Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 22: As part of the international one-day workshop 'Sahitik Likhnni' jointly organised by the Konkani Adhyayana Peetha of Mangalore University and St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), a panel discussion and a presentation of selected songs focusing on MickMax’s "Life, Music, and Literature" were held on September 18 in the university auditorium.
During the panel discussion, MickMax's sister, Juliet Moras, stated, “Michael Maxim D’Souza, popularly known as ‘Mick-Max,’ was a dreamer who walked his own path to success, faced hardships, and raised his voice in society with a beautiful and renowned literary name, making himself familiar and famous to everyone in the fields of Konkani literature and music.” She further introduced MickMax's life by noting that he was not just a storyteller, but a top-tier voice in music and on stage—a poet, lyricist, excellent singer, writer, playwright, actor, journalist, assistant film director, and brilliant executive—a bundle of numerous talents. She also highlighted some of the songs written by MickMax in connection with his life.
Concluding her speech, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the former director of the Institute of Konkani, Dr Melvyn S Pinto SJ, who conceived this event, the current director Fr Prashanth Madtha SJ, MickMax’s friend and music maestro Joel Pereira, vice-chancellor Dr Praveen Martis SJ, head of the Konkani department Flora Castellino, and event coordinator Joachim Pinto, Vamanjoor.
Renowned writer, journalist, social worker, longtime friend of MickMax, and well-wisher of his family, Hemacharya (Stephen Harold Mascarenhas), speaking on MickMax's plays and literature, said, “Though MickMax was a Kannada writer and journalist, he did a tremendous amount of work in his mother tongue. As a writer, singer, actor, playwright, and programme organizer, there was almost no role he didn't play. His sudden death was an irreparable loss to Konkani.”
Presentation of MickMax's selected songs: As another segment of the seminar on MickMax’s 'Life, Music, and Literature', a presentation of his selected songs took place under the musical direction of Sanjay Rodrigues. In this musical programme, ten selected songs by MickMax were performed by prominent Konkani singers: 'Hayre Mog Mollyar' (Walter D'Souza),'Tuje Sobhit Te Don Dolle' (Prakash D'Souza, Bajpe), 'Mariola' (Anil D'Sa, Pangla), 'Mona' (Prakash D'Souza, Bajpe), 'Vhallchya Udkak' (Elton Saldanha), 'Khellon Hanv Astam' (Elton D'Souza), 'Hanv Ek Swapnneli' (Shanan Crasta), 'Voran Vhazlolin' (Prakash D'Souza, Bajpe), 'Mhoji Gori Gori Gori Gai' (Elton D'Souza and Ashel D'Souza), 'Chedvan Borim' (Anil Pangla, Prakash Bajpe, and Walter D'Souza).
The programme was compered by the well-known emcee Titus Noronha. Veez editor Dr Austin D'Souza Prabhu, Illinois, Chicago, St Aloysius deemed to be University vice-chancellor Dr Praveen Martis SJ, St Aloysius Educational Institutions Rector Fr Brian Pereira SJ, director of Institue of Konkani Fr Prashanth Madtha, Konkani Adhyayana Peetha coordinator Dr Preethikeerthi D'Souza, head of the Konkani department Flora Castellino, event coordinator Joachim Pinto, Vamanjoor, as well as nearly two hundred students and fans of MickMax, participated in this event.