Mumbai : The wait is over and the season’s most awaited Garba Raas anthem ‘Radha Ne Shyam’ is now out! Soni’s School of Garba Dance (SSGD), that started about 22 years ago is the world’s Biggest Authentic Garba dance school based in Mumbai and having presence in 9 countries and 25 cities worldwide. Popularly known globally as Garba Brothers – Jigar Soni & Suhrad Soni have collaborated with Falguni Pathak for the Garba Raas Anthem “Radha Ne Shyam” which promotes the true essence of authentic garba. The song in a beautiful pastel theme featuring around 40 students of Sonis School of Garba Dance (SSGD), Choreographer duo Jigar Soni & Suhrad Soni, Music Composer the acclaimed Shail Hada and the Garba Queen Falguni Pathak herself is an upbeat track and promises undiluted, true Garba Raas with sheer finesse for this Navratri.
After the teaser was launched by Falguni Pathak, the official music video is now unveiled by none other than Kokilaben Ambani. The song is out on the auspicious occasion of Anant Chaturdashi at Garba Queen Falguni Pathak’s YouTube page:
Kokilaben Ambani shares, “Both Jigar and Suhrad have got support from Falguni Pathak that itself is an achievement. I wish them all the luck and success for the music video and I invite the entire group to perform at our annual festival in Shri Kot Mandal Trust this year on the 2nd of Oct”. This year, SSGD will host an entire show and also showcase the Radha Ne Shyam performance for the dignitaries alongwith their students. Sonis were responsible for a phenomenal Garba performance Aakash Ambani’s wedding. ‘I have full faith that this is only the beginning for them, and they will stop at nothing to make authentic Garba global”, she further added.
In the new song, Falguni Pathak and SSGD tries to woo the audience by keeping the traditional Garba Folk dance and music intact in the most entertaining way. Produced and Choreographed by Soni’s School of Garba Dance, Composed by Shail Hada, Song sung by Falguni Pathak and Shail Hada and Lyrics are penned by Ashok Bhojak.
Falguni Pathak, although is globally famous for her traditional Garba numbers, has never officially featured in a Garba Raas video before. SSGD mentors Jigar soni and Suhrad Soni have made the fantasy of millions of her fans and Garba dancers come true by launching the Navratri special song.
Speaking about this, Mentor Suhrad Soni says, “We are absolutely elated to have produced and choreographed this. Our vision of taking Authentic Garba global has been taken one more step ahead. And with The one and only Falguni Pathak with us, we’re thrilled about this music video which is out on 12th Sept 2019. Lalita Soni has been at the helm, leading the choregraphy front for SSGD and our Director Rajul Mishra executed his concept with sheer finesse. The colourful costumes designed by Nivruti Soni Shetti makes this video an absolute delight to watch.”
The dandiya queen Falguni Pathak has also expressed herself as a fan of the Soni brothers’ dance. “Whenever I am on stage, singing a popular Garba song and my sight goes to SSGD, I get distracted by their sheer talent and energy performing Garba. This song is only an extension of our mutual love for the folk culture and art, and am delighted to be a part of it” Pathak says.
Jigar Soni also can’t stop beaming post completion of their rigorous but fruitful shoot schedule “The motive behind this is that while lots of other regional music like Punjabi folk or Rajasthani has been loved by the mainstream audience without dilution of the authenticity, we wish to do the same for Garba and traditional Gujarati folk music”. He further adds, “Shail Hada and Falguni Pathak are two phenomenal artists we look upto. Their involvement itself is a huge achievement for us because we happen to be biggest fans of Falguni Pathak as well as Shail”.
SSGD Achievements:
The founders and mentors Jigar and Suhrad have taken Garba to newer heights by being felicitated at the House of Commons in the UK. Jigar Soni is a gold medalist in folk dancing and has represented the state of Maharashtra, and India in several competitions nationally and internationally. The Soni Brothers have so far taught more than 10,000 students across the world. They are once again visiting London to train Londoners to perform authentic Garba in October. Both being proud Gujaratis, they have contributed to the Gujarati culture to a great extent, and were honoured by the Member of Parliament in United Kingdom Bob Blackman in September 2017. The event took place in the House of Commons in UK’s parliament house. They are members of the International Dance Council affiliated to UNESCO. SSGD has its presence worldwide in countries like UK, UAE, Switzerland, Ireland, USA and Singapore.
Their accolades don’t end here! Jigar and Suhrad were invited to perform at the Trafalgar Square by the current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. They have been disciples of Folk dance guru Indumati Lele who used to perform with Prithviraj Kapoor back in his era. They also managed to bag the Transmedia award as “Best Dance Directors” for Gujarati movie “Mad for Each Other” in February 2018. They will be conducting a Garba workshop in Sep 2019 in collaboration with the globally acclaimed Kings United hip hop group in Muscat, Oman.