to discover the world. Someone get me a hammer.... Guess I needed to take that step. Coming back to the question, I think I enjoy live performances the most!

Which composers, musicians you would love to collaborate in the future?

Vishal Shekhar for sure, their OM Shanti Om is one of my favorite albums and currently Amit Trivedi and Mithoon. They are quirky and melodious! And most definitely Mr. Rehman. 

What is Kavita Paudwal as a person… describe yourself in a few words?

My friends insist that I am quite and sensitive but my husband insists it s a twin sister! Musically I am traditional and bohemian as one can be!  Though I am partial to calming music.

What are your hobbies, - Favorite music stars, Bollywood stars (all male and female) and favorite movies to watch, destination?

I am a nomad at heart as I started traveling of shows early on. If I am not on the road couple of days in a month I get restless. I think it’s a family thing. My maternal grand mum was a market research lady and my mother s also travelled all over the world, so this is definitely a big gene thing and fortunately my work permits it. Also I am a lonely traveler, I enjoy traveling alone definitely not the spa variety but more the back packer. 

Are your kids also into music?

I have two lovely children; my daughter likes to sing much louder than the music she listens to while my son will hum while he plays his Nintendo. Their music influences are incidentally my husband s as he s the official DJ when we go on drives! 

What are your future plans?

I am here and willing. Waiting for good music to happen to me with bated breath and open arms 

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira