Daijiworld Media Network – Doha
Doha, Apr 24: Whenever and wherever it is staged, Wilfy Nite not just delights the music lovers but provides a wholesome, complete entertainment to the Konkani buffs. The late Wilfy Rebimbus' songs have a unique ability to touch the emotional chord of the listeners and regale them to the maximum. Over 3,000 songs, over 265 musical nites, over 45 music albums and yet Wilfy’s magic continues. Such is the power of his compositions that even several years after his demise, Wilfy Nite still remains the numero uno entertainment package among the Mangalurean Konkani speaking people spread across the continents.
This magic was the force that resulted in the successful staging of the 266th Wilfy Nite, organized by the Konkani Speaking Community of the Holy Rosary Church, Doha on Friday April 22 at the Arabia Hall here. The musical extravaganza staged to aid the building of the Cathedral in Bahrain, witnessed a huge turnout of audience, who were entertained to the maximum by the Wilfy Nite troupe that consisted of Konkan Myna Meena Rebimbus, Wilfy-Meena’s children Veena and Vishwas, grandchildren Arvin, Anna and Roger along with melodious and evergreen Ivan Sequeira and Doha’s very own singing stars Rupert Lobo, Carol D’Souza and Natsey Baretto. The rib-tickling comedy by Qatar’s well-known comedians and scintillating dances by local dancers were like icing on the cake, delivering a fabulous and memorable weekend entertainment to the Konkani buffs of Doha.
The evening programme began with the introduction to the evening by one of Doha’s best, articulate and suave comperes Reena Castelino which was followed by the prayer song and a short welcome address by Fr Anand Castelino, the spiritual director of the Doha Konkani Speaking Community.
Konkan Myna Meena Rebimbus is by far one of the best female Konkani singers ever. She has a special aura that has the ability to cast a spell on the listeners and her first number of the evening ‘Jeevan Hem Munxachem’ again confirmed that she is incomparable and matchless. For a true a music lover, listening Konkan Myna as she hits those high notes with ease and élan, is indeed one of the best experiences. Every time she comes to the stage, she weaves magic, touching the inmost emotional chords of the audience, resulting in thunderous applause that reverberates through venue.
Just as the rousing applause given to Konkan Myna’s first song of the evening was fading, in came another surprise to the audience. Arvin Pais (son of Veena and Arthur Pais), the first grandson of Wilfy-Meena, is a familiar face to the Qatar residents as he was raised up in Qatar. But rarely has he been seen on stage performing during Wilfy Nites. He took to stage belting out popular dancing number ‘Konngai thi Chali’ and captivating the hearts of the audience. He has a sonorous voice much like his illustrious uncle Vishwas Rebimbus and with proper and regular exposure, he is sure to carry on the baton of Rebimbus legacy started by Wilfy-Meena and presently being carried on by Veena-Vishwas. Later in the evening Arvin’s sister Anna made her maiden entry to the Wilfy Nite stage in Doha singing the enchanting number ‘Novo Divas Udevn Yeta’ in the company of Doha’s up and coming music sensation Christle Pinto. Arvin and Anna’s performances showed that music runs in the veins of everyone in the Rebimbus family and they all are committed to live and continue the legacy of the late Konkan Kogull.
As the night wore on some of the best and memorable compositions of Wilfy and the new compositions of Veena and Vishwas were performed by Veena, Vishwas, and Ivan Sequeira. Timeless hits such as 'Chaar Disancho Saunsar', 'Fitisponna’, ‘Bhikari', 'Jibek Tankana', 'Kanknnawala', 'Aaya-Mesta', 'Mojem Kazar', 'Mog Mujho Kar Ida', 'Moga Ye', 'Amcho Desh' etc recreated the magic of yore, entertaining the full-house audience to the hilt. Just like their parents, Veena and Vishwas have carved a niche for themselves in the hearts of the Konkani music buffs. Konkani’s golden voice Ivan Sequeira is an integral part of Wilfy’s troupe for long and he again enraptured the audience with his soulful renditions.
A special mention needs to be made about four local singers, Rupert Lobo, Carol D’Souza, Sana Britto and Natsey Baretto, who rocked the stage with their superb performances. Voice of Doha Rupert Lobo is the most loved and appreciated singer of the Konkani community of Qatar. He has been gifted with a melodious voice and every time he appears on stage, he entertains the audience with his soulful singing. He was at his best presenting solo number 'Mog Mujho Kar Ida' and then teamed up with the illustrious Ivan Sequeira in performing super duet 'Bhikari'.
Young and melodious Sana Britto is the Nightingale of Qatar Konkani community. She was the finalist from Doha at SOAD-3 International and again bagged the First Runners-up award at GVOM-4 held in Oman bringing laurels to the Qatar Konkani speaking community with her enormous singing talent. Blessed with an angelic voice and great stage presence, she enchants listeners with her fabulous performance. Her rendering of ‘Moga Ye’, a composition of Veena Pais nee Rebimbus was one of the highlights of the evening, evident from the thunderous applause that she received as she wound up her performance.
Qatar's newest singing sensation Carol D’Souza has already become popular due to her mesmerising singing and mellifluous voice. Her first song of the evening was 'Shimti', one of the most memorable and popular songs of the late Konkan Kogull, that was sung originally by the incomparable Babita D’Sa. The thunderous applause that ricocheted through the confines of the Our Lady of Arabia hall proved that Carol had won the hearts of Qatar’s Konkani speaking community. Later in the evening she joined Vishwas in presenting another of Wilfy’s popular duet number 'Kanknnawala'.
Natsey Baretto is the most popular Goan voice of Qatar known for her sweet and husky voice. She teamed up with Vishwas and presented one of Wilfy's masterpieces 'Aaya-Mest' that delighted the audience to the maximum.
Rupert, Carol and Natsey are an integral part of Doha's Konkani choir group.
'Muzho Dex Maka Mogacho', a patriotic song composed by Vishwas Rebimbus was beautifully performed by the members of Konkani choir group (St Cecelia's Mangalurean choir and Good Shepherd Goan choir). It's a composition that has come in for a lot of praise from music enthusiasts wherever and whenever it is performed. While the Konkani choir members sung the song melodiously, young dancers choreographed by Jyothi D’Souza accompanied them with eye-catching dance. The singers and clad in saffron, white and green attires created a beautiful and patriotic atmosphere, making the clouds going berserk with loud applause midway through the performance so much so that when the performance ended, a loud chant of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' echoed through the confines of Our Lady of Arabia hall.
But by far the best and the most appreciated performance of the evening came from the youngest performer of the evening. Roger Rebimbus, son of Vishwas and Charleen, received the loudest applause and standing ovation from the audience for his impeccable rendering of 'Xiriganna Xik'. He has already rendered his voice in one of the latest Wilfy albums and his performance this time was magical, to say the least. To stand in front of such a large audience and sing with such confidence indeed needs special talent and grace of the Almighty. He is sure to make not just the Rebimbus family but the entire Konkani community proud in the coming years.
Qatar’s famed band Singing Birds led by Lathif provided the background music for the event. Joswin Pinto, a well-known lead guitarist who was flown in specially from Mangaluru, directed the music while Qatar’s well-known musician Agnelo Rodrigues who is also the member of Good Shepherd Konkani choir, also joined the troupe on bass guitar.
The entire show was beautified and provided with dazzle through the scintillating dances by the local dancers Anushka Fernandes, Jyothi D’Souza, Katelyn Almeida, Ashlyn Almeida. Christle Pinto, Anna Pinto, Crizelle Pinto, Priya Noronha, Nikita Rego, Saloni Lobo, Larissa Tauro, Greg D’Cunha, Shamel Fernandes, Sean Fernandes, Yadav Puthran, Savious Crasta, Amelita Martis, Lavin Tauro, Shaila Pradeep Menezes, Pradeep Menezes, Ashton Ian D’Souza, Carol Saloni D’Cunha, Ridge Dias, Calista Noronha, Snasloy D’Silva and Ruth Quadros. They were trained and choreographed by Anthony Peter D’Souza, Anushka Fernandes, Jyothi D’Souza, Dimple Rajesh and Kavita Tauro.
Doha’s popular actors and comedians Anil Cutinha, Aloysius D’Souza, Merlyn D’Souza, Alwine Goveas, Sandeep Noronha and Vivian D’Souza took care of the entertainment quotient of the evening with their side-splitting skits that kept the audience glued to their chair.
The entire nite was compered by Konkani’s numero uno compere Leslie Rego in his usual inimitable style. His mastery over language, skills to manage the audience, spontaneity make him unique and inevitable. He again hosted a successful and memorable show adding yet another feather to his glittering cap.
A short stage programme was held during the programme which was presided over by Fr Selvaraj, the parish priest of the Holy Rosary Church Doha. Vivian D’Souza, the president of Konkani Speaking Committee delivered the keynote address while long time friend of Wilfy and entrepreneur Felix Lobo spoke on Wilfy and his contribution to Konkani. All the singers and musicians were presented with mementos on the occasion. The souvenir of the Konkani Speaking Community was released ont the occasion. The Spiritual Director of Konkani Speaking Community Fr Anand Castelino, Konkan Myna Meena Rebimbus and Manager of Exblowra Trading, the main sponsors of the event were also present on the dais.
Bertha Rodrigues proposed the vote of thanks. Reena Castelino compered the stage programme.
While Exblowra Trading was the main sponsor of the evening, Qatar Meta Coats was the associate sponsor. Music was sponsored by Joyston and Joyline Infrastructure Co while Construction Development Company was the hall sponsor and Gulf International Enterprises and Al Amer Garage and Transport were the co-sponsors.