Media Release
Bahrain, May 26: The Our Lady of the Arabia Auditorium of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Bahrain was full to the brim on Thursday, May 22, as hundreds thronged to witness ‘Nachom-ia Ghavum-ia, Konkani Fulloum-ia', a glittering musical evening featuring stars from Goa and Mangaluru being flown in for this event. Even a day or two before the main event, no one could restrain the fans from sneaking their way in to the auditorium during the practice sessions in the hope of catching a glimpse or even taking a selfie. The seats started filling an hour ahead of the commencement of the programme which was no mean feat by itself as it was still a working day.
The master of ceremonies, Neola welcomed everyone, promising them a fun evening and then handed over control to the primary master of ceremonies of the event, Felly Gomes. From the very start, MC Felly proved to be a genuine entertainer who interacted well with the audience, piquing their interest and engaging them with his wit and humor. His outfit, a bright yellow suit, stood out just like his personality and connected with the crowd, drawing them into his world where joy and laughter abounds. Felly indeed redefined compering for sure.
Goa's beloved sensation Sonia Shirsat a national award winner (Ustad bismilla khan young achiever award) who holds the title of ‘Ambassador of Goan Music to the World’ for her pivotal role in popularising Mando and Fado, captivated the audience with her powerful yet soulful voice and commanding stage presence as she sang solos, starting off with ‘Hallelujah,’ and duets with her co-stars, with great charisma and confidence. Ester Noronha, a renowned and versatile actress, singer, composer, performer & classical dancer and recently turned director with 'The Cacant House' from Mangaluru has performed in Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Konkani films. In her rendition of the song 'Sopnanth Mojea’ she expresses herself with a genuine vulnerability that makes the melody so timeless. During her performances she utilized the talent and dancing skills of the children from the Konkani community in the country as they swayed and moved to the tunes as she moved the audience with every song she belted out. Goan singer, playwright, theatre director, theatrical producer, and actor Lawry Travasso who has released more than 60 music albums moved the audience with his impressive range as he effortlessly navigated challenging melodies with a natural ease. The crowd could not contain their approval when he sang a duet with Ester, ‘Goenkar Monglurkar’ which connected with the audience. Norman Cardozo, an arranger, composer, music director from Goa who is also a Guiness World Record Holder and Goa's Star music director, impressed all the organizers with his overall artistic vision as he led and directed the musicians personally, ensuring that every note was played in perfect harmony and that the music was brought to life with passion and artistry.
Throughout the evening, there was a vast array of traditional Goan and continental delicacies and refreshments to cater to everyone’s needs.
There were three skits put up by the Mangalureans and Goans of the Konkani community, each one depicting unique concept but with brilliant and hilarious dialogue, which had the audience rolling in the aisles. A surprise performance, which stunned everyone at first but got them on their feet, was by the Spiritual director of the Konkani community, Fr Darel Fernandes who sang his heart out to the tune of Ye sham Masthani, much to the delight of the audience.
The last item on the schedule was an upbeat musical tribute by all performers which prompted the audience to join in on the dance floor as the evening came to an end, despite repeated requests for an encore.
Ending with a short hymn to Mother Mary, parishioners left the auditorium well after midnight, exhausted but satisfied. The guests had come to Bahrain to entertain but what they left behind was something far greater than their performances. They are now a part of the family, leaving lasting impressions and beautiful memories behind. As they departed from Bahrain, they took hearts along with them which they captured from the very beginning.
Everyone involved, both on and offstage, should be extremely proud of their efforts as it brought the entire Konkani community together. To many it was a joyous celebration of music, laughter and friendship from start to finish, a night which many will remember for a long time.