Bahrain Gets Ready for Sensational 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore' Semi-finals

By Ronald D. F. D’Souza & Joe Andrade for Daijiworld Media Network

Bahrain, Oct 8: The ten-member musicians' troupe from Mangalore landed on the shores of Bahrain on Tuesday from Dubai and were afforded a warm welcome from the Bahrain organisers, Karavali Konkans Association, led by President Ronald D. F. D’Souza, to kick-off the ‘GULF VOICE OF MANGALORE’ Reality Singing Contest, Bahrain chapter, in association with the Ramada Palace Hotel.      

The visiting Konkani singing artistes comprise Wilfy and Meena Rebimbus, Melwin Peris, Joel, Joswin, Richard, Christopher, Theo, Melwyn and the famous compere Leslie Rego, all of whom were greeted with a rose and taken in convoy to the Hotel.

In a very informal reception late evening yesterday, the visiting artistes were formally welcomed to the island at the Papillon Restaurant by the organisers, Karavali Konkans Association, and to a dinner treat.    

Eleven amateur contestants who have been selected earlier in the preliminaries, are in the fray in Bahrain for the “Gulf Voice of Mangalore” crown, and two of the best will be selected by the special panel of judges including Wilfy Rebimbus and Melwin Peris, to proceed to Kuwait for the Grand Finale Contest to be held on 17th October, 2008.    

In a choc-o-bloc three hour program to kick-off at 8.00 p.m. on 9th October, 2008, at the Ramada Palace Hotel, the program will commence with the Contest first, followed by felicitation of the visiting artistes and contestants and conclude with a much awaited special rendition of nostalgic Konkani musical fiesta by the visiting Mangalorean artistes for the Konkani singing enthusiasts in Bahrain.     

The Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom Bahrain, H.E. Balakrishna Shetty, has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest at the event.     A number of other dignitaries are also expected to be present.       

The “Youth Recreation Club” of Kuwait is organizing the ‘GULF VOICE OF MANGALORE’ a “Reality” Konkani Singing Competition for the first time in all GCC countries.

This Konkani reality show is scheduled to be staged on the lines of “Sa-re-ga-ma” reality production with surprise features and for the first time in Konkani blending a tradition of song and talent.      

Attractive prizes are awaiting the final winners of the Contest in Kuwait.  

The show is being sponsored by a number of leading local organizations and supported by the Konkani speaking community in Bahrain to enhance, encourage and bring forth budding Konkani singing talents to the foray and is indeed the talk of the town!        

The program is the brainchild of two Konkani cultural stalwarts, Louis Rodrigues and Lawrence Pinto from the Youth Recreation Club of Kuwait, who have laid out guidelines for the show, rules and regulations of the Contest.

Lawrence Pinto from Kuwait will attend the program, and Mangalorean community in Bahrain will be honored by the presence of  Daijiworld Editor-in-Chief Wallter Nandalike who has been instrumental creating waves in Mangalorean media worldwide.  

An audience of over 1,000 is expected to attend the show and applaud the veteran and amateur artistes as the reverberate the Ramada Palace Hall with melodious Konkani music.

Gulf Voice of Mangalore - Follow-up:

• UAE: Dony Correa, Asha Fernandes March into Finals
• Muscat: Gulf Voice of Mangalore - Victoria Soares, Dolphy Vaz Get Ticket to Kuwait