Falguni Pathak is surely not a nine-day wonder. No native has been an alternative to Pathak, when it comes to Navratri. Her voice has risen above the din in the dandiya circuit.
With an estimated collection pegged at Rs 7 crore for this years dandiya raas utsavs, Sankalp, the organisers of Pathaks show at the SRPF Grounds, Jogeshwari, are expected to net a cool Rs 2.5 crore in nine days. However, this figure is not as big as last year, but is expected to garner enough moolah to keep the festival swirling ahead.

Devendra Joshi, promoter, Sankalp says, Falguni is a natural. She is endowed with a lot of talent; she knows her music and how to keep the audience involved.
Pathak has been responsible for the massive commercialisation of dandiya. She has had competitors once in a while which only resulted in better sponsorships and coverage of the Navratri festival.

Joshi says, Navratri mandals apart from Sankalp have also benefitted because of Falguni as more people coming for dandiya spells more money coming in. Besides, Satellites, Bamboo Beats, Musa, Beaters and others have also been equally responsible for Navratri getting its place in the
commercial area, opine pundits.

Click here to visit our exclusive Navratri special section!

Cut to circa 1987: Dandiya raas used to be based more on the traditional instruments of kutchi dhol and sarnai. Babla and his orchestra along with singer Kanchan were the first to commercialise Navratri in the late 80s. The cost of these shows at Wadala were a mere Rs 10-15 lakh at that time. The Salil Chaudhary composed number Suhana Safar used to be the major crowd-puller. The suburbs caught on and Juhus child Suresh Soni and his Party ruled till the early 90s. Deepak Kumar and his Satellites at Juhu, Musa at Malad at Nahalchand Lalloochand High School were part of what was called the golden period of dandiya. Rajendra Gadhvi, Bamboo Beats and Beaters also emerged as competitive performers.

It was at this time that Pathak started to freelance. She had started off with Roop Kala orchestra and used to perform for anything between Rs 100 to 250. Soon she became a partner in Beaters and used to earn Rs 2 lakh for the entire Navratri period, Ashish Ajmera and Bipin Chunawala of Beaters had trained her in this period.

Falguni is sharp and smart. She exactly knows what to do, how to sing, how to manage her career. That has taken her ahead, says Ajmera. Later Pathak quit Beaters and started Ta Thaiya and joined hands with Sankalp. This paid her well and promoted her a lot. Last year, she ditched Sankalp and performed for DNA Entertainment under the Zee Alpha Gujarati banner. The organisers lost a lot of money and Falguni is now back with Sankalp.

No wonder market sources state that Joshi shelled out a whopping Rs 45 lakh to pay off Pathak this year out of the Rs 2.7 crore cost of the Sankalp dandiya despite the market being at its worst this year. Rajubhai Shah of Juhu Jagruti who has been organising dandiyas for the past 24 years says, Falguni is one of the best. She is young, energetic and has been able to get the crowds fast. She has performed at my dandiya years ago. She is very good and is responsible for dandiya being accorded the kind of status it has today.

For Falguni Pathak the competition will be hot at Borivli with three biggies clashing. This includes
MUSA - The veteran who sings only traditional stuff still draws crowds. He starts off with a qawwali and gets the audience rocking at the M K High School, Borivili.

MANISHA SAVLA WITH BEATERS She sings with a lot of panache and style, but has not been able to get the kind of push in terms of organisation. This time around she may well pose a threat, says trade pundits at the Manikchand Navrarti Mahotsav at Kora Kendra, Borivli.

PREETI-PINKY: The two singers who have shot to fame recently are demanding a huge price and could also emerge as strong competitors. They are performing at Don Bosco High School, Borivli.
SUNIDHI CHAUHAN: She is performing at Smita Thackerays dandiya at the Andheri Sports Complex and the energetic singer could well be a threat to Falguni if she takes it up seriously.