Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 7: Senior artiste and a true ambassador of Konkani language and culture, Eric Ozario will be bestowed with a lifetime achievement award by Konkani Natak Sabha (R) Mangaluru. The award conferring ceremony will be held at Don Bosco Hall on Sunday February 19, on the occasion of Sambhram-2023, a curtain raiser of 80th jubilee celebration of KNS.
Eric Ozario’s immense and unmatchable contribution towards enriching Konkani language and culture was considered while selecting him for the award.
Eric Alexander Ozario, singer, composer, full-time cultural activist, was born on May 18, 1949, in Jeppu, Mangaluru. His parents are the late Prospero Ozario and the late Bernadette Ozario from Jeppu. Eric Ozario is the 7th among 10 siblings. He is commerce graduate from St Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He is married to Joyce Fontes from Mangaluru. They have a daughter Dr Rashmi Kiran and a son Rithesh Kiran, both are blessed with profound singing talent.
His dream project ‘Mandd Sobhan’ that he co-founded with two other greats Chafraa and Melvyn Rodrigues, revolutionized the presentation of Konkani culture and folk songs. As a music director he has composed and presented over 500 shows of National and International prominence.
Eric is not only an eminent artiste, but also is an artistic inventor, an exceptional planner, an outstanding educationalist, a revered mentor and a distinguished, determined Konkani activist who through his organization Mandd Sobhann, has revitalized Konkani language and culture. Kalangann has been a centre of hectic Konkani cultural activities for the last several years ever-since it was inaugurated on December 2, 2001 under the leadership of legendary Eric Ozario. Konkani Nirantari, a group singing under his leadership to enter the Guinness Book of World Records with its 40-hour-long non-stop multi-singer music programme. Soad is another milestone in the history of ‘Mandd Sobhan’ which already completed its successful five seasons. Now to record the essence of Konkani people and their lifestyle Eric is in the mission of making a movie project in Konkani which has already begun its production works.
A dance contest and Indian traditional attire competition for couples including baby show and cake baking competition is also part of the event. The competitions will start at 2 pm at the premises of Don Bosco Hall. The entry for competitions will be free and the last date for registration is February 11, Saturday. The participants may call on 9844794033 (Liston) or 9900406006 (Cletus).
The Konkani Natak Sabha (KNS) is a Konkani drama society formed on September 19, 1943 by Fr George Albuquerque Pai SJ (of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru), by bringing together active youngsters of local theatre groups from all over Mangaluru. KNS is a cultural organization founded primarily for the Apostolate of the Stage with an objective of promotion of the mother tongue-Konkani, and the advancement of cultural, social and moral upliftment of the society in general. ‘Natak Dwarin Dharmik Sadhan’ meaning service through stage is the cherished motto of the Sabha.