January 23, 2024

In the realm of performing for a Nite it is in the mind of any artiste that enthralling the audience is of pivotal necessity. When you exist within a system that daily surviving or learning to survive is of great importance, it is your pride in yourself that comes to your rescue in a celebration of hope and love. Look at the Konkani Language, for its artistes; it is the everyday struggle, everyday grief, the pain of longing unremittingly transforming the love for the language in the lyrics of love and compassion.

It is a Lyrist with an idea who joins the ethos of a whole lot of people who understand but are not able to express themselves. He becomes their mouthpiece and brings out their feeling and understanding into the limelight. In a language like Konkani, spoken by a microscopic number of people and not having any patronage, it the longing for our own home and family that sustains profoundly the struggle of making our language heard.

Those in middle ages or moving ahead of becoming senior citizens, would vaguely remember the melodious voices of Wilfy and Meena played on gramophone records in their childhood settings. In some of the most poignant lines of Wilfy’s poetry there is a feeling of immortality, listening them is poetic, futuristic, promising, understanding and building the culture of a place and language that singlehanded makes him the iconic wholesomeness of a genius that defines the needs and aspiration of a whole generation.

It is always remarked that nothing grows under the banyan tree. Could the children of Wilfy and Meena raise out of the shadow of their illustrated and immortal parents. Do they lose their courage and independence in trying to keep intact the huge burden of the legacy of their parents? Can they outgrow and come on their own?

The immortal creation of Wilfy sung in the original by the erudite artiste P B Srinavas evokes emotions in every Konkani speaking person, was sung by Viswas in the holy land of Israel. This song with some lyrical changes to suit the occasion mesmerized the audience and those who watched the programme online the world over. Viswas Rebimbus stealing the show by singing Mog tuzo kitlo ashelom was really the highlight.

Vishwas uniqueness lies in his capacity to express a vast array of emotions which the audience reacted by flashing their torch lights. The song resonated the power of what music in its angelic purity, the versatility of an emotional singer with his heart brimming with love for the Konkani language brings about.

Vishwas performance is not solely about his golden voice. It is also about the way he commanded the stage and the emotional enchainment of the listeners. A magnetic performance excludes confidence, engages the crowd, and creates a memorable experience that lingers long after the final notes have faded away.

The performance Vishwas is multifaceted and mesmerizing. It displays his artistic expression which encompasses technical expertise, emotional connection, stage presence and the interpretive prowess and adaptability.

As we continue to appreciate his artistic performance, we bow before the sheer power of music to unite and uplift the sagging soul of people who have left their country and comfort zone to work in a foreign country longing to be spiritually united with their mother – the language, the region, and the spirit of humanity.

Truly I say to you, the future generation has come of age. Every Konkani speaker and admirer ought to express the joy of the Konkani people their hearts must be seen fluttering in the wind of musical joy. This joy is a symbolic expression for the hard way that our previous generations have tried to keep the flag of Konkani language flying high through the medium of ‘Wilfy Nite’ and we now look forward to 284 Nite at the St. Agnes College Auditorium. Come 26th January 2024, we come to the epic aspiration for knowing that the future is bright, the uprooted have grown their own root and come of age of their own and the shade of self-worth have finally arrived.

In this Wilfy Nite we look forward to symbolically carry the spirit of understanding our cultural moorings, build our identity with our historical roots and look forward to the new future with hope that the enduring struggle preservers against the numerous barricades between the people who want to have something of their own.

Coming to the theme of 284 Nite, it is the struggle of an artiste, having a grim struggle. Will he come through? He has been brought up with the vibrant history of love, freedom and laughter before the on slot of other factors that overshadow everything. He has the right to come to a life of glory and the recognition of talent. He has the activist and poet within him to tell their personal stories in a carnival of optimism that abides in their very soul, they are many people of goodwill who support such artistes across the world who have unswervingly demonstrated against the plummeting accountability of society. Every artiste has to be supported. They build the ethos of a culture; they are the repose of our very existence. Their sacrifice, their valiant struggle and their stories supersede any sacrifice that one does for our language, culture and talent. Their fidelity to their homeland and language is deep sturdy in the face of other languages and culture rocking the boat as the sea rocks the boat that floats in its waters.

The new generation has come of age, the horrors of vanishing from the landscape is behind us, the next generation have been motivated to bring out their talent in transformative talent of hope, of recognition and immortal Love. No one will be silenced. It is the Konkani people‘s legitimate right to celebrate talent, freedom, autonomy, life and dignity.

Looking forward to Wilfy Nite 284 – another world is not only possible but a continuation of building on the legacy of Wilfy. Can’t we hear that Konkani is breathing it can be heard on 26th of January 2024 ably nurtured by the matriarch Meena.