FALGUNI PATHAK
The Duchess of dandiya

The Duchess of dandiya aims to become the princess of pop too - and with just three pop albums to her credit (we are not counting he non-stop dandiya albums). Falguni Pathak is a long way towards reaching this goal. With the MTV award for 1999 in her bag for Chudi jo khanki, she’s on cloud nine. “Maine to sapne mein bhi nahin socha tha ke MTV award mujhe milega! I am thrilled,” she declares.

Falguni’s yet to learn the art of self-hype. She talks little. She does not have the conventinal ‘I-am-the-best’ attitude, though she is fully aware of her own achievements, and the amount of hard work, perseverance and commitment which has gone into her growing success. She is optimistic about the pop scene, feels that it is growing in very sense, and admits to listening to every kind of music herself, from bhangra-pop to Shubha Mudgal, with Hariharan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in between. She loves variety in music, which is why she adores Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. “They were versatile and sang every type of song,” is her terse explanation.

Which brings me to the subject of playback singing. Falguni’s bumper hit Chudi jo khanki was incorporated in Universal’s own presentation Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin. But the only original film song that she has sung is under Anu Malik in Ghaath, Baaba meri yeh jawaani. Isn’t she keen on singing for films? “Yes, I am looking for more film songs to sing.” But she admits not being aggressive there too. “You could say that my motto is to be happy-go-lucky. I don’t plan anything, but do my best at whatever comes my way. I strongly believe in destiny.”

But having tried her hand at original pop songs, playback and live performances, how would she compare them? “Oh, I wouldn’t say that there is a major difference between singing for an album and for films. Both are essentially recordings. But live performances are what gives me the greatest kick. They are my passion.”

And Falguni has good reason to be loyal to live singing too, for that’s how she began. “I have been performing now for over ten years. I began with small shows, for private organisations and clubs like the Navy. Thes were my outlets for my shauq for singing. Then I moved on to dandiyas at Navratri time and achieved popularity there. I have been a fixture at dandiyas for eight years now. And it was thanks to this fame that Universal (then PolyGram) offered her the first album.

“Luckily,” she adds, “Universal too had the same idea that I had, that my first album should not be a dandiya one. It was essential to progress beyond dandiya and remix.” The result was a pop album called Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi, a super-seller. Falguni admitted to being a shade hesitant about the lead track Chudi, as an ethnic touch did not always go well with an Indi-pop image. But her composer and lyricist of this track, Lalit Sen, convinced her. And today an ethnic folk touch that appeals to the masses as well as the be-bop generation has become Falguni’s USP. “After all, it is the masses who have given me so much love and fame,” she says.

Her second album, Maine Paayal Hain Chhankayi also hit the bulls-eye at the charts and she is now out with Meri Chunri Udd Udd Jaye again with Universal and Lalit Sen. Once again Falguni is almost laconic as she comments, “There are nine nice songs, with a folk colour. The album isn’t different from my previous ones. But I hope that it is musically considered better and also sells more.”

As an artsite, Falguni is conscious that she too has to become better. She is now learning music for the first time with Bhavdeep Jaipurwale. “I never trained in music before, it’s all a gift of God,” she says.

For someone who does the Indian folk-based variety of pop, doesn’t her short, boyish hairstyle and apparal look incongruous and ill-matched? Retorts Falguni, “I don’t think so. You see, that’s how I have always been from childhood. My hair was always like this and I always wore jeans with T-Shirts. This is what I wear while performing!”

For someone who seems to have adopted the doctrine “Sing more, speak less” that is a real long speech!

Rajiv Vijayakar

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