Meet The Team

Founder; CEO
Geetha Bhat
Geetha has been working with the Deevaru Community for over two decades. With her fieldwork, numerous introductory workshops on Chittara have been conducted in several educational institutions across the country. Her research has also led her to presenting papers about Chittara in international conferences in Japan.

Co-author & Photographer - Deevara Chittara Book
Smitha Tumuluru
Smitha is a documentary photographer and writer exploring rural livelihoods, gender, art, and culture through research-based visual storytelling. Since 2017, she has documented Tamil Nadu’s Irular tribe for PARI and won the 2024 Feature of the Year at the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive.

Design Consultant
Namrata Cavale
Namrata is a multi-disciplinary designer with a passion for indigenous arts, crafts and textiles. She works with NGOs and social enterprises on building their products and aesthetics, through a systemic approach which fosters sustainability. She has worked across textile craft, skill development, upcycling and special-needs spaces.

Operations Coordinator
Chaitali Das
Chaitali Das is a theatre practitioner and cultural coordinator with over five years of experience bringing creative projects to life. At CFRIA, she manages the day-to-day operations and coordination of workshops, exhibitions, and logistics, helping bring the organisation's cultural and community programs to life.

Outreach Consultant
Suhasini B V
Suhasini B.V. is a communications and marketing professional with experience in digital strategy, social media management, content development, and outreach for arts and cultural initiatives. She works on building the organisation's digital presence, strengthening audience engagement, and expanding the reach of the publication.

Technology Advisor
Sridhar T. R.
Sridhar is a business leader and technology strategist dedicated to creating scalable, impactful solutions for organizational growth. For CFRIA’s Deevara Chittara initiative, he is actively involved in strengthening operational frameworks, from inventory management to sales reconciliation, and guides the project’s digital strategy.
Chittara Artists
Our artists and artisans hail from villages across the Sagara district of Karnataka and Bengaluru, most belonging to the Deevaru community. For them, Chittara is far more than an art practice. It is an inseparable part of daily life, woven into rituals and celebrations such as weddings, religious events, and cultural gatherings. Working closely with these artists allows us to bring their craft and stories to a wider audience, while honouring the roots from which it comes.

Manmane
Pavitra Mohan

Aiginbailu
Shruthi Belli

Hecche Vishwanatha G.

Digatekoppa Annappa

Kusuma Annappa

Radha Sullur

Nanditha T.M

Sunil Mishra
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Narasimha Murthy

Nithin Kumar D.
Artisans
Our artisans also craft eco-friendly handicraft products, using natural, sustainable materials sourced responsibly from their surroundings. Each piece is handmade with care, blending traditional techniques with a mindful approach towards the environment. Every purchase directly supports these artists and their communities, helping sustain a livelihood built around their craft.

Usha Nagaraj

Kusuma Annappa

Digatekoppa Annappa

Gademane Sudha

Manmane
Pavitra Mohan
