The second day of the 2nd Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Sangeet Sammelan wound up with an enthralling rendition by famed Mangalore Group "Mandd Shobhan" led by Mr Eric Ozario his spouse Ms Joyce and the sing and dance band. Their hit song "Adaam Bapa" was well recieved by the audience. Other lyrics composed by "father of Konkani music in Mangalore" late Chafra D'Costa sung to the tune of Indian Western music and excellent choreography won the admiration of all those present. Casettes recording their latest was on sale for Rs.50 and a CD priced Rs.125/- The other youthful singers and dancers who made a forceful presentation were Mr Vincy and Mr Melwin Rodrigues..Some of the Goan singers also joined the troupe and sang songs. These Goans have also sung at Mangalore with a view to husband Goan and mangalorean Konkani.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee Prof Tomazinho Cardozo ought to have been considerate towards his guests "Mand Shobann " troupe as they were taken on stage well after the alloted time 2030 as by then the audience started moving off, (next day being a working day ) despite repeated pleas by Prof Tomazinho and his spouse who conducted the earlier "Cantar" session. Tomazinho bab sermonised to the audience the begininings of the the "Cantar" According to him after the advent of Portuguese in Goa only Music and Portuguese were taught in Goan schools. The first songs were "oracao" meaning religious hymns. It was because of this blending of East with West the Konkani songs were described as "Cantar" which translated in Portuguese meant "para cantar" to sing . The various types of the "cantar" sung by the clowns or jokers in common parlance. There were serious types of clowns and the humourous ones. Bai Sharon provided a song each in these categories. However the skin tight clothing disproportionately short dress compared to her vital statistics evoked murmurs of criticism. There is much our women tiatrist should learn both in dress attire as a vulgar outfit destroys the soul of music. While make-up of a heavily powdered face or thick splash of rouge and lipstick does not go well with the innovative lightings unlike the days of "petromax" and destroys the original facial appearances. This needs to be checked. Cristao women in Goa need to evolve a proper dress code in the changing demographic composition of the State. There were the other forms of "duets". late Mr C Alvares known as the Father of Duets had introduced this form of music. Most of the duets revolve around religion family social aspects. In fact both Tomazinho explained to the audience that the "cantar" is essentially a hymn(geet) poetry (kavita) story (kahani)or a vernon (version. it epitomises happiness sorrow love anger hatred. But one thing is certain "cantar" is the MIRROR OF SOCIETY from time to time. Wilmix & Sharon Mazarello sang humourous songs. Ms Sony and Tracy had the theme song a fight among the daughter-in-law a common thing in Goan society .Then the Mil (poder- baker) Mel (pilot ) and Nel (tailor) sang a duet -- trio. The song which earned two repeat performance from the audience was "Jaunmdice" reflecting the disease which struck the capital city last year. Ironically while the Konknes do not use pen names most of the Cristao tiatrists identify their names with the villages so you have "menino de bandar " or Agnelo de SantaCruz and so on. Or one is just known by the first name throughout the career. Amir Khan imitated in song to perfection, several singers present and of yester years viz; late Robin Vaz, late Minguel Rod late Jacinto Vaz and others like H Brittona. Young Chico also the youngest sang a song which spoke of cazar and honeymoon a theme not befitting his age. Mando which is the reflection of East meets West was performed by a quartet. The theme song was sung by a father and his three children a daughter and two sons. It showed how many of the younger generation either are ignorant or feel shy to sing "Mandos" for fear of being labelled as singers of the "servants language " as Konkani was branded in yester years or out of ignorance or for a mindset which makes one believe Manods is restricted only to the "bacar" class. The daughter sang the Mando giving it a heavily loaded english westernised accent as most youth do today. Then there was a "rap" style version of the Mando but the final version would turn the present Hindutva regime or the saffron brigade red faced when the "Mando" was sung imitating a Bhajani style of 'ah ah ah --rre sa re ga..... ma style. But the man behind the sucess of the musical evening yesterday and today was none other than Mr BABUSH FERNANDES-- speaking to this writer Babush was cheesed that not much coverage was given in the Goa press. The veteran hailing from Dadar Mumbai has now shifted to Naigon in Vasai. He proudly introduced the cast to this writer Ms Linda (organ) Mr Marshall Rose the brother of late Alfred Rose (Saxaphone) Mr John Fernandes (Bass Guitar) Mr Teo Alvares (Trumpet) Mr Allan Moraes (Percussion) and Mr Abdanio Rodrigues one of Indias best known drummer. Mr Babush is proud that two of his sons Mr Benny (lead guitar) and John (Bass) are part of the musical group --- this gives him the enthusiasm to devoute himself wholeheartedly for Konkani music. That Konkani music is evoking tremendous response both from Goans within India and abroad is noted by the fact that almost each week a cassete is released. With rapid advancement in sound technology and easy access one need not wait for Akashvani or Doordarshan or FM for their favourite hit songs said Ms Cardozo who is like Prof Tomazinho an ardent music lover and was a co-compere of the "Fultam Cantar" over two half hour session . Mr Babush has a track record of providing back up music to almost all the cassettes that have been recorded since yester years. The enthusiasm with which he conducted the troupe was seen in his agile physical movements which clearly revealed music runs in his blood despite his advanced age. Earlier at 1500hrs there was a "Geet guitar and cantar session . The Konknems call music as "padd" and the cristaos "cantar" both form a fine blend and communal harmony which makes us an unique community in the whole world. While those singing "cantar" do so by rote the padds are most sung reading through the lines. Some of the interesting prominent songs were sung by Ms Bindiya Vast Naik, Prabhakar Chari and Mr.Shirish Lawande from Agxe. Others were Elvis Goes and Sweta Ferandes but the humour was provided by Cosme Fernandes attired in a western suit and a "pudve or dhoti" He is a promising singer and will excel in years to come. Despite the scorching sun the Pandal at the late "Robin Vaz" makeshift auditorium at the EDC grounds named as Alfred Rose Nagar, was packed with both young and old . A fair share of other wise stiff seated conservative Konknos and Cristaos were seen stomping clicking fingers or clapping as most of the songs composed by Dr Manoharrai Sardessai revolving around romance Valentines day were sung. The "Mul Goenkar" presentation under the heading "LOK MANCH" wa possible only due to the efforts of Mr Kamlakar bab Mahalshi Mr Ajit Poinguinkar Mr Shailesh Panandikar an activist and compere Mr Prashant Naik Pt Bhaskar Chandarwarkar who had earlier in the morning session answered several questions on Music its origins and forms informed the audience that it is the mother who introduces music to the childs ear. This being a fact the entire "Lok manch " centred around Mothers -- the various troupes of the Schedule Tribes community who are found in the Western Ghat Talukas of Goa viz Canacona, Quepem Sanguem and Sattari with a few in pockets of Ponda Salcette and Pernem provided a spectacular performance using traditional agriculture implements. Most of the 27 fugdi forms were presented. Of interest however was a presentation by a "Dhavli" (our common dhovlo used for rice and curry churning} beat fugdi. It is a form of music intended to distract Lord Ganesha in ones household from trying to join others for immersion as the one day three day nine day etc immersion begans depending on each household. This was by the Vivekananda Kala Sadri manch led by Ms Bhagirathi from keri Sattari . The other interesting one was a Dhalo and Fudgi a combine of dance and song for atleast 15 minutes led by Ms Lakshavati Velip of the Sanjivani Mahila mandal from Gaondongiri Canacona taluka. The troupe led by Ms Amalia Dias a dimunitive figure has to her credit travel world wide for performances in Russia France and elsewhere they hail from Avedem in Quepem. Another group led by Ms Seema Borges " Haldi Musurut Ghanem" and the Shantadurga Bakti Mahila mandal group led by ms Shubada made presentation. The Asali troupe from Shristhal Canacona also perfomed and finally Kannache geet by Mr A S Dias of Chandorchem Salkam hit on the nuances of broken marriages and divorce. So enthusiastic were the male musicians that they asked the audience whether they wanted more and this evoked peals of laughter from the audience. Truly these "niz goencars" have been the soul of Goa needs a better understanding and sensitivity to their needs. Never before were these troupes given the patronage by the State Government after late Bausaheb Bandodkar first CM of Goa. It must be said to the credit of Bhausaheb that he gave excellent job opportunities to Goan tiatrists singers etc for he believed strongly that only with economic upliftment these social entertainers could provide the social cultural etertainment to the masses. With Event management being the latest in the service industry the Government should ensure a strict check on "middle men " who capitalise on the talents of the "niz goencars" . As it is an amount of Rs 15 lacs has been provide by the Department of Culture Govt of Goa to this mega event. Conspicous by his absence was the Minister for culture Mr Ramrao Desai. Others that vanished were Uday Bhembre and M Boyer now confined to his home owing to a paralytic stroke and other stalwarts, though Pundalik Naik was around. It was rumoured that though 8000 invites were distributed the invite card did not reach the above and some others mainly from Margao. However there appears a definite pattern made by the organisor to elimniate clandestinely some the old crust for a better tommorrow. Even the vote of thanks mischievously left out many despite the long list of who is who in the committee. It appears that most of the youth yesterdays student activist from among the Saraswat Hindus have taken over the propogation of Konkani. Goas only Konkani daily Sunapaarant now with a new look 10 page daily is headed by Sandesh Prabhudesai.is in the vanguard of such a mission. While their mission eventually will never change viz only to safeguard Government jobs for the Saraswats Hindus a ground swell for the slogan "Konkni uloi Konkni buroi" is being created with heavy concentration on the Marathi strongholds of Bahujan Samaj in Novas Conquistas. Therefore while Cristaos and Bahujan Samaj youth and middle aged persons were propped up the old cast faded into oblivion and the Saraswat Hindu youth called the shots. Students of Dempo College and College in Pernem served as volunteers -- right from catering to cleaning and providing water in toilets they did their job in extreme devoution and were presented individual momentos for their services by Pt Bhaskar Chandavarkar. Mr Shridhar Kamat Bambolkar the architect behind the entire organisation plainly stated "there is as of today no conflict between Konkani and Marathi. The language issue has been given a decent burial and none wish to rake it up any further.. Our energies are being diverted to promote Konkani rather that waste our energies in confronting the linguistic fanatics" The function ended successfully at 2236 hrs thanks to the co-operation of Mayor of Panaji Mr Ashok Naik the young strict dynamic Commissioner of the Corporation of City of Panjim -- Byculla Mumbai born Mr Sanjith Rodrigues. Other prominent dignitaries present were Lorna and Pundalik Naik. Surprisingly most of the politicians past and present especially from Salcete the seat of Konkani movement were not seen anywhere in the crowd. Change over old guard the youth are here seemed to be the message. The print and visual media Doordarshan Cable Networks etc covered the entire proceedings. The CD s cassettes will be available immediately for sale at the Konkani Academy and it is worth a collectors copy given unexpected enthusiasm that Konkani mai is recieving these days. Until the 2007 ......for the third such sangeet sammelan .... from the EDC Grounds GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Education Special: Study in the UK now. Go to http://in.specials.yahoo.com/index1.html ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
