Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 25: Passionate singer and musician Praveen Alva, dedicated to promoting Tulu culture worldwide, founded the band Alva Kuuto to showcase the essence of Tulunadu through contemporary music. With a vision to introduce Tulu songs to a wider audience, Praveen and his band—comprising both Tuluva and non-Tuluva members—aim to bridge cultural gaps and share the rich traditions of the Tulu language with the world. Since its formation in 2022, Alva Kuuto has performed in various cities, bringing Tulu music to local and global stages through engaging performances and storytelling.

In an exclusive interview with Daijiworld managing director Walter Nandalike on Walkie Talkie, Praveen Alva spoke about his journey as a solo artist and the inception of Alva Kuuto.

"Two years ago, we formed Alva Kuuto, a band entirely dedicated to Tulu songs," shared Praveen. Previously a solo artist, he had already released six songs with the goal of taking Tulu culture and traditions worldwide through music. Realizing the need for a dedicated band to achieve this, he launched Alva Kuuto in 2022.

The band’s primary objective is to introduce a fresh approach to Tulu music while ensuring that Tulu culture reaches a global audience through contemporary music formats such as band performances and guitar-based compositions.

Alva Kuuto consists of four members: Praveen Alva, Abhilash Shet, Anshuman Upadhyaya, and Shashank. While Praveen is a Tuluva, the other members are non-Tuluvas, making it a unique experience for them as well. This is the only band exclusively dedicated to the Tulu language.

Praveen, an architect by profession, moved to Bengaluru in 2010 and worked in the field until 2015. A graduate of Canara Institution in Mangaluru, he discovered his passion for music in 2015, embarking on a solo career. His interest in Tulu writing dates back to his school days, where he wrote plays and skits. Through music, he aims to introduce the essence of Tulunadu to the world.

Deeply connected to his roots, Praveen weaves childhood memories into his lyrics, bringing them to life through his music. Through Alva Kuuto, he and his team use storytelling to help audiences quickly connect with their songs.

Since the band's formation, Praveen and his team have organized concerts in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, booking venues to introduce Tulu culture to non-Tuluvas through music. To enhance audience understanding, the team provides the context of each song in English before performing it in Tulu.

"The demand for our performances has been high," Praveen noted. "We've organized concerts in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, and so far, I've written 40 songs with melodies. We plan to release them once they reach a certain standard."

Two songs from the Alva Kuuto album have already been released, and six more will be launched on April 11. Their music video Pagetha Pughe, a rock song with a completely unique concept, is set to release on March 28.

During their concerts, the band performs for 90 minutes, covering 15 songs. Before each Tulu song, the team explains its context in English to ensure that all audience members, whether Tuluva or non-Tuluva, understand and connect with the story.

With ambitions to take Alva Kuuto global, the band has already applied to participate in international music festivals.

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