From the editor's desk :-

Dear Do-Re-Me-Fa browsers,

After a short break, I am back here again to present to you with one more melodious chord of Konkanni music.  It really gives me great joy to note your keen interest to browse this unique Konkanni music column and I remain indebted to you for your strong support and encouragement.

After presenting my earlier beautiful chords. I am overjoyed to present to you another melodious chord of music, a great star of Konkann skies, a personality filled with choicest talents, 'master of all and jack of none!' A great compere, writer, journalist, play-right, actor, composer and a singer. He is the composer of most popular hits like 'Thjea Sobhith Thea Dhon Dolle', 'Gori Gori Gai', 'Swapnneli', 'Shirley' and so on. He is none other than the one and only MICK-MAX!

Down the memory lane, I still remember when I used to attend Wilfy Nites as a child. I was a great fan of 'jumping jack' Shri Mick-Max who compered the first 25 Wilfy Nites.  I had a great desire to become like him to conduct shows with total enthusiasm and with perfect entertainment. Gradually I also developed as a compere under him and if at all someone passes an appreciative comment regarding my performance as a compere indeed the credit should go to my 'guru' Shri Mick-Max. I never expected that one day I would be privileged to have a close-knit friendship with this great Konkann star. I never even dreamt that both of us would land in the same parish of Ruwi where we together contributed our efforts to begin to celebrate the 'Monti Fest' in the traditional style in this alien land and to found a greatly acclaimed 'Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (M.C.C.P.)' the one and only existing Konkanni association in Oman.

I feel proud to present to you this wonderful chord of Shri Mick-Max and I am sure you'll enjoy reading an exclusive interview with this great personality. On behalf of all his fans, I wish Shri Mick-Max the very best in life.  May our dear Konkanni mathaa grow richer through his unique talents.

Once again I thank you for your love and great support.

Always yours,

Gerry D'Mello

'MICK-MAX' - The prolific & versatile Konkanni star

Michael Maxim D'Souza, well known in the Konkanni world by his pen name "Mick-Max", was solemnly felicitated on 29th May 2003 for his contribution to Konkanni literature and music by the "Konkanni Kutaam", Bahrain.  On his way back home from Bahrain, he had a brief, nostalgic stay at Muscat where he had lived and worked for over two decades until May 1999.  Being his old time friend and confidant, I had a great opportunity for a tête-à-tête interview with him.  The following are the extracts of the interview.

Mick-Max during one of the first 25 Wilfy Nites

Q : Dear Micky, for the benefit of our 'Do-Re-Me-Fa' column browzers, could you enlighten us with some information about your childhood and education?

A : I was born on 13th April 1950 at Bajpe, Mangalore Diocese and later we settled in Bejai, Mangalore. Currently I'm stationed at Urwa with my family. My father is Paul and my mother is Florine D'Souza.  We are 3 sisters and 5 brothers and I am the eldest. My wife is Joyce and I have two children, a girl named Karishma Michelle and a boy named Karan Russel. I had my early education at Canara High School (Main), and acquired a B.A. degree through St.Aloysius Evening College, Mangalore. Later, I did a Journalism Diploma Course at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangalore.