Gulf Voice of Mangalore: Muscat Braces up for First Konkani Reality Show

Gulf Voice of Mangalore: Muscat Braces up for First Konkani Reality Show
DaijiWorld Muscat Team

Daijiworld.com is proud to be OFFICIAL webportal for 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore'

Muscat, Oct 1: The semifinal rounds for the Gulf Voice of Mangalore, unique and first of its kind talent hunt show organized by Youth Recreation Centre – Rising Stars, Kuwait will be held in Muscat on Thursday, 2nd October 2008 from 8.30 pm onwards. The venue for the show is the Main Parish Hall of Sts. Peter and Paul Church Ruwi. The Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP – Sts. Peter and Paul Church – Ruwi) is organizing the semifinal rounds in Muscat.

Legendary Konkani composer Konkan Kogull (Nightingale of Konkan) Wilfy Remimbus, Yodeling King Melwyn Peres, Music maestro Joel Pereira will adjudicate the semifinal rounds of the Gulf Voice Of Mangalore competitions in five Gulf countries. The grand finale will be held on 17th October 2008 in Kuwait. They have arrived at Muscat International Airport on 30th September 2008 along with Melwyn Fernandes, Joswin Pinto, Christopher Mascarenhas, Alwyn Fernandes, Theodore Alvares, renowned musicians of Mangalore and Leslie Rego, compere of the show.

Konkan Maina Meena Remimbus is also accompanying the jury and musicians. They were welcomed at the airport by Stanley Fernandes, Chairman of GVOM organizing committee, Clarence Pinto, President of MCCP, Samuel D’ Silva, main coordinator of MCCP, Hazel Dias, Cultural Secretary of MCCP, Apolinaris D’ Souza and Victor Baptist Pais.

'We are truly excited and proud to become the part of this unique talet hunt show in the Gulf.” Stanley Fernandes informed www.daijiworld.com Muscat Team. 'This maiden event will open a new door to an exciting entertainment arena in the Konkani music world. This event will give a great opportunity to the Konkani Music talents to showcase their ability. We, the Muscat Organizing Team, have worked very hard to plan the semifinals in Muscat and hope our people and specially, all the twelve participants will enjoy the show.'

The preliminary rounds of Gulf Voice of Mangalore were held on Friday, 26th October 2008 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church – Main Hall and the following participants were selected to the semifinals.

01 Deborah Frank
02 Hilda Fernandes
03 Nirmala Goveas
04 Joachim D’ Souza
05 Anitha Lobo
06 Dolphy Vaz
07 Austin Monteiro
08 Flavia Castelino
09 Victoria Soares
10 Dilip Correa
11 Ivan Moras
12 Vincent D’ Souza

The jury and the event coordinator Leslie Rego, met all the 12 semifinal candidates at Delmon Hotel Meeting Hall on 30th September 2008 evening to inform them about the competition and its expected norms. The jury also briefed the semifinalists about the show and the talent projection to the society, specifically to the Konkani World. They also wished them good luck for the upcoming event.

The Dajiworld.com team in Muscat caught up with the panel of judges to understand their views towards GVOM and excerpts are as follows .

DW Muscat: How did the concept of having the GVOM occur and who is responsible for this great show to happen?

Panel : The thought has been wandering in the minds of many artistes for a long time but the process has been originated and brought into frame by Louis Rodrigues in Kuwait. We should say – this is the brainchild of Louis Rodrigues and he, along with Lawrence Pinto are the people instrumental for this event.

The recent TV programs, specially the musical reality shows have craved this event to happen. One year ago, it was a dream. After thorough planning and hard work of many people, today we see the event really happening. We must stress here that GVOM is a reality now because of the hard work, sacrifice and generosity of many Konkani loving people of the Gulf. Further, this is also a strong and encouraging step taken by the Konkani activists to boost our Konkani Music to the younger generation and also take it to the new height of fame.

DW: What effect does this event will have on the Konkani speaking society?

Panel : Today there are lots of platforms specially in the singing field in India and international arena to search and encourage the new talents. Entertainment has become a part of many lifestyles. In today’s world people rank music more high than dramas or serials and this shows the thirst for real good music. Gulf Voice of Mangalore is a platform to the next generation singers, which is also an attraction for many people in the society.

DW : What are your feelings to see the event is actually happening now?

Panel : We are really happy that it is really happening now. We have prepared for this event for the last one year. We had many meetings in various stages and have formulated each and every technical points and music show requirements minutely. We have received great encouragement from many people specially from the Gulf region.

GVOM has become reality due to the hard work and efforts by many Konkani loving personalities around Gulf. This is also an effort to save our Konkani Music.

DW correspondent : Should this show has been conducted for the youths of the Konkani Community also?

Panel : Yes. Youth and good singers are our priority always. We want to encourage the new talents, the one who have not got a platform yet in the sphere of Music. Definitely in the coming years the pattern and the event will have a better form and the spectrum will be vast.

DW: As the female and male voices are different in many ways, do you feel that there should have been separate honors to them?

Panel : According to the organizing committee, they did not want to differentiate the gender; as in today’s society and world at large, we do not see any discrimination. This platform has no barriers for either sex. We want to see the performance in totality and to the real music talent of an individual irrespective of being male or female.

DW: The great singer like Wilfy / Henry / Melwyn have given so much to the society in terms of music, what do you think about the current generation and their taste for Music ?

Panel : In the past Music was a part of a social event but in today’s society Music is a part and parcel of every man’s life. Today, media has become so powerful that its influence is very strong and positive. In line with Konkani Music, we still feel that the current generation has shown good desire to our songs specially the Baila and some fast old numbers. So, we still feel that we have lots to give and take from the society. But, the next generation we are not too certain with their taste as there are lots of remix happening and the urge for heavy metal and rock music has cropped up and is spreading rapidly.

The old artists have put in a lot of effort and struggle to create and formulate the Konkani music and get into the current form in the society. We used to participate in the church choirs, inter-school competitions, singing for social events. These were blooming events of our lives. But today the generation has changed. The voices can be modified to make the best of it. With the access to lyrics and internet life has been easy for many new generation artists. Today to release a CD is very easy; just have a few sponsors and the deal is done so there is a lot of gap between the old and new artist.

DW: As you have landed in Muscat today what do you feel about the GVOM event?

Panel : We are all delighted to see the enthusiasm of the participants in Muscat. All the twelve participants have shown great eagerness to participate in this prestigious event with a brilliant confidence. We are overjoyed with the warmth of the people in Muscat. Oman is a beautiful country and we are hoping to come back next year.

DW : What is your message to the upcoming generation?

Panel : Peruse music, enjoy your passion and reach the goal.