If Falguni had not been a singer, she wouldn’t know what she would be. From the age of four, the ‘Dandiya Queen’ has known only this profession, which is also her passion, writes Priyal Dave
For a person who charges Rs.1.5 crore for nine nights of the ongoing Navratri festival, Falguni Pathak’s patient and simple demeanor even under the onslaught of a media horde hungry for details is quite intriguing. What keeps her grounded, despite being regarded as the brand ambassador of the festival?
Ten minutes into. It is all because she loves singing so much, and is completely dedicated to the practice of her art. For it she can do anything, bear anything, even hours of answering questions thrown at her in a never-ending stream, most of them deadly dull and repetitive. And then, despite an hour of answering the same old questions, upon request Falguni breaks into a folk song, with a devotion that will curl a listener’s toes with delight immediately.
Almost an hour late for the meeting with journalists, both print and media, scheduled at the Goregaon Sports Club a day prior to the start of the festival, Falguni is dressecd in grey trousers and a blue T-shirt, with her trademark black waist coat. She knows it could be awkward for she is late after all, but she looks perfectly tranquil and acknowledges each person individually, before relaxing into the atmosphere and greeting known faces with an embrace.
Catching up with the ADC, in a short break during the continuous stage rehearsal, Falguni shares, “I don’t know what I would be if I was not a singer and performer. Since the age of four, that is the only profession that I am passionate about.”
Her claim is further corroborated when she throws light on what keeps her occupied through the rest of the year. “I love to travel,” she says, after quite a long pause, during which she looks up at the ceiling, trying hard to recall any other activity that comes to her mind. “I travel a lot. I have been to the US, twelve times for shows, to the UK, Middle East, South Africa, East Asia,” she says, sharing instantly that all of it was for different music concerts.
Falguni, meaning ‘beautiful’, has a marked dressing style which is boyish, making her instantly recognisable wherever she goes. Also boyish is the way she flicks her hair back every ten minutes, especially while she is speaking.
A shy person, except when she is with her own group of people, Falguni is also good at keeping secrets. Despite being coaxed repeatedly to share what designer outfit she is going to wear for Navratri, the lady ducks the question, insisting that it is a surprise and the media will have to wait for it to be revealed to everyone.
Mumbai continues to be her favourite city despite seeing other parts of the world, some of which dazzle more than this city. “I love Mumbai,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes that reflects her thinking. Not that this is surprising, since she was born here.
“There were some reasons why I couldn’t be in Mumbai for the Navratri festival last year, but now that I am back, I promise to surprise Mumbai,just like the way I did previously,” responds the singer, each time she is asked by the media why she gave Maximum City a miss last year.
While several popular folk songs like ‘Kesario Rang’ are planned for the audience this Navratri, her current favourite is ‘Sadi Gali’ from the film ‘Tanu Weds Manu’. During rehearsals, she hums ‘Kahi Toh’ from the film ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’. While practicing, Falguni shares her idea of what will sound good on the keyboards with one of her team members, and what is striking is the completel camaraderie that is displayed. There is none of the “I’m the Star” airs that she could easily have adopted. That is what adds to her charm, which remains with her at all times, in the form of a continuous smile on her face.
Every time Falguni sings, her face reflects peace. Despite tired of singing small portions of different songs for the media, she, breaks into a song with a smile, on each request. However, that smile vanishes immediately, if the request is for a dance step. “I can’t dance on the stage alone (and without the audience),” the singer protests, when news channels repeatedly request her to teach ‘them’ a few Dandiya steps. Music gives her comfort and that she shares again and again.
Falguni’s parents wanted her to be a chartered accountant, but that was not enough to dissuade the otherwise obliging lady to buckle under their expectations.
Today, her determination is what has titled her ‘Dandiya Queen’, and she confirms that there is no other title that she is so famously known for or loves.
The respect that a talented woman can command from the opposite sex is marvelously displayed when an-all- male team of shutter bugs surround the ace singer as she seats herself near a shiny blue drum set on the stage, to pose. While doing so, Falguni does exactly as instructed by the photographers - looks to the side, looks up, pretends to play drums etc. But when she takes over the practice session, the entire crew awaits her directions, and everybody else, including the media gapes at the performer with awe and inspiration.
As for Falguni, she appears to be at ease with the practice session, and more relaxed with the media gone as the evening sets in.