Collabs makes art richer and more alive: Chitra Srikrishna

Carnatic vocalist and musician Chitra Srikrishna believes collaboration can be transformative for an artiste. “It opens up worlds I couldn’t access alone. It’s not just about sharing a stage. It’s about listening, responding, and letting another artiste’s sensibility shape the way you approach a piece. That’s the beauty of working with other artistes: it makes art richer and more alive,” she says. Her latest production, Mukti, she shares, is “a perspective on liberation through the timeless words of Indian poets”.

‘LANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN ART BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER’
For Chitra, linguistic diversity has always been at the heart of her productions. “I build my programs around multiple languages — it will be a mother tongue for someone in the audience,” she says, emphasising the personal connection language creates. “It helps everyone feel included, and by blending short songs with classical touches, I aim to offer something for everyone.”

‘WOMEN POETS’ STRUGGLES AGAINST PATRIARCHY REMAIN RELEVANT TODAY’
Chitra reflects on how the voices of poets from centuries ago—Tyagaraja, Akkamahadevi, Kabir— still speak powerfully to today’s struggles. “Their messages about freedom, especially the women poets’ fight against patriarchy, remain deeply relevant,” she says. This relevance, she adds, is at the heart of her upcoming production, Mukti, which explores liberation through both spiritual and personal lenses.

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