Falguni rocks again

The singer’s 22 years in the business have only enhanced her pleasure in performing for Navratri

v_ritika@dnaindia.net
Dandiya queen Falguni Pathak has been singing for Navratri for the last 22 years — and for Sankalp in Mumbai since the last 15 years.

What kind of songs does the veteran like to sing for Navratri? “Mostly, I like singing only old Gujarati folk songs like Mataji’s garbe. Their tunes are so simple and sweet, yet they are catchy and easy on the ears — perfect to dance on,” explains Falguni.

Among these, she says her personal favourites are “Gujarati folk songs like Mehndi tewawi, Akash mathi utreya and Rang taari.”

Will she sing Bollywood songs this year for the crowd at Sankalp? “Yes, we will sing Bollywood songs, but no remixes; only original songs,” she says. From the crop of Hindi chartbusters, she says she’s rehearsed Pappu can’t dance, from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Maine payal hai chhankai and Yaad piya ki aane lagi.

Apart from this, the dandiya doyen will soon be busy with her upcoming release. “There is an album that I am working on but it is on hold at the moment. It is a complete Hindi songs album. I am expecting it to be out in the market by January 2009,” she says.

How much preparation and practice goes into her performances? Falguni states calmly,
“We start practising about two months in advance.” Ask her if the song list is   planned and prepared in advance, and she explains, “We prepare when we reach the venue. Once we reach the ground, we list the songs we are going to sing for the crowd that day. We sing different songs for the audience every day.”

As far as training in classical music goes Falguni says, “I have a singer in my group who does the classical singing. I sing all the folk songs, Mataji’s garbe and Krishna raas.”
This time, Sankalp’s mega dandiya event is being held at the Bhavan’s campus in Andheri (W), instead of its regular Goregaon venue. About the change of venue, she points out, “We have been performing for so long in Goregaon, but the crowd used to come from all over Mumbai and even outside Mumbai. So even if the venue changes, the regular crowd will be there, and we hope more people come.”

Falguni is upbeat about her 15-year association with Sankalp Entertainment. “We have a mutual understanding with Sankalp; they never interfere in our stage and music. So our association is going well, and hopefully, will continue to do so,” she ends.