From the editor’s desk :-
Dear Konkani Music lovers,
Once again a hearty welcome to your favorite Daijiworld channel ‘Do..Re..Me..Fa..’ During this time of season when our brethren in Mangalore & Mumbai are enjoying the much awaited heavy showers, our friends in the Middle-East are experiencing scorching heat. Here in North America, we are experiencing an exciting summer. There are different continents, different kinds of weather but for music, there is no boundary, no weather variation! It gives the same wave length round the clock to any part of the globe.
Dear friends, I am going to present to you today, one of the rarest music sensations, a super shining star with a Golden Voice who mesmerized tens of thousands of Konkani music lovers. His ever-green numbers like… “Ye Ye Chedwa, Kani Sang-ge Vodlimai, Sade Saath Chedvan” sung during Wilfy Nites almost 25 years back are still echoing in my ears! Until this day, he has maintained his Silky Voice! The star whom I am referring to is none other than the great Sri Ivan Sequeira.
I am sure this musical chord has succeeded in bringing those nostalgic memories of yesteryears!
Thank you once again for your interest in browsing this music column!
See you again, next month, same web portal!
Yours in Do..Re..Me..Fa..,
Gerry D’Mello, Bendur
THE SILKY VOICE OF KONKAN - IVAN A. SEQUEIRA
A permanent and popular member of Wilfy Music Nites, Ivan A. Sequeira, the lover of Konkani Music, never misses a chance to sing a Konkani song, whether he is in Mangalore, Bombay, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait! He makes himself always available and is overjoyed to sing on stage and the audience too is very happy to hear his voice. Melodious, expressive and vivacious, Ivan exudes a certain charm while singing and keeps his audience mesmerized by his voice.
LIFE PROFILE : -
Ivan A. Sequeira was born in the Parish of Cascia, Mangalore, to proud parents (late) Lawrence Sequeira and Jessie Sequeira. Ivan enjoyed a happy childhood with his two brothers.
Ivan had his education in the prestigious St. Aloysius College from where he earned his B.A, graduate degree. From 1977 – 1980 he worked in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia during which, he married Philomena Sequeira and eventually had two lovely children, Nishal and Nihal. Now he is happily settled in Bombay with his family, and is keeping his interest alive in Konkani Music by singing songs at dramas and Nites!
IVAN AND KONKANI MUSIC : -
Ivan himself narrates his encounter and life long association with Konkani Music as follows. He says that music was a great God-given talent bestowed on him from his childhood itself. From his early childhood, Ivan was keenly interested in listening to and singing music. The famous Konkani singer Henry T. D’Souza who was then popularly known as “Guitar Henry” was his childhood neighbour. Henry used to visit Ivan’s house daily in the evening with his guitar. Then Ivan used to sing to the accompaniment of Henry’s guitar. Both used to enjoy their performance to their heart’s content, but only without an audience!
When Ivan was studying in the 4th Std., his class teacher Mrs. Evelyn D’Silva offered him the first opportunity to participate in the children’s singing competition in school. From then onwards, he was encouraged to take part in the prestigious singing competitions held at St. Don Bosco hall, Mangalore. At Don Bosco Hall competitions, Ivan started winning 1st place golden awards in the Solo, Duet and Group category competitions. The keen observer Wilfy Rebimbus, “the Konkan Kogul” took a great liking for Ivan’s singing talents and incorporated him in his Wilfy Nite singing troupe!
IVAN AND WILFY NITES : -
The first song which Wilfy composed for Ivan to sing in his Wilfy Nite was “Kaani Saang-ge Voddli –Mai.” Ivan’s rendition of the song was superb and well-liked by the audience so much that from then onwards Ivan became a permanent member of the Wilfy Nites troupe! Wilfy Rebimbus composed songs in keeping with the voice and physical growth of Ivan, and encouraged him to perform during Wilfy Nites. Ivan’s every performance had an electrifying effect on the audience together with a thundering applause. When Ivan was a boy, he sang songs like “Pollovnk haanv lhaan dhistan”, “Lhaanponnan” etc. When he was a teenager, he was given songs to sing like “Sobith Soondhar Naari”, “Flaavia” etc. When he was a College student, he sang fitting love songs like “Sadde-saath Cheddvan”, “Ye, Ye, Cheddva”, “Bobby” etc. Now he has spent a satisfying 36 years of his life singing with the Wilfy Rebimbus troupe!
Ivan has participated in almost every Wilfy Nite. Even when he was working in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1990, he sang in Wilfy Nites which were performed in those places. He now sings on stage in Bombay during dramas, Nites and in various CD recordings. Recently he had the opportunity to sing in Kuwait during the KCWA function.
THANKS AND APPRECIATION : -
As Ivan’s standing gratitude goes to his childhood trainer “Guitar Henry D’Souza” and to his life long music sponsor Wilfy Rebimbus, he is particularly thankful to his appreciative audience at large. If Ivan is encouraged to keep on singing, it is because of the appreciation shown by his audience during his performances. He wholeheartedly thanks his audience for their thunderous applause and expresses gratitude to his friends and troupe colleagues for their appreciative pats on his back after his performances.
Long live Ivan Sequeira and his charming Konkani singing!