REMO IN KUWAIT.
Goan pop singer Remo Fernandes from Siolim Bardez is the pride of Goa. He
is the jewel in the Goan community. As a Goan I am proud of him. I admire
him much because he takes pride in being a Goan and much more I admire him
because of his love for Goan language Konkani. During the language
agitation in Goa he showed his total affiliation and support to Konkani
cause. He made Goa more popular than many of the popular Goans. When Rajiv
Gandhi was Prime Minister of India, Remo made Goa a household name in Rajiv
Ghandhis heart. He made Goa more impressive than any of the politicians.
Because of the admiration of Remo by Rajiv Gandhi, the Marathivadis and
Nagrivadis in Goa became envious of Remo. But Remo is Remo. His name and
fame went not only all over India but even beyond the borders of India. The
Goans are not unknown to Hindi Film industry especially to Bollywood since
time immemorial Goan musicians played a very crucial role in Hindi Films but
none received as much popularity and as much importance as Remo did. Naphie
Rod one of the nightingales of Konkani songs once told this writer that in
Hindi Film industry inspite of her being there as playback singer and also
by her association with top Hindi Film troupes including that of Mahendra
Kapoor, she lamented that Hindi Filmwalas are showing scant respect for
Goans which means Goans are not getting as much importance as they deserved.
But Remo Fernandes destroyed this trend and made to accept him in Hindi
Film Industry as somebody.
During my College days in Goa I used to hear lot of Remo, one of the popular
spots in Goa where he was performing was at Calangute Beach. His father
Bernardo Fernandes was also a very prominent Goan whose contribution in the
promotion of Mando Festival since the inception year in Goa at Panaji is to
be applauded. It is nice to know that wherever Goans are settled outside
Goa and India they show high regards for Remo and whenever possible they
invite him to perform in the countries where they are settled or working.
Gulf is one of the places where Remo is invited to perform very many times,
Kuwait being the first place. It was in 1987 somewhere in October Remo alone
was brought to Kuwait by the New Goan Overseas Association. During this
time he performed in front of the hall-packed audience at Messeela Beach
Hotel. Not only this, thru the influence of the organizers he was taken to
Kuwait TV where he was interviewed for about 30 minutes. According to my
information Remo was paid as fees for his appearance in Kuwait that time,
Indian Rupees Ten Thousand Only plus boarding and Lodging in a mediocre
Hotel. (For a visiting Tiatrist coming from Goa to participate in our Shows
we spend around 40 50 Thousand Rupees). This being the first time, Remo
according to my source was very grateful to the organizers for giving him a
strong push to shine in the Gulf and he considered it a very kind gesture of
the organizers.
The second time he was invited to perform just before the invasion of Kuwait
was by the Expatriate Club of one Mr. Frank. Frank was one of the Goans who
stayed in Kuwait during the invasion period and his whereabouts till now is
unknown. Some of the people who made disaster of their life in Kuwait by
staying in invaded Kuwait were involved in illicit affairs with their
concubines who stopped their illegal partners to leave them to prevent their
separation. Many of them were totally desparate and being so they
volunteered to stay in invaded Kuwait saying it is better to die in Kuwait
only though the same persons said that because they are bold they stayed in
Kuwait during the war.
The third time Remo was invited to perform in Kuwait was about three years
back by Indian Aviation Staff Association under the then presidency of Mr.
Kumar, the current General Manager of Caesars Airlines and at that time
Indian Rupees 5.5 lakhs were paid to Remo as his charges plus boarding and
lodging for him and for his entire troupe comprising about 5 members.
During that time he performed at Indian Arts Circle Funaitees in front of
good audience.
The last time he performed in Kuwait was on 12th of January this year at
Safir Palace Hotel, under the organizers known as I Entertainers. The
show according to information went well, performed well by Remo but
attendance was merely around one hundred. This type of low attendance for
Remos show I think was first time in the history. Even for our local Tiatro
we dont see such a low attendance. I dont exactly understand the real
reason behind this low turn out but it looks from the conversations I had
with some of Remos fans was that people feel Remo does not give anything
much new, performing the same old items thereby making his performance
boring for some. After the show lot of stories started circulating in Kuwait
either thru telephone calls or thru emails that the Compeer of the show and
Videographer/Photographer were humiliated by Remo for interrupting him on
the stage while his performance was on. There was accusations on Remo
including that he is become proud now and he is not what a humble man he was
especially when he got first breakthrough in Kuwait thru The New Goan
Overseas Association. However, in his reply thru email, to the accusation
of compeer, Remo proved these allegations as false by justifying his stand
on every step. To add salt to the wound, the organizers also scolded the
compeer for falsely accusing Remo. For the time being this is a very hot
topic of discussion in Kuwait not only amongst the Goan community but also
amongst Indians.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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