[2] He is a disciple of the legendary Carnatic musician and playback singer Padmabhushan K. J. Yesudas and of Chandramana Narayan Namboothiri.
[3] His music repertoire encompasses devotional songs based on Christian, Muslim and Hindu religious themes.
Poovathingal learnt music, during his school years, from CC Chummar, a musician of Viyyur, Thrissur.
He started studying Indian classical music at the age of 17 under Sodharan Bhagavathar of Varandarappilly, Thrissur.
In Delhi, he learnt music from T.N.Krishnan, T. R. Subramaniam, Leela Omcheri, Guruvayoor T. V. Manikandan, Vasanthi Rao, Radha Venkitachalam, Deepti etc.
He studied vocology in Columbia University in 2003 and at the National Center for Voice and Speech, Denver, Colorado in 2006.
He has staged Indian classical music performances in USA, Canada, European countries, UAE, Bahrain, South Africa and India.
[9] He was accompanied by Prof Abdul Aziz on the violin, Guruvayur Sanoj on the mridangam and Shornur Rajesh on the ghatam (a pot-shaped percussion instrument).
He ended the concert with the song 'Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu' (an invocation for harmony in all creation) in 'Madhyamavathi ragam'.
Abdul Kalaam referred to their musical troupe as a 'national integration team' uniting religions and hearts.
The Chetana group of Institutions for Performing Arts in Thrissur, Kerala, India, is managed by the CMI Congregation.
In February 2007, he produced Arnos Pathiri's Puthenpana (Life of Christ) using Indian Classical Dance form (Bharata Natyam and Mohiniattam) and Karnatic Music.
Poovathingal has been organising Chetanotsavam, a national music and dance festival, at Chetana Sangeeth Natya Academy, Thrissur since 2005.
[11] Paul Poovathingal founded Chetana National Institute of Vocology in Thrissur, Kerala, India in 2005.