Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, May 26: A poetry collection titled 'Devi Ninkasi' by acclaimed poet and Central Sahitya Akademi Award recipient Melvyn Rodrigues and a music album by Kevin Misquith titled 'Ek Geet', were released on Monday, May 25 at St Ann’s Friary mini hall at Bejai in the city.

The event was unique as poetry and music album were released in a single function and also special because the organisers allowed discussion with the poet and the musician. Both the events took place separately.

The programme started with an English prayer song of Rabindranath Tagore. First the music album ‘Ek Geet’ was released by Kishoo Barkur, Wilson Kateel (both poets and lyricists), Kevin Misquith (creator of the album), Kevin's  parents, Janet Canute Pinto and Stephen Frank, the music arranger. Thereafter a dialogue was held with Wilson, Kevin and Stephen.

Kishoo Barkur moderated the discussion. Wilson Kateel who has penned three songs in the album said that all the songs were written originally as poetry and then they were tuned and made into songs. Kevin thanked all the people who helped him to come out with this new album especially Evershine creations. Musician Stephan Frank said though he has been involved in music for eight years, Kevin was the first to give him the chance to arrange music for an album. He thanked Kevin for this opportunity by which he could prove his talent.

While answering the questions posed by fans, Kevin said he did not know where he stood as far his music was concerned. He opined that only fans would be able to judge it. He thanked his fans who have been regularly in touch with him. He also said that he has worked honestly and consciously to achieve his goals.

'Ek Geet' with its 9 songs promises to enthral the music lovers with a wide variety of songs. A number of talented artists have been brought together in the album to give life to lyrics written by poets Kishoo Barkur, Wilson Kateel, Sanjay Borkar and Kevin Misquith himself. Stephen Frank’s music arrangement for the songs in the album has taken these compositions to a new level.

Prajoth D’Sa, Munita Veigas, Ashish Pallana, Clement Fernades, Mohammed Iqbal, Eden D’Sa, Prakash Mahadevan and Kevin Misquith have sung in this album.

The album has been already released in Muscat and Saudi Arabia and is available in Mangaluru at regular outlets.

The album is priced at Rs 100 and can be purchased online on the following link: http://konkani.co/buy-ekgeet
Android users can download the album at the following link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kevinmisquith.ekgeet

For details contact: Kevin Misquith- 9964667653

Release of poetry collection 

Release of the poetry collection 'Devi Ninkasi' was held during the second part of the programme. Melvyn Rodrigues, his wife Averyl, poet and editor of 'Arso' fortnightly Henry M Pernal and Preethi, Janet Pinto of Evershine Publishers were present during the release of the anthology.

'Devi Ninkasi' has 40 poems written over the years by the poet. Henry M Pernal has written the foreword. The Konkani translation of the English speech Melvyn delivered after winning the Central Sahitya Akademi Award is also found in the collection. The book is printed both in Devnagari and Kannada scripts. The price of the book published by Evershine Publishers is Rs 125.

Melvyn said that Ninkasi is the Sumerian Goddess of beer. Like in every aspect of life, beer too had a goddess. The poet brings the goddess to this land through his poem inspired by the infamous pub attack which took place in Mangaluru some years back. The youngsters who were caught in the pub by the moral police are depicted as worshipping the goddess of beer in a way. They were addicted to a substance as every human is. Melvyn does not say which is morally wrong and right, but talks about the choices of young generation which are different and distinct from others.

During the dialogue moderated by Henry M Pernal, Melvyn talked about his evolution as poet. He explained how death has appeared again and again in his literature. "I was influenced by the deaths which occurred in my close family. I lost my father, mother and sister in a span of only three years. I feel, at one point of life, I had the subconscious desire to die. No matter what, death through my own experience has remained in my literature," Melvyn expressed.

Melvyn said that literature obviously comes from personal experience. But it has to become universal instead of remaining too personal. It has to stand the test of time and transcend beyond a period of time.

Speaking about the acoustics imagery in some of his poems, he said some sounds are associated with his poems just as it has a great influence in the poems of many other poets in worldwide literature.

Melvyn talked about the days when various incidents took place in his life as he was yet to complete some of the poems. He remembered how a banana plant had grown from a sucker to producing a bunch of fruits and how a coconut tree from a mere coconut produced a tender coconut in his house yard. Influenced by this, Melvyn wrote a poem on these developments saying how the produce came out from almost a scratch. Then his father passed away before he could complete the poem. He had to change the whole angle of the poem as everything conceived had changed. He said sometimes he thought the tender coconut and banana bunch were signs that his father was departing and hence they made the appearance to please him.

Melvyn also made a special mention of the role and influence of his wife in his literature.

Spectators participated spontaneously in the dialogue.

Henry M Pernal thanked Canute J Pinto the publisher of the book and album who could not be present as he is in Abu Dhabi. Canute spends more than one lac rupees every year for the publication of books and albums in Konkani, Henry M Pernal revealed.

Janet Pinto wife of Canute J Pinto was honoured during the function.

Sheldon Crasta compered the programme.

The book 'Devi Ninkasi' is available for sale at Kittall.com office, Catholic Club building, Hampankatta, Jerosa Comapny, Milagres, Hampankatta and Favourite Collections, Bendorewell.