Falguni Pathak is the name that every 90s kid would relate to as the pop sensation enthralled everyone with her melodious voice and dance numbers. Songs like Maine Payal Hai Chhankai, Chudi Jo Khanki, Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye became instant hits and are still one of the most favourite songs at every garba and dandiya night.
Hailed as the undisputed Queen of Dandiya, Falguni has had a loyal and steady fanbase for more than thirty years, and her videos still evoke nostalgia. Though Falguni never had any formal training, her love for music made her a big name in the entertainment world.
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Although she shines bright with some of the best tracks to her credit, her musical journey wasn’t easy. Let us read on to learn some unknown facts about Falguni and her rise to stardom.
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Born on March 12, 1969, to a conservative Gujarati family, Falguni Pathak’s music career began on the terrace of her home. Youngest of five daughters, Falguni grew up listening to music on the radio and was a self-taught singer. Recalling how her friends would ask her to sing a song for her, she recalled:
“For as long as I can recall, I’ve been passionate about singing. I used to sit with my sister when she was learning, but I’ve never had any training. My neighbours would start to call out, ‘Falu, yeh gaana gaa’.”
Falguni Pathak gave her first performance at the age of 9, on Independence Day, and earned Rs. 25. Though she loved music, her father was strictly against it and didn’t support her. When he heard about her performance at the local event, he didn’t like it and got very angry.
As per Falguni’s father, singing in front of public was not appropriate for young girls. But she didn’t stop herself from what she loved doing the most. Despite getting punished, Falguni continued her singing. Talking about the same, she said:
“I didn’t stop. I didn’t hide it from him, though. Ghar pe aane ka, maar khane ka, aur kya.”
Falguni Pathak began her professional journey at the age of 18 in 1987 when she started performing with a dandiya group. In 1994, she formed her own band, Ta Thaiya, and engaged her audience. Falguni’s debut album, Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi, was released in 1998, and it became an instant hit. Since then, she has never looked back.
The themes of Falguni Pathak’s songs focused on love, and every song depicted a love story, instantly garnering the attention of youth. Her melodious voice gave life to all her songs, which, over the years, became cult.
Despite tremendous success as an individual artist, Falguni was never interested in Bollywood. She did lend her voice to some Bollywood songs, but her focus was always on creating independent music. As per her, singing in Bollywood came with a lot of restrictions. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Falguni revealed why she kept a distance from Bollywood and said:
“I never took Bollywood seriously. I did get offers, but when you enter Bollywood, you need to work doubly hard. I was happy doing my shows and albums.”
Not many people know this, but Falguni Pathak is the icon for the queer community. Not only do her songs depict love and respect for the same gender, but the singer also makes tomboyishness normal. The singer herself dresses in loose-fitting shirt, jeans, and a kurta-pyjama with boy-cut hair without disempowering her feminine side.
In an interaction with The Indian Express, Falguni talked about her dressing and revealed why she dresses differently from other female singers. Elaborating on the same, she said:
“I am not aware of being an inspiration to people on this front. After four girls, my parents were expecting a boy. My sisters were much older than me and they dressed me up in a shirt and trousers and it’s all I’ve ever worn, apart from my school uniform.”
Falguni Pathak has never spoken about her personal life in public. The singer never got married and is still single, even at the age of 55, as she is only focused on her singing. In an interview with Karishma Tanna, Falguni stated that it's only music with which she has always been connected. She also added that, in all her life, she had hardly cared about anything else other than music. When Karishma asked about her personal life, Falguni mentioned that she doesn't want to care about her personal life, as she has her parents to take care of the same, otherwise, she would have to take care of all of it alone.
In a male-dominated industry, Falguni Pathak carved a name for herself with her music and has been the face of Navratri for over thirty years now.
Also Read: Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar And Sanyogita Bai's Love Saga: Style Icons, Got Married When She Was 10
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