You know who’s making waves in the music scene? Purva Mantri! With her strong voice and distinctive style, she is a social media star and singer who has everyone talking. Her enthusiasm is contagious when she performs; she has an electrifying presence that captivates you. Our favourite thing about Purva is that she doesn’t hesitate to push boundaries and is all about independent music.
She recently debuted in Bollywood with the song “Ishqa” from the movie “Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story,” which starred Kaveri Kapur and Vardhan Puri. ‘Ishqa’ has opened to a whole new audience for Purva’s vocals and her talent is being loved dearly. She’s definitely one to watch in the music industry!
‘Mascara’ is another blockbuster track that she releases, continuing to dominate the music scene! Wondering what she will do next, Downtown Mirror India’s Shikha Duggal unveils the latest and most exclusive revelation as fans are going crazy. The problem is that Purva is more than just a singer of tunes. ‘Aavati Kalay,’ a song written by honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is one of the very significant projects she has worked on.
Talk about impactful storytelling! And get this—she’s now part of a film with some huge musical names like A R Rahman, Shaan and Sneha Khanwalkar. Audiences all over the world are loving her collaborations and musical experiments, which are truly paying off. The moment has arrived—let the interview commence!
Shikha Duggal: With A R Rahman and Sneha Khanwalkar among the musical heavyweights, “Ishqa” is your Bollywood playback debut. How did joining this league affect your self-perception as an artist?
Purva Mantri: Ishqa holds a special place in my heart. And I believe I’ve put in a lot of effort to achieve this. The song is quite lovely. And I felt truly enchanted when I discovered that I share my name with the musical icons in the film, like Shaan Sir, Sneha Khanvilkar, A R Rahman Sir and others. In other words, you feel more confident in yourself when you perform a good song for a film in front of well-known people. You get more passionate about your work and begin to love it.
Shikha Duggal: Your new song “Mascara” is a fascinating mix of rebellion and glitz. What gave rise to this song?
Purva Mantri: The journey as an independent artist is very breathtaking. Every single song is like a newborn. Each line is written specifically for you. Your personality is reflected in the music we are performing for our independent journey. Thus, I am the main focus of Mascara. And I’m happy that the song is a hit with my audience! They are enjoying the vibe. As an artist, this is what keeps me motivated. And I’ll continue to produce such incredible things.
Shikha Duggal: Mascara is an anthem of identity, defiance and feminine strength that sounds more like a manifesto than a song. What, in your opinion, was the cultural or emotional spark that started this fire?
Purva Mantri: I discovered something new for mascara. With an indie pop and Punjabi co-op vibe, it’s a sort of uplifting pop anthem. It’s a lively song. It’s vivacious. For you, it’s Purva Mantri, the music style and my voice. My personal favourite part of the song is the drop! My brother is the producer. It goes without saying that you will dance and feel inspired when you listen to Mascara.
Shikha Duggal: Giving your voice to Prime Minister Modi’s “Aavati Kalay” put you at the nexus of politics and art. Were you conscious?
Purva Mantri: For my family and me, receiving the Aavati Kalay award is a lifetime accomplishment. I truly can’t put into words how I felt when I learned that I was performing for Shri Narendra Modi Ji and that this Garba song was written by him. However, it was truly extraordinary. It became much more of my duty as a singer to infuse the song with the feminine strength and vitality that his words convey. I felt that it was crucial to express it vocally. He liked it. He tweeted about it. And I truly want to thank our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for selecting me as an artist when you learn that you are performing a song for one of the most influential and powerful people in the world.
Shikha Duggal: Your Navratri performances went viral and now you’re playing a Puneri Dhol. For you, what ties all these worlds together?
Purva Mantri: You don’t grasp things like viral Navratri performances, a globe tour, or the iconic song “Aavati Kalay,” which was written by PM Modi Ji, so easily. These things are bestowed upon you by the Almighty. And there is a lot of significance here. As previously stated, for me, it’s akin to a lifetime accomplishment award. All of it. As artists, we take great pride in receiving the audience’s affection. I often repeat, Mr. Irrfan Khan once stated in an interview that the audience’s adoration serves as oxygen for us. Yes, that is what it is. And I will continue to produce excellent work. I’ll continue to infuse my performances with incredible vitality, optimism and colour. I’ll take it global as well. I want to make a great impact and promote Indian music globally.
Shikha Duggal: How do you strike a balance between the visceral excitement of performing on stage and your online persona?
Purva Mantri: The crowd is the source of the charged performances you see on stage. Personally, I think that’s where I meditate. Besides, there is a backstory. My dad informed me that he attended my first performance, which was a concert. And following my show, he approached me. “You weren’t singing, Purva,” he said. “You were meditating for me. And that’s the most important thing. That’s the ideal place for a human, or perhaps an artist, to be.” I therefore constantly remember that all I have to do in the studio or on stage is meditate. I must have a strong sense of passion for what I do. I have to tell the truth about what I do. I must establish a connection with my audience.
Shikha Duggal: Given that your video has had over 60 million views and that the ‘PURVAstic’ phenomena are on the increase, do you feel obligated to live up to the expectations of your audience?
Purva Mantri: It’s always a major deal for artists, acquiring lovely names and setting the standard for the fans. Undoubtedly, I believe that I need to be more accountable and honest with music and my audience every single day. Because you have to be really picky about your work as you continue to grow. You can’t just walk away from it with the thought, “Now people know me,” and move on. This mantra won’t be effective for very long. I want to continue this path till the day I die since I depend on my fans’ love every single second. This holds great significance in my life. I’m making every effort to live up to the expectations of my audience and to strengthen my Purvastic Army.
Shikha Duggal: Which behind-the-scenes setbacks influenced your greatest successes?
Purva Mantri: I’ve worked hard to create a wonderful journey and I’m quite proud of it. There have been several experiences that have taught me a lot along the way. My mistakes have taught me more than anything else! Some of my greatest victories have come from the many chances I took. I firmly think that learning is a daily process that you must adhere to as a musician. My life was drastically altered by a little story. A few years ago, I quit singing entirely for over a year and a half. I had been subjected to severe mental harassment because of my voice. My voice was described as heavy-textured, husky and low-pitched and as unsuitable for the industry. It wasn’t a “heroine” voice, they argued and I should alter my range to sound more delicate and feminine. I was really afraid about it, especially since I lost a lot of assignments. In order to improve my voice, I began practicing in a higher range, singing continuously and challenging myself. After a while, my voice went away. Due to a bleeding nodule in my right vocal cord, the doctor advised me to take a year and a half of total voice rest. For months there was little to no chatting and no singing. The most crucial lesson I took away from this era was the necessity of loving my voice. No one else would ever enjoy it if I didn’t, regardless of what others said. I was only able to connect with people when I started to embrace and accept my voice and that’s when they really began to love it as well. The greatest gift I have today is that voice, the one that God gave me. And I swear to protect it. The world is hearing Purva Mantri’s voice today and her power is changing people’s lives. That is the greatest victory of all, in my opinion. My voice.
Shikha Duggal: In what ways do you think your identity is changing outside of music?
Purva Mantri: Without a doubt, there are many distinct role plays for women. Three or four of those are what I’m doing. In addition to being an influencer, I sing. I’m known as a style icon. People refer to me by several names. That people love me as Purva Mantri makes me happy! You work extremely responsibly on these three or four things, though. You put yourself in front of people and develop this package as an artist. However, I aspire to always improve both my music and my art. Furthermore, I genuinely hope to develop into a decent person in order to advance. After all, it is purity if you are able to connect with your audience, your followers and your music.
Shikha Duggal: How do fashion, travel and fitness affect your creative process?
Purva Mantri: Travel is undoubtedly the first thing that springs to mind for someone who is creative. I love to travel. Meeting new people, getting along with them, learning about their feelings, discovering new music, food and locations, as well as studying other forms of art and cultures, are all things that I believe I learn a lot from when I travel. My life’s true guru is travel. Next is fitness. I am not a fitness enthusiast. I don’t do CrossFit, Pilates, or intense exercise at the gym. I’m just into yoga. I perform 10 to 15 Surya Namaskars, 20 to 25 minutes of aerobic exercises like running or skipping and a small amount of muscle building at the gym. For me, comfort is the key to fashion. Fashion isn’t for me if it’s not comfortable. Fashion is about being yourself, whether you’re on stage, in the studio, or at the airport. Being stylish doesn’t mean losing your identity. You must establish your own identity. For me, that is fashion.
Shikha Duggal: In the future, is there a story you’ve been holding back?
Purva Mantri: Every artist has a tale to tell every day, you see. Because our lives are filled with so much music, so many people and so much creativity. I therefore have a ton of stories to share. Without a doubt, I’m attempting to use my music to tell all of my stories. My first album is the next project I have planned, which we continue to be. However, in the next two months, Purva Mantri will be releasing a stunning Indie Pop album—or perhaps you could say an Indie Folk album—that has a backstory. Each of my five songs has a connection to the others. Each of my five songs has a connection to the others. They are showcasing women’s grace, beauty and a lovely story of a woman’s journey. And I have a Purvastic version to share with the world every day. Thus, simply wait for it. I’m honing my artistic abilities. Additionally, I am eager to present my fans with a stunning debut album.
