>From the 1950s, the name Alfred Rose meant a great deal to tiatro lovers;
he was everyones hero - the center of attraction! People eagerly waited to
listen to a new song by him every time there was a Bomboikars tiatro. In
those days, he always sang the opening song in a tiatro. The moment he
appeared on the stage dressed in a tuxedo, a top hat on his head, a magic
wand in his hand and white gloves on his hands, people welcomed him with a
big applause and listened to his melodious voice. Many tried to imitate his
voice but none succeeded because he was gifted with natural gold plates in
his voice; hence, the title The man with the golden voice! I still
remember him sing the famous song MANDOVI in English (it was Greek to me
then) and Konkani in the late 1950s for which he was encored and
appreciated. Alfred Rose was the ambassador of our mother tongue. He was
famous both at home and abroad. He was one of the most liked Goan singers
in Mangalore.
All of Alfreds songs carried a moral with them. The audience listened to
his songs attentively and carried the message home with them. While most of
our singers did not and do not know solfas (musical notes) Alfred was very
good at them which was why he was at ease while composing music for his
songs. Besides standard Konkani songs, he also composed and sang songs with
Hindu-Konknni accent which helped attract the Hindu community to our
tiatros. He often sang songs dressed as a Hindu with puddiem, khomis,
coat ani topi.
Although Alfred Rose sang duets with other female artists of the Konkani
stage, most of his duets prior to his marriage to Rita were with Antonette
who was well-versed in singing as well as acting which is why she gradually
came to be known as the melody queen of the Konkani stage! She mesmerized
the audience with her acting and sweet voice and went on to become the
darling of tiatro lovers. The following song titled "AGHO MOJEA SUNDOREA"
(I think) is one of the yesteryear classics which became very famous on
Akashwanni Ponnje. It is a simple love song in which Tukaram addresses his
girlfriend not by her name but as 'sundorem' (beautiful) and this is what
makes the song more appealing to the public:
"AGHO MOJEA SUNDOREA" sung by Alfred Rose & Antonette Mendes
Lyrics by: Alfred Rose
Legend: AM = Antonette Mendes; AR = Alfred Rose
I
AM: Zuvieo, fulam; xinvtim, mogrim
Ghe re tuka pormollachim
Tujeach mogan vinchun haddlim
Fulang tujer uddoitelim
Chorus
AR: Agho mojea sundorea
Khuim gho tum edea velar
AM: Voddun bolunaka, bappak kollot mojea
AR: Vah, vah! Agho mojea sundorea
Khuim gho tum edea velar
AM: Voddun bolunaka
AR: Ham! Puro Gho
AM: Bappak kollot mojea
AR: Am, ham
II
AR: Tujeach mogan, kalliz lasta
Sundorea utor tujem, veginch dhi gho mhaka
AM: Tukaram
AR: Ham!
AM: Bhienaka
AR: Nam hanv bhinam
AM: Sopnan ravtam tuka
AR: Am, ham! Khorem sangta
AM: Bappa ani ayi
AR: Vah, Vah!
AM: Zanvuim kortat tuka
Chorus
AR: Oh ho! Agho mojea sundorea
Ek beiju dhi mhaka
AM: Ghe zai title tuka
AR: Dhi gho tor
AM: Ayik sangonaka
AR: Oh ho! Agho mojea sundorea
Ek beiju dhi mhaka
AM: Ghe zai title tuka
AR: Ghetam, ghetam, dhi poviea
AM: Ayik sangonaka
AR: Ai, hai!
III
AM: Tum mozo Tukaram
AR: Hai! Tum mojem sundorem
AM&AR: Polle kitlem sobit tem amchem hem zoddem
AM: Kalliz hem mojem
Negar nam vechem
AR: Koxem votlem
AM: Aiz passun moro porian
AR: Ai, hai!
AM: Hanv tujem sundorem
AR: Mugelem
Chorus
AM&AR: Login ami korteleanv
Ekttaim ami zateleanv
AR: Vah, vah!
AM&AR: Dogaim eka-mekak
Kedinch vissorchenanv
AM&AR: Login ami korteleanv
AR: Vah, vah!
AM&AR: Ekttaim ami zateleanv
AR: Um-hum!
AM&AR: Dogaim eka-mekak
Kedinch vissorchenanv
That's all for now from Dom's antique shelf. I am taking off to India today
to be with my sundorem back home.
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
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