'Katrina' Receives Warm Wlecome in Canada

Media Release

Toronto, Apr 13: The much awaited day dawned when Henry D’souza a singer, composer, lyricist, music director and a producer was awarded a grand reception in Pearson International airport Toronto by his fans and organisers of Canara World Foundation on Saturday 11th April 2009.

It is my pleasure to perform for my people in Canada said Henry and thanked almighty for giving his blessings for his long awaited Canadian renditions.

A humble man despite his tremendous talent and popularity, Henry is fulfilling his lifelong dream of performing to his fans in Canada. 

Under the grand initiative of Canara World Foundation Inc, the event has been organized to revive and promote interest and curiosity about Konkani language, culture and wonderful heritage in a distant place. It has established a platform and presented a golden opportunity for artistes in Canada to demonstrate and exhibit their talents, skills and an opportunity to perform with legendary singers of Mangalore.

The Organisers of this show said that it is was an uphill task with the recession to put up a professional show of this magnitude, but to promote the singers back home we have taken up this challenge and it has been well supported by the sponsors. We are indeed pleased that our community too has been well supportive of our initiatives.

It is a life time experience for Canadian Mangaloreans to have the performance of this virtuoso singer. The show promises to be entertaining comprising of traditional songs, skits, dances and jokes.

The event will be held on April 19th 2009, starting from 2.00 pm onwards.  At the Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 4B8.

The Living Arts Centre's largest and most magnificent state-of-the-art theatre, Hammerson Hall, flawlessly suited for full-scale Broadway plays is one of the largest theatres in the western GTA.

Few tickets are still available; kindly contact the organisers to book yours today. For more information visit www.sangeethsamrathenry.info

Henry D'Souza Speaks from Canada...

Gerry D’Mello Bendur
Daijiworld Media Network, Canada.

After a long and patient wait by the Konkani music lovers in Canada, the great composer, singer and an evergreen hero of  Konkani music and songs, ‘Ye Ye Cathrina’ and ‘Ami Dhoghi Sezara’ fame - ‘Sangeeth Samraat Henry D’Souza’ finally landed in Canada last night for his maiden performance in North America!  The conqueror of a song lover’s heart Henry D’Souza is the star attraction for the ‘Kalasaanz’ program this year staged at the ‘Living Art Centre’, one of the prestigious theatres in Canada on Sunday, 19th April 2009.  

Max Mendes, the dynamic President of Canara World Foundation Inc. (CWF), informed ‘Daijiworld media network Canada that - “We are extremely excited and proud to host such a unique music show in Canada with Henry’s singing and exhibition of Goan performances that will surely create a history in Canada. His maiden performance will open a new door to an exciting entertainment arena in Canada. This event will give a great opportunity for Konkani Music amateurs to showcase their ability. The members of the organizing committee have worked very hard to plan this magnificent event”.  He was highlighting the program details of ‘Kalasaanz’, an event that Canara World Foundation presents every year to showcase the talents of Canarite immigrants in Canada.  

The following are the visions of Canara Kala Saanz (CKS) Programmes: 

• Bring the Konkani origin particularly the Mangalorean community together.
• Provide a platform and an opportunity for local talent to perform (singing, dancing, acting etc.
• Promote, propagate and provide an authentic dose of Konkani
•  Support Mangalorean artistes by giving an opportunity to come and perform in Canada
• Recognize the educational and leadership qualities of community youth
• Recognize the contribution and achievements of leaders who through their selfless acts devote their time, talent and expertise for the betterment of the community
• Help the newcomers to integrate by providing them a platform to showcase their talents and also enable them to network with others during Kalasaanz shows.

This rare jewel of Konkani music was never the one that looked back since he raced and jumped first as Bombay’s craze during the mid sixties and later in other parts of India and the Gulf.  His creations have been broadcasted in ALL INDIA RADIO and radio SRI LANKA and his HMV records entertained the young and old of every generation and every language groups of the world.  

Henry is a captivating stage singer.  After his first stage song “Sopann Fanthyachem”, he composed and sang more than 2,000 songs in the past 40 years.  He has won a huge crowd of fans for himself and is Bombay’s Craze among the Konkani community there.  His musical performances have been local, national and international.  He has conducted more than 200 shows in different places of India & abroad. 

Henry D’Souza was received at the Lester Pearson Airport in Toronto by the members of Kalasaanz-2009 organizing committee led by Max Mendes, the President of CWF who is also the main sponsor of the event.  Upon his arrival representing www.daijiworld.com – I had the unique opportunity to engage him in an informal conversation.  Here are some excerpts:

Q:   Henrybaab, how did it feel landing in Canada for the first time?

A:   Wonderful.  I feel that it’s a life time achievement.  It is as if I have reached the height of the Himalayan Mountains. For any Konkani artiste coming to Canada, it is really a big achievement.  I thank the organizers especially Max Mendes, Flavian Pinto & Joyson D’Souza for all their efforts and hard work in making my dream a reality. 

Q:  Canada is excited to watch you live on stage.  What have you planned to cool-down their excitement?

A: I am going to sing my popular numbers from the bottom of my heart so that the audience will cherish the memories of a life time.  I am very confident that I will fulfill my aim.

Q:  I am quite sure that performing in North America has been your long time dream.  What are your feelings when your dream has become a reality now?

A. This visit was on the top of my list for the past five years and achieving it was a difficult task due to the rules and regulations of the country.  But I have come here now and am really elated and happy.  Once again, I am thankful to all the Mangaloreans and Goans residing in Canada who eagerly wait to see me and hear me.   I will remain grateful to the organizers until my death.

Q:  It’s a bitter truth that today’s new generation is losing interest in Konkani Music.  Being a veteran Konkani Musician could you please tell me; is it a serious threat for Konkani Music at large?

A:  It’s true especially outside Mangalore.  Today’s generation prefers modernized music. Any music is fine as long as our culture is impervious. As long as they follow our footsteps, I think then our culture will remain alive. And what has happened in other places like Bombay and other countries, is that they are more used to speaking English rather than Konkani. Also it depends on how the parents teach their children about the culture. Also, the people who have gone to the Gulf have kept the Konkani culture more alive than in other places. This gives a greater fulfillment to the artistes. Because of the efforts of the Gulf people, Konkani music has reached them and lucrative offers have come to us – the artistes and singers. The youth is losing interest in Konkani music because they are connected to other things, such as English music. Also, they must be thinking that Konkani music is not of our standard. That may be true to some extent, so we have to improve our standard, specially our music. 

Q:   Kalasaanz organizers have introduced Goan artistes for the first time.  How comfortable are you to perform with ‘Goenkaars’?

A: Well, I’ve been performing with the Goans earlier in Gulf countries.  All the more my songs are very popular in Goa as well.  I have performed with great Goan artistes like Alfred Rose. They are also very talented people. So I have no second thoughts about it. I am very comfortable with them.

Q:  Your compositions ‘Ye Ye Cathrina’ and ‘Ami Dhogi Sezara’ are the immortal songs in the history of Konkani Music.  What prevents you from composing similar songs?

A: Well, actually I have composed songs. But, to meet that similar standard is not easy. Once the audience accepts a song and it goes to their mind, it is difficult to erase it from their mind. My own compositions cannot replace these two songs because it was composed in a different time. The culture, the artistes and listeners have changed now and so the similarity cannot be made.

Q:  Mandd Sobhann group has conferred ‘Life-Time Achievement Award’ in Konkani Music, the first of its kind in Konkani on Konkani’s great ‘Konkan Kogull Wilfy Rebimbus.  As a veteran singer don’t you think it’s a proud moment for Konkani music?

A: Truly, I was thrilled to hear this news. Wilfy Rebimbus truly deserves not only this award or any other accolades for all his dedication and hard work for Konkani Music.  He is the only one Konkani singer who dedicated his entire life for Konkani Music without having any source of income for his daily bread and to support his family.  I salute Wilfy for his incredible achievement in Konkani music.
 

Q:   What is your message to your fans in Canada?

A: I have landed in Canada to quench the thirst of my fans for my songs.  I am fully committed in my mission.  Surely every Mangalorean & Goan will attend my show with great aspiration.  Believe me; I will never let them down.

After the thrilling success of ‘Wilfy Nite’ in 2005 and Kalasaanz-2008 program with Konkani’s yet another popular composer/singer Claud D’Souza, this year’s Kalasaanz-2009 with Henry D’Souza too is going to attract Konkani music lovers in big numbers and undoubtedly will be a historical show.

I must say that the Konkani music lovers in Canada are highly privileged to have in their midst this great music star Sangeeth Samraat Henry D’Souza and world famous Goan artiste Jr. Menezes at the gala show to be held on April 19, 2009 from 2.00 pm. onwards at the Living Arts Centre, Mississauga.  Konkani’s A.R.Rahman in Canada Joyson D’Souza of Casual Encounters will be the Music Director and renowned compere Donald Alva will compere this unique show.  In addition Flavian Pinto is all set with his rib-tickling jokes to send the audience to the peels of laughter. This music extravaganza is going to attract Konkani music lovers in large numbers and undoubtedly will be a historical show.