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Kiran Chaudhry
 Oxford-educated lawyer by training and currently working as a businesswoman, Kiran Chaudhry is a singer and songwriter who sings in both English and Urdu and composes songs on her acoustic guitar.
She has lived in the UK between 1994-2006, first studying Politics, Philosophy, Economics at Oxford University and then qualifying as a lawyer and practicing as a Solicitor in London for several years, before finally returning to her native Pakistan where she is currently based.
Kiran received her initial training in Eastern classical music whilst still at school in Lahore by the eminent maestro, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, of the Pattiala Gharana. She started out by participating in various school singing competitions and musical shows while still in Pakistan. After leaving Pakistan in 1994, she honed her musical skills further through vocal training lessons at London's famous VOXBOX and through a run of live performances on London's live gig and open mic circuit.
She returned to Pakistan in April 2005, after 12 years, and continued her musical journey to much critical acclaim. Her first performances in Pakistan were at the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) annual event in 2006 followed by the Grounded Cigar Lounge launch, after which she went on to form the popular band "Caramel" of Club Caramel fame with guitarist Adnan Sarwar.
Her musical influences are primarily Jazz, Blues, RnB/Soul, Funk and Folk (e.g., Ella Fitzgerald, Eva Cassidy, Sade, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Sarah Mclaughlan, Jewel and Nazia Hassan).
She is currently working on her solo album, but has also made a name for herself in musical theater as part of the the highly acclaimed production of Mamma Mia! directed by Nida Butt in Karachi, in which she played the lead role of Donna - a 70s rock chick and a force of nature.
 You studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford, and became an established corporate lawyer in the UK; what made you decide to move back to Pakistan?
A feeling that I wanted a different life from the one I had in the UK. Being a rich lawyer with no time for anything but work started to lose its appeal after about four years of practice, and I decided to jump ship and do something more in line with my personality. I was excited by the opportunity to do all the things I could never do as a lawyer in London - like pursue my musical dreams. I had also started to miss my homeland and family after being away for so many years, so I wanted to come back and reconnect with my roots.
Why didn’t you want to pursue your career as a lawyer in Pakistan?
Being a lawyer had always been a means to an end for me – it was a way to gain a highly regarded qualification as a good back-up plan, and to become financially independent. I had never dreamed of being a lawyer, I had always dreamed of being a singer. Having experienced the day to day life of a lawyer in London, I realized that it wasn’t for me – and fortunately I had other talents, so I had the choice to create a life that truly resonated with me.
What is your opinion of the current political situation? What do you predict about the future of Law in Pakistan?
I believe that Pakistan in a state of flux and evolution. These things always bring turmoil. But I believe in Pakistan and in its future. We have no choice – this is our homeland. We cannot give up on it. Regardless of the political situation, it is up to each of us to work towards creating the Pakistan we want to see – and as they say, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem! As for the future of law in this country, I think the lawyers movement is proof that it will be vibrant and powerful. The judiciary has shown its resilience time and time again, and together with the media, it has become a force to be reckoned with - a strong check on executive authority.
Tell us where you are currently working and how has the experience of working in Pakistan been for you?
I work in an extended-family textile spinning business. I do all the sales, marketing and operations for the business. I also have a small real estate business of my own and run an IT (software development) company which I started last year. Then of course, I lead a band, by the name of Caramel! As for working in Pakistan – the advantage is that you can do things here which you could never do in a developed/saturated market, but on the flip side the usual challenges of working in an unregulated and underdeveloped market are always there. Overall, I wouldn’t be here unless I didn’t think the pros outweighed the cons!
 How do you find time to perform or work on music while working?
I am very organized and self-disciplined. My day is very structured and I don’t waste too much time on unproductive socializing, watching TV etc. Life is short and time is precious, so I make each moment count!
You received personal training with Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, how was the experience to train with such a talented person?
He was a true master. I cannot quite describe it as I was so fortunate to have trained with him at such an early age (13-15). He told me back then to drop out of school and work with him full time! Sometimes I wish I had although I don’t regret all the wonderful experiences my travels and education abroad have afforded me!
How did you form the band "Caramel" and how many members are in the band?
I met guitarist Adnan Sarwar at a jam in Lahore and instantly connected with him. Our musical sensibilities just clicked and I had been looking for someone like him to work with for a while – and when we met I just knew that we would work very well together and I was right! The band is him and myself – and we work with various professional session players for our live shows.
What is the inspiration behind your performances and songs? And when can we expect an album from Caramel?
Life and love….the usual touchy feely stuff that we all turn to for inspiration as human beings! Heart break, falling in love, the bittersweet turns that life seems to take us all through. All of this generates material for our original work as well as our choices for cover songs for live shows. We are currently working on an album and it should be out in about a year from now!
You also had the chance to perform in a musical "Mamma Mia", tell us about your experience.
Amazing! I was playing the role of Donna, the mother of the bride to be, the central character whom the play is all about. Mamma mia - means 'my mother' in Italian!
 Donna is a 'larger than life' character who grew up in the 70s and, incidentally, was the lead singer of the 'first girl power band' of the time, 'Donna and the Dynamos' (so we have a few things in common there!). She was independent, unconventional, daring and a live-in-the moment kinda lass, who met and instantly fell for the love of her life, Sam (played by Aly Mustansir) when she was in her early twenties. Unfortunately, Sam was already engaged to be married (although he wasn't in love with his fiance at the time), and seems to have left Donna to return home and get married. This breaks Donna's heart, and she then has two short flings on the rebound with two other guys shortly thereafter, Harry (Akbar Merchant) and Bill (Saad). Soon, she realizes that she's pregnant! Given the situation, and the fact that she doesn't know who the father of her child is, she decides to set up home on the Greek island where she and Sam first met and raise her daughter alone. This is the backdrop of the play. When the play opens, many years later, her daughter Sophie, (Rachel Viccagi) is getting married, and desperate to find out who her dad is, reads her mother's diaries and decides to send wedding invitations to all three men mentioned in her mothers journal. So, they all turn up and the play is all about the crazy saga that ensues... I will not spoil the fun by giving that away. Come and see if for yourselves!
I love the play and have always dreamed of playing this role so I feel really blessed to have had the opportunity! Theater is an area that I've always wanted to experience, as another avenue of live performance with its own particular dynamic and a musical is naturally what appeals to me most as a singer. So, I was thrilled about it and am so glad that it went down so well with our Pakistani audiences. I actually think it’s very relevant to our society, as we come out of a pattern of traditional belief systems into a process of awkward modernization, the very same issues of family values, male chauvinism, traditional moral beliefs and practical considerations are being tackled. Today, in the West, it is not unthinkable for a woman to find herself pregnant, and raise a child on her own, not knowing who the father is; but in Pakistan, we can totally imagine the horror of Donna's predicament! I like the role because I can appreciate what it’s like being a woman in a man's world who isn't prepared to sit in the sidelines on account of her gender, and is prepared to make the requisite sacrifices to live life in the manner that she chooses.
As you know, the play is written around the hit songs of ABBA from the 60s and 70s, that we have all heard our parents grooving to in the old days, so musically it’s a treat! All the songs are upbeat, danceable numbers and we have some pretty outlandish choreographed performances in some really out-there, wacky 70s outfits (think bright yellow and lime-green flared jumpsuits with silver capes and you get my drift!)... so yes, its totally shameless, unpretentious fun for all the family, centered around a big wedding, and lots of singing and dancing - I think everyone just loved it!
What kind of response has Mama Mia received?
It was a totally sold out show for all 16 nights at the Karachi Arts Council! They couldn’t get enough of it!!
Have you ever been approached by TV or Film for work? And would you take on a good project if offered?
Yes, but I would like to only take on a project that really appealed to me and ideally a role which required some singing!
 What words of wisdom would you like to share with the young artists and musicians who look up to people like you for inspiration?
Follow your heart and don’t let go of your dreams just because they seem unattainable. Our work is only to try… the universe does the rest, so just keep the faith and believe in yourself. Life is short. Live a life you love.
Lastly what message would you like to give to the readers of The Saturday Post?
Keep reading!
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