Pics: Wilson Saldanha
Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SB)
Moodbidri, Mar 2: What unfolded at Shirtady was nothing short of emotional. Some held framed photos of their favourite artists, some clutched their mobile phones, and many arrived an hour early just to meet the stars they had admired from afar. When the artists finally stepped into the home of Jochim Saldanha, the crowd surrounded them warmly—some holding on for a few extra seconds, unwilling to let the moment slip away.
This touching welcome marked the inaugural event of Amger, an initiative by Sanjay Rodrigues and Stany Bela in association with Daijiworld TV. The people of Shirtady responded with overwhelming affection, with many moved to tears as the trending Konkani singers performed right before them—some experiencing a live show for the very first time.
The evening featured stellar performances by GVOM–Soad double title winner Robin Sequeira, GVOM Sumadhur sensation Joshal D’Souza, Sumel fame Raina Sequeira and the ever-consistent Jason Lobo Bondel. Music maestro Sanjay Rodrigues captivated the audience with his seamless musical coordination.
During his brief introduction, Stany Bela explained the essence of Amger and recalled the contributions of Shirtady’s beloved late visionary Willian Pinto. He also highlighted the talents of locals such as Karen Crasta and Jaison Periera.
Parish priest Fr Herold Mascarenas, who graced the gathering, said, “I loved the concept of Amger. Many villagers miss major Konkani concerts due to distance, travel issues and time constraints. Amger brings artists to their doorstep. This is truly a gift from artists to their admirers.”
Appreciating the initiative, Daijiworld media founder Walter Nandalike remarked, “It is a golden opportunity for artists to give back to society by visiting homes, villages and rural pockets. People here are ardent supporters of Konkani music, yet rarely get to see their favourite singers perform live. Amger bridges that emotional gap.”
Community leader Joe Periera expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “This is unforgettable. For 90% of the people here, this is their first time watching a live performance by well-known artists. This evening will stay in our hearts forever. Thank you for choosing Shirtady to begin your journey.”
Amger is a concept envisioned by Sanjay Rodrigues and Stany Bela, joined by artistes like Robin Sequeira, Joshal D’Souza, Raina Sequeira, Jason Lobo, Roshan Crasta Bela, Rynel Sequeira, Zeena Periera and several others from Mangaluru. The concept consists of a 1.5-hour musical evening hosted in a selected house in rural areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Kasargod. Each month, the team visits one village with a troupe of performers completely free of cost. The hosting family only needs to provide seating space for 150–200 people and electricity support for sound and lighting. Daijiworld serves as the media partner, offering full technical support. The Amger team has already announced its 10-month performance calendar.
To contact the Amger team: 8848338103 / 8147479876.