It’s Navratri time, and celebrities have shared what they groove on during the nine-day festival.
Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha actor VIjayendra Kumeria enjoys listening and dancing to all the latest Navratri songs, but his all-time favourite is Dholi Taro Dhol Baje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. “I remember my college days and Navratris spent in Ahmedabad with friends. I used to dance only to this song and my friends used to say ‘what happens to you when this song is played.’ Rest of the time I used to just sit and watch them playing garba, but this song was my favourite and I used to jump in when it played,” he recalled.
Thappad actor Harssh A Singh doesn’t have a playlist as such, but Navratri is so much fun for him. “The most fun is when unexpected songs with a dandiya beat are played. I remember in 2018 a dandiya version of a Daler Mehndi song was played and we just went absolutely crazy. I had gone through three knee surgeries and I was in pain. I wasn’t expecting to dance, but I danced for hours. The song was a dandiya version of Dardi Rab Rab. Another song is the Falguni Pathak’s Tune Payal Hai Chankai. That’s the first song me and my wife danced to on stage for a function together. We were so terrible on stage, but we had so much fun. It’s been 20 years and we still remember the steps,” he said.
Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein actress Ragini Nandwani loves the songs Dholida and Nagada. “When it comes to Navratri, these songs bring out some different energy for Navratri, also the whole Gujarati community brings out an aura where you cannot stop yourself from dancing to the tunes for garba. I also love all the Navratri songs by Falguni Pathak. Navratri gives a very festive feeling. Songs give us a reminder of the colourful visuals. It’s a good occasion to dress up too,” she said.
Pandya Store actress Shiny Doshi loves Chogada. “I love that song and being a Gujarati, I have spent a lot of my time in Ahmedabad, so during Navratri in Gujarat, all those 9 days I used to make sure to go and play garba with all my friends and family. I used to love dancing to all the Navratri songs to be very honest. The vibe is different. There is an energy in Navratri songs that automatically urges you to dance. So I used to love this Chogada song and Kamariya. Right now due to COVID, the festivities are not in full swing in Mumbai this year. It’s all a little down, but of course we still have this energy and hope in our hearts for those times where we will all again get to play garba together. Navratri has always been very special to me. This year obviously I cannot go to Ahmedabad because of my shooting, but I’m dying to go to Ahmedabad and dance to the songs,” she said.
Jasmin Bhasin used to love all the Falguni Pathak songs. “Those songs were played when we were kids, so I have fond memories. My favourite songs for Navratri are Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye and Chogada. As soon as I hear these songs, I feel like dancing. Dance is a good way to express yourself,” she said.
Rakshabandhan actor Nishant Malkhani’s favourite Navratri songs are Chogada from Loveyatri and Shubhaarambh from Kai Po Che. “These two are very peppy songs and the beats just make you want to dance. I danced all night during a dandiya night, and as luck would have it, the programme started with these two songs. That was an unforgettable night,” he said.
Kawach 2 actress Pranitaa Pandit’s favourite songs are Dholi Taro Dhol Baje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Chogada from Loveyatri. “These two are the songs, and memories from childhood days are always to cherish for,” she said.
Composer Nilesh Ahuja’s favourite is Dholi Taro Dhol Baje. “That is a cult song and very easy to hum. I used to go to garba festivals while in Delhi and that song was always on loop. Also Udi Udi Jaey from the movie Raees is my current favourite,” he said.
Zindagi Mere Ghar Aana actor Hasan Zaidi grew up in Muscat, so his Navratri memories are all about having a good time there. “Apart from having a huge and major population of the Gujarati community, they used to have big grounds….the Indian school Muscat grounds and there used to be garba organised with thousands of people. It used to go on all night, so most of my memories are from there. As a celebrity, I have visited a few places on occasions where I’ve been invited to come and play dandiya and it’s just the sheer energy of the Gujaratis that makes you dance although I’m not much of a dancer and obviously garba is something that all of us have grown up with. Aaj Na Chodenge Tujhe, Gori Radha Ne Kalo Kaan and all the 90s songs. Those songs used to play on Jhankar Beats and anything on Jhankar Beats used to be apt for Navratri or garba dance – for dandiya basically,” he said.
Producer Nivedita Basu remembers playing dandiya only once during Navratri. “It was when I was studying in Symbiosis back in 2000 in Pune. I remember one of my societies had it. It was like a new fad because we were from the north and we never had Navratri and garba, so I think we had gone mental trying to dress up and go for it but apart from it being in media for so many years, apart from my TV shoots, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Navratri garba. I have done so much in serials only that never felt like I never went. I feel Chogada is a good song.
Vidrohi actor Sharad Malhotra’s favourite song Dholi Taro Dhol Baje. “I feel like dancing to this song each time I listen to it. It’s The Time To Disco is a song I love to listen to. I love house parties only, otherwise I am not a party animal,” he said.
