Saudi: High Five! Mangalore Association Turns Half a Decade Old
Lancy D'Souza, Ravi Karkera, Victor Nobby Sequeira and Dinesh Shetty
Al Khobar, Dec 15: MASA took off with a flying start way back in 2006. On its fifth anniversary celebration held recently, MASA seized the moment to highlight an amazing communal harmony with the flyer aptly titled 'Savi Nenapu' (Sweet memories).
In a manner of speaking, when the first president Karunakar Salian accompanied by current president Ravi Karkera and past president Madhav Amin lit the ceremonial lamp, its first flames brightened up the cheerful faces of an expectant audience.
It was a unique composition by Ravi Karkera in his welcome song (Swagatha Haadu) detailing MASA's birth, its objectives and cause of popularity. This was sung by Dayanand Shriyan, Naveen Bhandary, Prakash Sanil, Pradeep Kadekar, Nizamuddin, Victor Sequeira, Parinitha Gopal Shetty, Praveena Sukumar Shetty, Sujaya Ravi Karkera, Sumitra Pradeep Kumar and Shilpa Prakash Sanil, with Padmanabha Pai on tabla, Ali on cham cham and Ravi Karkera on harmonium.
General secretary Viraj Shetty read out the annual report, followed by the awards ceremony for academic, sports, food festival, dedicated service and man of the year.
It was a proud moment for Madhav Amin, advisory committee head as he humbly accepted the Man of the Year award with grace and dignity during his thank you speech.
With the release of Souvenir ‘Spandana’ meaning poetically as ‘Heartbeat’, MASA paved the way via this 5th Anniversary to discover the diverse aspirations of the Mangalorean community. Thanks to chairman of souvenir committee, Dayanand Shriyan and his team, editorial committee chief, Lancy D’Souza and team for their sincere effort in bringing out beautiful souvenir ‘Spandana’
Launching its website www.masame.org proved testimony of club member Ameer Hussain’s creative potential juices to appreciative applause from a grateful crowd.
An awesome evening unraveled sheer talent as children and adults provided mesmerizing entertainment in its entire splendor. Taking to the stage in confident strides, every individual and groups exhibited their skills in singing and dancing to popular hit tunes.
The ambience was a perfect setting for an enjoyable wintry evening, bringing young and adults together in mixed company.
Audience witnessed yet again stunning performances by the best place winners of Talents Competition. Solo dance by Shrasha Sudhir Rai, Deeksha Bhandary, Deanne Philip Monis, Ailish Jerome Almeida and Group dance mixed retro/metro songs Choreographed by Nagaraj Bajal and performed by Prishita Poojary, Kushi Karkera, Srinidhi Bajal, Sheetal Sanil, Larissa Fernandes and Shreya Bajal.
Arun D’Souza as a school teacher in the skit ‘UKG Putanigala Karyakrama’ displayed by Dammam Seniors Kudla Adventurers, Satish Bajal and group was a hilarious comedy and classic presentation by the other participants as naughty students was worth watching. Audience couldn’t stop laughing from the beginning till the end. In the role as students were Sathish Bajal, Nagaraj Bajal, Ganesh Karkera, Prakash Sanil, Ivan Pinto, Vincent Saldhana, Sunil D’souza, Edwin Martis, Ritesh Sanil, Niranjan Karkera, Prateek Poojary, Kiran Raj Bhandary, Rajesh Padubidiri, Pradeep Kumar and Vance Saldana.
Skit ‘Kalve Ori (One Thief)’ proved that Narendra Shetty and his group are extremely talented, versatile and fun loving. Other participants in the lead role were: Santhosh Shetty, Dayanand Chowta, Pravin D Shetty, Gopal Shetty, Jitesh Kottara, Prakash Shetty, Sukumar Shetty, Sudhir Rai and among children, Siya chowta, Shreyas Chowta, Chirag Rai, Nihal Shetty, Spoorthi Shetty and Smrithi Shetty.
Music brings people together. A dance on Kannada Folk Song by the Ladies set the mood right on track, livening up the moods and feelings in the audience. Choreographed by Chetana Poojary and presented by Dammam and Khobar Ladies, Chetana Poojary, Suchitra Bajal, Preeta Bangera, Mahima Poojary, Sunitha Shriyan, Sujaya Karkera and in guest appearance Smriti Poojary, Shreya Bangera, Ashish Sanil, Shrujan Sanil and Nagaraj Bajal.
As the cultural evening progressed, superbly choreographed skits in wondrous spirited performances won the audience hands down. The kids were at their best bringing the house down with their rendition of Mixed – retro/metro songs, Bollywood mix, the unforgettable toxic current rage “Chamak Challo” and racy infectious “Kolaveri Di” which is the present youth anthem in India by Master Prateek Poojary fully enjoyed by the audience. Bollywood number “Aisi Deewangee” from the movie Deewana sung by Vanessa Saldana received accolades from the audience.
Raffle draws had people turning on their listening skills to hear of fortune striking gold for them. Exciting prizes ranged from the ever popular 40” Samsung LED TV to the most coveted iPad 2, iPhone, laptop and gold coin.
Turn out of members and guests in good numbers were ample proof of the methodical popularity that MASA wields in the Eastern Province.
Satish Bajal and group – “Kudla Adventures” had a dream ensemble enacting a mixed skit “Kudla Darshana“ to utter delight. This took the audience back to Mangalore to its original Culture with glimpses of Koti Chennaya, Yakshagana, Boota Kola, Kadala Parba, Ullalada Rani Abbakka Devi, Christmas, Daff and Madime with fragrance of original fresh Mangalore Mallige spreading all over the auditorium. All credit goes to Nagaraj Bajal for his marvelous creativity, choreography and in preparation of costumes for each participant especially for Yakshagana and Boota kola done single handedly by him.
In the Yakshagana part, the role played by Vishwanath Suvarna, Ivan Pinto and Vincent Saldana was commendable. The movement of Vishwanath Suvarna was graceful. Ivan Pinto proved his stamina by his nonstop mesmerizing Yakshagana dance steps for over 5 minutes while Vincent Saldana undoubtedly presented a classic act. Bhoota Kola by Ismail Hajabba and Nagaraj Bajal was fully entertaining. The act of Ismail was amazing. A superb display of highly talented presentation by Nagraj Bajal stunned the audience. Padmanabha Pai played an important role as Bhatji, while the couple, Chetana and Sadashiv as bride and bridegroom was the special attraction of the entire episode. That was altogether a complete flash back of Mangalore’s traditional culture.
The participants of Kudla Darshana were: Sathish Bajal, Suchitra Bajal, Srinidhi Bajal, Nagaraj Bajal, Ganesh Karkera, Suman Karkera, Khushi Karkera, Divya Karkera, SadashivPoojary, Chetana Poojary, Prateek Poojary, Prishita Poojary, Ivan Pinto, Laveena Pinto, Larren Pinto, Vincent Saldhana, Jecintha Saldhana, Vance Saldhana, Vanessa, Sarita Aranhna, Giselle Aranhna, Arun D’souza, Amrit D`souza, Annora, Niranjan Karkera, Jagajeevan Karkera, Pradeep Kumar, Manish, Uday Sanil, Prema Sanil, Anusha Sanil, Ritesh Sanil, SudarshanSanil, Vedavathi Sanil, Shrujan Sanil, Sheetal Sanil , Babu Kotebettu, Gulabi Kotebettu, Ismail Hajabba, Chandrashekar Karkera, Mohini Karkera, Edwin Martis, Merlyn Martis, Mahima Poojary, Sujaya Karkera, Preeta Bangera, Rajesh Padubidiri, Kiran Bhandary, Sunil D’souza, Padmanabha Pai, Yashwanth Sanil, Noorudhin Bajal and Usman Hosangady
Anchors were Ibrahim Khader, Lancy D’ Souza, Victor Nobby Sequeira, Naveen Bhandary, Deeksha Bhandary, Prateek Poojary, Sarita Aranha, Santhosh Shetty and Ravi Karkera. Vote of thanks presented by Narendra Shetty, Entertainment Committee Head.
Snacks and dinner were served during the course of the program with the assistance of Ahmed Gulam Beary and team.
Sponsors of the event and Raffle prizes were: M/S. Intermodal Services, Al Manafa Transport Services, Madhav Amin, Dayanand shriyan, Dayanand /Sanil, Babu Kotebettu, Edwin Martis, Chandrashekar Karkera, G R Shetty, Ravi Karkera, Prakash Sanil and Bros., Ameer Hussain, Krishnaraja Kedige, Gopal Shetty and Group, Bhasker Kanchan and Friends, Diwakar Salian, Sheikh Moideen, Vincent Saldana, Prem Bhandary, Uday Shetty, Vishwanath Shetty, Sahul Hameed, Santhosh Shetty, Sadanand Poojary, Vidyadhar Shetty.
In the early hours of dawn, thrilled spectators made a reluctant exit from the venue, thoroughly lost in the magical spell cast on them during an unforgettable night.
Rather than resting on its laurels with the massive success of various past activities, MASA just keeps innovating, reaching for something even better.
MASA’s 5th Anniversary celebration under the supervision of overall management by Ravi Karkera, Santhosh Shetty and Madhav Amin concluded on a moving and mystical note giving a real meaning of 'Savi Nenapu', the Sweet Memories.