Mangalore: Charles Sequeira conferred Karavali Konkan Kala Award
Pics: Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 16: Veteran Konkani actor, comedian and dramatist Charles Sequeira was conferred “Karavali Konkan Kala Prashasti’ at the annual drama function organized by Karavali Konkans on the evening of August 15, 2013. In a glittering held late in the evening Charles Sequeira who has served Konkani theatre for over five decades was felicitated with a shawl, citation, memento and a cheque of Rs. 50,000.
Senior Konkani writer Edwin J F D Souza, who was the chief guest on the occasion, conferred the award on Charles Sequeira in the presence of guest of honor entrepreneur Rohan Monteiro. The enthusiastic audience, who had assembled in large number at the Don Bosco Hall, cheerily responded with thunderous applause. Konkani actor Dolla read the citation. Charle’s wife Leena Sequeira was also called on the stage and was presented with flowers. President of Karavali Konkans Lesli Rego and Secretary Claud D Souza were also present on the occasion.
The assembled audience was in rapture when Charles Sequeira responded to the felicitation by addressing them with booming voice, reminding many the good old days when Charles Sequeira had entertained Konkani theatre lovers with the same sonorous voice and acting prowess. An emotionally charged Charli Sequer stated that god has given him a second life, reference to his recovery from the stroke he had suffered a decade ago and his subsequent recovery. “I am not going to talk much now” he began and added “because I have talked earlier”. He thanked the organizers for bestowing the award on him and thereby honoring art and artistes.
Chief Guest Edwin J F D Souza incidentally spoke on humour which he said is not his forte. “I have often been accused of not knowing how to cut a humour or make people laugh but that has not stopped me from watching comedy films like ‘Padosan’ or a serial like ‘hum paanch’ repeatedly”. He pointed out that people these days have forgotten how to laugh, which is unfortunate. “Caught in the humdrum of busy life today the entire world has forgotten to laugh”, he said.
Referring to Raj Kapoor’s classic ‘mera naam joker’ where the young protagonist asks ‘why jesus Christ is always sad’ and vows that he would make Jesus laugh, Edwin stated that it does not augur well to project our god or saints to be sad always. “The statues or images should spread happiness around and the latest trend of images showing a smiling Jesus is a welcome trend”, he pointed out. Stating that human being is the supreme creation he stated that it is wrong to belittle ourselves by projecting ourselves as the lowest possible life or creation on earth. “God has given a beautiful life to us and we have to live it to the utmost”, he declared. .
He equated artistes to the load-stones that were specifically meant for those who carried huge loads on their heads and wanted to ease their tiredness in between and said ‘this is a run where we need to take rest in between’.
Earlier, guest of honour Rohan Monteiro released the album ‘karavalle voilim bangrali podam” (golden songs of coastal region) in the presence of senior Konkani singer Meena Rebimbus, as the CD is dedicated to Konkan Kogul late Wilfy Rebimbus. Karavali Konkans has always said that Wilfy has been the inspiration and it was symbolic that the CD was released in her presence. The album which contain some of the gold old golden songs of Konkani is an effort to give due respect to the lyricist who had created such gems. The organizers felicitated some of these lyricist (in their absence their family member) with bouquets. Meena Rebimbus then handed over the CD to those present on the dais.
Rohan Monteiro pointed out that today there is a fear that our mother tongue Konkani art and literature might go extinct due to various reasons. “It is organizations like Karavali Konkans which are keeping the pennant of Konkani language and culture flying high. These organizations have kept alive various forms of Konkani art and culture and we need to extend our full support and cooperation in their endeavor”, he emphasized.
President of Karavali Konkans Lesli Rego welcomed the gathering. Claude D Souza, Secretary, gave a vote of thanks. The programme was compered by Dolphy Saldanha.
Comedy Play – a thorough entertainer
The stage programme was followed by a Goan social comedy play “Avo Jaavo Goi Tumahara”, directed by Ekanath Naik. It was the 84th show of the play in Mangalore which gave the audience a peek into of Goan lifestyle and culture. The play was a thorough entertainer with a wakeup call to Goans indicating that their identity is under threat from outside forces. Needless to say the play gave some food for thought for Mangaloreans who are also going through a similar situation.
Though at times, the comedy could not be gauged due to language difference and fast pace of the dialogues, overall it was a thorough entertainer. The full hall audience at Don Bosco Hall was a pointer to this.