Charuvi Agrawal

Charuvi Agrawal (born 20 June 1983) is an Indian painter, sculptor, animator, filmmaker, and visual artist. She graduated from Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada, and is a gold medalist in fine arts from the College of Art, University of Delhi.
Charuvi Agrawal is an avant-garde multi-media artist best known for technological enabled large scale physical artworks, animated short films, TV shows and immersive experiences (VR/AR). Her films have been screened at various film festivals while her artwork has been displayed at various public forums besides being in homes of discerning collectors in India. Her work routinely tests the boundaries of interactive technology, design and art employing elements of Indian mythology to present transformational and immersive storytelling. Her "26,000 Bells of light", a travelling exhibition includes a 25 feet interactive bell installation, numerous mythology inspired figurines, paintings, augmented reality installation, and a hand painted Kavad which has been showcased in various Indian metros. In 2016, her people's revolution zoetrope was placed at the Lucknow JP Museum as a permanent artifact besides being commissioned to make more for other public forum.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the Delhi College of Arts, India in 2005, Charuvi went on to get a masters in computer animation from Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada. She excelled at both institutes, graduating with top honors. She then started her design firm CDL (Charuvi Design Labs) focusing on high quality animation content and artwork. Based out of New Delhi, CDL creates works that are visually opulent, technically ambitious and which reworks the imagery and mythology of the popular Indian narratives. A technique Charuvi often employs is the juxtaposition of small and everyday against the large and imposing.
She has been honored twice at "Limca Books of World Records" and at the age of 23 she was facilitated at "Incredible India @60" festival in New York by Coca-Cola as one of "the emerging 10 who would transform the global artistic landscape." She has contributed to various publications and spoken at multiple platforms including GDG Women Techmakers @Google, Tedx @IIT Kharagpur, Edinburgh University, India Design Forum, Animation Master's Summit, SIGGRAPH.
She founded CDL (Charuvi Design Labs) in 2009, and worked in Canada for National Film Board.
Her biggest achievement is the 3D Animation film Shri Hanuman Chalisa, made in 2013 and which received many awards. She is a well-known personality in the field of animation and fine arts.
She made a 25-foot Bell Sculptor of Lord Hanuman of 26,000 bells.
The Legend of Hanuman - Animated Web Series.
An Animated Series "The Legend of Hanuman" produced by Graphic India and created by Sharad Devarajan, Charuvi Agrawal and Jeevan J. Kang. The series is a combined effort of artists from Graphic India, Charuvi Agrawal (CDL) and Redefine. The series is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar and Hotstar globally on January 29, 2021 in seven Indian languages. The animated web series will feature Lord Hanuman's extraordinary journey of self-discovery. It is Narrated by Sharad Kelkar.
The trailer of this animated web series is out on Disney Hotstar in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu Language.
The series follows Hanuman and his transformation from a mighty warrior to a god and how Hanuman became the beacon of hope amidst the harrowing darkness.
All 13 episodes of the show will be available in 7 languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam and Kannada; and will release exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar VIP.
Early life and background.
Agrawal was born in 1983 in New Delhi. She trained in fine art at the College of Art in Delhi where she won a gold medal, and followed it up with a graduation in computer animation from Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Canada. A multi talented artist she paints, sculpts, designs, works in animation and films.
Her most notable work is her animated short film Shri Hanuman Chalisa and Bell Sculpture of Shri Hanuman of 26,000 Bells.
Claytronics.
Charuvi Agrawal developed a new technique which she called "Claytronics". She uses clay to create humorous miniature 3-D sculptures, each telling a topical story.
She has chosen to deliberate on something that was a childhood hobby—creating interesting figures out of clay.
She learnt clay making at a summer camp that happened at her school, when she was in class VI. She not at all thought she would excel to this extent later in her life.
For example, The miniature of former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, depicts him as puppet and the one of APJ Abdul Kalam depicts him on rocket with a comb in his pocket! Basically, she combines the art of cartooning with that of sculpture.
She creates many miniatures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mother Teresa, Veerapan, Osama Bin Laden, Dr. Manmohan Singh, APJ Abdul Kalam, Sonia Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh, Dr Salim Ali, George Bush, Bal Thackeray and I.K Gujral.
Charuvi Design Labs (CDL).
Charuvi Design Labs (CDL) is a leading animation studio and design lab founded by Charuvi Agrawal in 2009. CDL is an independently owned and operated studio of national and international repute, specialize in 2D and 3D Animation, VFX, Design and Interactive Art Installations.
CDL studio has partnered with numerous global brands and international agencies and has showcased its talent at countless exhibitions and festivals in India, as well as around the globe.
Shri Hanuman Chalisa.
Shri Hanuman Chalisa directed by Charuvi Agrawal in 2013. 3D animated short film “Shri Hanuman Chalisa”is a symbolic visual poetry of an ancient religious composition that has been sung and hymn across the globe.
The soundtrack is sung by Amitabh Bachchan, along with 19 other well known singers such as Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan and more.
The film has been bestowed critical praise across the globe and nominated in 6 Oscar qualifying films.
The film tries to push the limits of our understanding of faith and spirituality.
Shri Hanuman Chalisa is a film filled with impressive and visually eye-catching scenes of Hindu mythology God - Shri Hanuman. Our perceptive of the divine has a variety of expressions but its factual nature lies within the realization of one‐self. ShriHanuman provides the highest expression of devotional values and is the purest embodiment seeking God.
Shri Hanuman Suspended Sculpture.
A Shri Hanuman 25 ft Suspended Sculpture made of 26000 Bells is created by Charuvi Agrawal. The 25 feet sculpture of Shri Hanuman made of 26,000 bells which is a unique combination of art and technology and also a humble effort in portray the depth, splendor and the meaning of the verses.
Thali Bajao Praxinoscope – The Peoples Revolution.
Charuvi Agrawal presents "A Tour De Force" for The Jayprakash Narayan Museum in Lucknow, where a praxinoscope titled "Thali Bajao", attempts to recreate the flash in history.
The seven-foot-tall revolving sculpture was made using clay, fibre glass, metal, plaster, and acrylic in a makeshift workshop over 11 weeks. Kept on a rotating platform and with perfectly calibrated strobe lights, the sculpture is designed to take the viewer into the true essence of what it is.
Festivals.
2019
Palm Springs Int. Animation Festival
50th Nashville Film Festival
2018
360 Film Festivals (Paris), The Legend of Hanuman.
SIGGRAPH VR Theater.
2016
INDIAN PANORAMA - Short Films @ ITFS Festival, Stuttgart.
Mumbai International Film Festival, India.
2015
Anima+ Awards, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2014
Mumbai International Film Festival, India.
Jaipur International Film Festival, India.
2013
ZINEBI - International Festival of Documentary & Short Films of Bilbao, Spain (Oscar Qualifying).
Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival, India.
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, USA.
Indian Film festival Of Houston, USA.
Montreal World Film Festival, Canada (Oscar Qualifying).
Flickers Rhode Island International Film festival, USA (Oscar Qualifying).
Anima Mundi International Animation Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Oscar Qualifying).
Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, Canada.
Edinburgh International Film festival, UK (Oscar Qualifying).
Dimension 3 ‐ Expo, France.
Palm springs International Short fest and Film Market, USA (Oscar Qualifying).
International Forest Short Film Festival, UN Forum, Istanbul.
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (Animated Com Reel), Germany (Oscar Qualifying).
2011
Festival Internacional de Cine de Cali, Santiago.
Pixel Vienna Conference, Austria.
Siggraph Computer Animation Festival, Canada.
2010
Naked Film Festival, Canada.
2009
Transient Borders: Technology, Diaspora and Contemporary South Asian Art, University of Rhode Island, USA.
Films that challenge the "Boob tube" in Winnipeg, Canada.
Regent Park Film Festival, Canada.
Indian Art Summit, India.
Golden Sheaf Festival, Canada.
Hot Flowing Pixels Festival, Italy.
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Germany.
2008
3rd JDCA Film, India.
2008 Film division Auditorium, India.
Best Computer Graphics Shorts from Around the World, USA.
Fabulous Festival of Fringe Films, Canada.
Pictoplasma NYC conference, USA.
International Seattle Asian Film Festival, USA.
One World Film Festival, Canada.
Siggraph Computer Animation Festival, USA.
Taiwan International Children's TV & Film Festival, China.
"Exploring Animation" Factory Works Screening Series, Canada.
Siggraph Asia, Singapore.
2007
Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival, Canada.
3rd Beijing International Animation Festival, China.
Santa Fe Film Festival, USA.
South Asian International Film Festival, USA.
Toronto Urban Film Festival, Canada. (Winner)
Toronto Animated Image Society showcase at the National Film Board of Canada, Canada.
2006 Asia Apollo Awards, Singapore.
Visual Art Gallery "Parallels‐Two artist/two worlds/two perspective", India
Lalit Kala Academy "Full Circle", India.
International Committee of the Red Cross, "I will survive", Visual Arts Gallery, India.
77th Annual All India Art Exhibition, India.
2004
"Contemporary Women Artists of India", All India Fine Arts & Craft Society, India.
1997
Cultural Exchange Russia.