Gerry D’Mello
Daijiworld Media Network - Toronto
Canada, Jan 27: A golden chapter in the history of Konkani music, art & culture in Canada has been unfolded, and the much-awaited first-ever “Konkani Utsav” under the banner of Canada’s Konkani Music Powerhouse 'Do Re Mi Fa Creations' released on YouTube on January 26 at 10 pm Toronto time. The Mangalurean and Goan Konkani-speaking community musicians/singers/actors based in Canada collectively created a history. A fascinating exhibition of Canada’s Konkani talents to mankind was released, the first of its kind in Canada. It is hard work and vision realized of the Konkani, by the Konkani people living in Canada, but for the world.
Almost three years ago the celebrity couple Ashith & Babita Pinto’s arrival to the beautiful land of Canada has given new inspiration to many Konkani-speaking people, especially Konkani singers living in Canada. The passion for Konkani music, art, and culture led to a brilliant thought into the minds of three stalwarts and visionaries of the Konkani literature and music world in Canada, ‘Mhozo Tallo Gaitholo’ fame Ashith-Babita Pinto and Gerry D’Mello Bendur. The trio has always worked in the past to exhibit and transform revolutionary ideas into reality. This time too, they thought of the same process. First, they launched a banner Do Re Mi Fa Creations with the utmost desire to work for Konkani music, art, and culture by uniting many talents based in Canada. The second thought was to formulate and create a song in Konkani to be presented by renowned Konkani musicians and singers which resulted in the creation of “Novo Bhorvoso (A New Hope)”, the first ever Konkani Video Song Made in Canada. This song was Gerry’s inspiring composition with a mesmerizing musical experience that Ashith crafted.
After the thrilling success of Novo Bhorvoso, during the past two years, Do Re Mi Fa Creations has strived to help the present and future generations identify with the rich history and cultural heritage of our roots through the promotion of our language and music by presenting three more Konkani videos and one “Sombrom” - live stage programme. After this series of successful projects based on three Konkani pillars viz: ‘Osmitai | Daiz | Sombrom’ (Identity /Treasure/Celebration), Do Re Mi Fa Creations ventured into yet another mega project viz: “Konkani Utsav-2024”, the first-ever in Canada. Considering the number of participants and the length of this virtual event perhaps this is the first-ever in the history of Konkani. Ashith, the brain & brawn of this history-creating event, and his talented wife Babita worked tirelessly during the past year preparing Konkani Utsav to shape and furnish a new and modern dimension to the Konkani music, art & culture in Canada. Canada is famous for its gorgeous scenery and breathtaking nature. Its beauty cannot be described in words but can be partly captured in pictures and videos. Konkani Utsav has offered glimpses of beautiful Canada through the lenses of Studio Ten04, Toronto, a well-known video production company in Canada led by Ashith and Babita Pinto.
The much-awaited ‘Konkani Utsav’ inaugural programme was held at Toronto’s renowned Tomken Twin Arena-Auditorium on Friday, January 26 at 7 pm. The programme started with a prayer led by Fr Roshan D’Souza, CSC, the spiritual director of the Mangalorean Association of Canada. Gerry D’Mello, the convenor of Do Re Me Fa Creations welcomed the full-house gathering comprised of Konkani Utsav artists and sponsors. During his speech, he extended his gratitude to the sponsors and the unassuming artists who are the cause of the success of the history-making Konkani Utsav. He highly commended Ashith and Babita for their hard work, tremendous dedication, and incredible contribution to the success of Konkani Utsav. He highlighted that a record in Canada has been created and for the very first time, over one hundred well-known mainly Mangalorean and Goan Konkani artists have exhibited their incredible talents on the Konkani Utsav stage.
The next important item of the evening was the global release of Konkani Utsav. Fr Roshan D’Souza, Vijay and Prema Dante had that unique honor. Before the release, Vijay Dante congratulated Do Re Me Fa Creations on their history-creating venture and appreciated all the talented artists who contributed to the success of Konkani Utsav. He gave a clarion call to the Konkani-speaking community to speak at least two words in Konkani with their children every day! The audience was stunned watching the premiere of the incredible 1st episode of Konkani Utsav 2024. There was thundering applause for the song ‘Mhoji Bhas Konkani’ composed by Amar Wilfy Rebimbus and presented by Canadian Konkani Children led by Ethan Pinto. The streaming of Konkani Utsav on the bigger screen started with a bang with mesmerizing music created by Ashith. The icon of Konkani music and the living legend Konkan Maina Meena Rebimbus inaugurated Konkani Utsav virtually by handing over the Konkani lamp to the younger generation. Daijiworld supremo Walter Nandalike, the chief guest of global release, applauded the entire Konkani Diaspora in Canada on this history-creating Konkani venture. While congratulating Do Re Mi Fa Creations he urged every Konkani-speaking person to support by watching and spreading the news of this unique Konkani virtual entertainment programme.
As a simple token of gratitude in recognition of their invaluable contribution, Fr Roshan and the organizers handed over Konkani Utsav mementos to all the sponsors and artists, and at that time the artists expressed their memorable experience of their audio/video recording sessions.
The hero of the memorable evening Ashith Pinto raised the vote of thanks. He thanked Fr Roshan, Vijay/Prema Dante, Ronald/Cynthie Fernandes, all the sponsors, and all the talented artists who have given their best for the great grand success of Konkani Utsav.
Ace compere Babita Pinto anchored the event in her exclusive style, giving an immense life to the Konkani Utsav inaugural event. The audience was in absolute awe witnessing her compering expertise!
The programme concluded with a delicious traditional dinner from Toronto’s renowned food business houses Konkan Delite and Udupi Madras Café.
Daijiworld Media Network, Veez Konkani Illustrated Weekly, and Radio Mango are the official Media Partners for Konkani Utsav 2024.
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