Documentation Index
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Build a voice agent using Sarvam for both speech recognition and synthesis, with OpenAI GPT-4o for conversation. Optimized for Indian languages.
Best for: Voice agents serving Indian language speakers with high-accuracy recognition and natural Indian voices.
Prerequisites
| Service | What You Need |
|---|
| Plivo | Auth ID, Auth Token, Voice-enabled phone number |
| Sarvam AI | API key from console.sarvam.ai |
| OpenAI | API key from platform.openai.com |
Installation
pip install "pipecat-ai[sarvam,openai]"
Environment Variables
# Plivo credentials
PLIVO_AUTH_ID=your_auth_id
PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN=your_auth_token
PLIVO_PHONE_NUMBER=+1234567890
# AI service credentials
SARVAM_API_KEY=your_sarvam_key
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your_openai_key
Pipeline Configuration
from pipecat.services.sarvam import SarvamSTTService, SarvamTTSService
from pipecat.services.openai import OpenAILLMService
# Speech-to-Text (Indian languages)
stt = SarvamSTTService(
api_key=os.getenv("SARVAM_API_KEY"),
# model="saarika:v2", # Saarika for STT
)
# Language Model
llm = OpenAILLMService(
api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
model="gpt-4o",
)
# Text-to-Speech (Indian voices)
tts = SarvamTTSService(
api_key=os.getenv("SARVAM_API_KEY"),
# voice_id="your_preferred_voice",
)
Service Details
Sarvam STT
Real-time speech recognition optimized for Indian languages via WebSocket streaming.
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Indian language support | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and more |
| Voice Activity Detection | Automatic speech endpoint detection |
| Multiple audio formats | Flexible input handling |
| Models | Saarika (STT), Saaras (STT with translation) |
OpenAI LLM
Chat completion with GPT-4o supporting streaming responses and function calling.
| Model | Description |
|---|
gpt-4o | Most capable, multimodal |
gpt-4o-mini | Faster, cost-effective |
Sarvam TTS
Text-to-speech synthesis specialized for Indian languages and voices.
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Indian voices | Natural-sounding voices for multiple Indian languages |
| Voice customization | Pitch, pace, and loudness controls |
| Mixed-language support | Handle content combining multiple languages |
Supported Indian Languages
Sarvam supports multiple Indian languages including:
- Hindi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Bengali
- Marathi
- Gujarati
- And more
Quick Start
Inbound Calls
git clone https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat-examples.git
cd pipecat-examples/plivo-chatbot/inbound
# Configure environment
cp env.example .env
# Edit .env with Plivo, Sarvam, and OpenAI credentials
# Modify bot.py to use Sarvam services
# Start server
uv sync && uv run server.py
# Expose with ngrok (development)
ngrok http 7860
Outbound Calls
cd pipecat-examples/plivo-chatbot/outbound
cp env.example .env
uv sync && uv run server.py
# Initiate a call
curl -X POST http://localhost:7860/start \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"phone_number": "+91XXXXXXXXXX"}'
When to Use Sarvam
Choose Sarvam when:
- Your users speak Indian languages
- You need high accuracy for Indian accents and dialects
- You want natural-sounding Indian voices
- Your content mixes English with Indian languages
Choose Deepgram + other TTS when:
- Your users primarily speak English or European languages
- You need broader language coverage
- You’re not targeting Indian markets
