Contrary to Hum Paanch, a popular sitcom that was aired during 1995 to 2006, which was the story of a middle-class whitecollar worker, Anand Mathur, who always finds himself in trouble because of his five daughters, here is a white collar singer who is the happiest especially during Navratri festival because he has four ‘nightingale’ like daughters.
Bhumika (22), Sheetal (20), Jhalak (18) and Devanshi (15) – four daughters and their father – a fulltime professional singer Jayesh Soni (47) – is a team of five and singing garba is their family profession. “My four daughters have amazing voices and as a team, we are able to perform greatly,” says singer and key board artist Soni, who is a specialist singer of garba and devotional songs and has lent voice in about 25 devotional music albums.
Soni has also imparted rigorous training to his four daughters who now accompany him in stage shows and exclusive garba programs organised during Navratri or on occasions like weddings. “My daughters have won various local and state-level music competitions during their school years and are interested in making a career in music, hence we are keen that they get their Visharad degree in music,” says Soni who is very selective in singing on stage. “I only take in bhakti (devotional) sangeet programs as I do not want to encourage my daughters for singing filmy songs,” he categorically admits.
Dr Monica Shah, founder of Aradhana academy, who professionally trains Soni’s daughters and has also voided her fees, says, “These girls come from an economically challenging background but have a cultured voice and a keen music sense. They are learning music faster due to their enthusiasm and deep interest. They are also pursing a degree in music and we encourage them to perform on stage during garba and music shows. Their father’s support has enabled them to pursue the career of their interest.”
