Sanny de Quepem
Sanny de Quepem, a 8 times Kala Academy's "Best Singer Award winner", and
well known Konkani stage singer and composer died yesterday evening (9th
November 2007) in Kuwait. Arrangements are being made to fly the mortal
remains to Goa.
Born in 1951 at Onsnimadem, Cuncolim, Salcette and was baptised "Cruz Sanny
Vaz", he is the eldest among 11 children. His family moved permanently to
reside in Quepem in 1952. He did his primary education at Guardian Angel
High School, Sanvordem and later as a boarder at St. Anthony's High School,
Monte-de-Guirim, and continued at Pope John XXIII High School and Holy Cross
Institute in Quepem.
Here's a brief of an interview with www.goa-world.com published on the
Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter:
His first steps on the stage was for an English play titled "Ali Baba and
His Forty Thieves" for the annual social gathering, and later in the play
"Man from Jericho". He enacted the role of a damsel in both presentations
at Monte de Guirim. He also participated in the school choir as well as in
cultural programmes. His favourite liking was to sing songs and doing
imitations/ mimicry. He composed his first song "Sounsarachea Adnixt" at
the age of 10, and he sang it repeatedly for almost a decade on several
occasions. Sanny studied Automoble Engineering at ITI, Formaguddi and
joined "Agencia Sequeira (Leyland Co.)" in 1975. In search of better
prospects, he travelled to Saudi Arabia where he worked until August 1998.
After a gap of three months, opportunity again knocked on his door, and he
landed in Kuwait and joined a Japanese Automobile firm, and continues to
reside since. It was in 2000, he once again took to the Konkani stage for
Laurent Pereira's drama and since have composed and sang his own songs and
also assisted his colleagues (be it prompting, direction or revising
scripts).
Sanny remembers his earliest performance in "Vepari Veniceacho" (Merchant of
Venice) - a Konkani play translated by Miss Amelia Gomes and directed by
Peter Dias where he played a comedy role. He acted in every drama that took
place in Quepem or in the surrounding villages for Konkani tiatrs. It was
at this junction he started his career with the professional directors like
Jess Fernandes, along with Hortencio Pereira, Salvador, Natty de Navelim,
Nora, Cajetan de Sanvordem, and C. D'Silva. This was the turning point for
Sanny when he was auditioned for singing at the All India Radio (AIR),
Panjim when he was recording for Jess Fernandes Konkani radio recorded
plays. For a brief stint in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1975, Sanny sang at
Banghwadi when he was introduced by his cousin (who played bass) to Paul
Romy who staged a musical show.
Before flying to Saudi Arabia, Sanny acted in his home village for Felix
Pereira's tiatr "Rogtak Rogot Visronam" and finally at Colva (1977) for
"Doganch Puru" written and directed by Nelson (Nelson-Anthony-Conception
fame). For the annual Kala Academy tiatr competitions, he was rewarded for
his dedication towards singing Konkani songs and have acted twice for Ceasar
D'Mello. Even while on vacation he participated in the Konkani singing
competitions in 1986 and won the award as the Best Singer for the eight
time.
A man of few words, he humbly states "I do not consider myself as an actor,
but can convincingly do small roles. I am good at singing and composing
solos". On and off, he is seen on the Konkani stage in Kuwait as part of a
duo or a trio songs combination. At last week's Konkani drama of Rosary
Ferns' "Bhurgim - Mai-Paichem Sukh" his song saluting the work of "Aya"
(Maid) received a thunderous applause, as well as for his acting as a
mentally challenged boy. His song "Kazar" in Rosary Ferns' "Raag" Konkani
Album has been well received. Sanny recalls that apart from tiatr he sang
for a Hindi orchestra (songs and medleys), as well as crooned for a dance
band "Young Challengers" for some time. He is thankful to Mr. & Mrs. Albano
Pinto for introducing him to writer-director Laurent Pereira, for whom he
expresses his gratitude for giving him a big boost.
Sanny can recollect with sharp precision events he had witnessed in his
younger days including the happenings during the pre and post liberation
years in his village during his schooling days. When time permits from his
hectic office routine, Sanny writes for the Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter under
the caption <Cross+Roads>, as well as other articles on Goanet and The Goan
Forum. His well composed songs on social themes including "Immigation to
England", "Mog" are well remembered by the audience."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/6369
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Sanny de Quepem produced his first Konkani CD album titled "Saibinnicho
Tisro Segred" in 2005 which has been claimed as 'an exceptional work' in
recognition of the composition, lyrics and specially his choice of music,
and his second album "N.R.I." in August 2007.
Sanny de Quepem also worked in Saudi Arabia. He also acted in T-Bush's 1st
Konkani e-cinema 'BLACK'. Kuwait-based Konkani tiatrists and singers will
always remember Sanny de Quepem for his support for them before and during
the staging of their tiatrs/musical shows/dramas - be it prompting, script
re-writing or songs composition.
Goa-World.Com Team (Kuwait) joins his friends and colleagues at Mustafa
Karam Co. (Suzuki) to express their heartfelt condolences to his mother,
Mrs. Lourencina Pacheco Vaz, wife Meera, son Mivron, daughter Streisand, and
his bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.
