Dubai: SMKC's 'Konkan Showers' - a Fair Blend of Dance and Music
Pics: Sujay Bendore and Ramcy Fernandes
Report: Shodhan Prasad
Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai (SP)
Dubai, Oct 16: St Mary’s Konkan Community (SMKC), Dubai, celebrated its prestigious annual fund-raising event, ‘Konkan Showers – 2009’, a Konkani ‘Dine and Dance’ event at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai from 8.30 pm onwards, on Thursday October 15. The programme was sprinkled with lots of fun and variety entertainment.
The show started exactly at 9.30 pm, and was inaugurated with the opening prayer song, rendered by SMKC spiritual director, Fr Freddy. Soon after, the comperes, Ronald Olivera and Shobana Chandramohan, took over the stage. The programme continued with the rendering of another prayer song. Thereafter, SMKC president, Boniface Carlo, delivered his welcome speech and presented the annual report. Fr Freddy spoke a few words, delivering a spiritual message to the audience.
Guest priests, Fr Tomasito, parish priest of St Mary’s Church here, and Fr Freddy D’Souza, SMKC spiritual director and assistant parish priest, St. Mary’s Church, were felicitated by SMKC president, Boniface Carlo.
The programme continued with the announcement of the ‘Early Bird-50’ and ‘sponsoring a song’. Adolf and his team, ‘Ye Mana’, took over the stage and presented some exciting, tilting numbers like ‘Yore Paavsa’, ‘Tu Ye’, ‘Sheta Merer’ by Adolf and Vijay Vas and later, a beautiful Goan number by the nightingale herself, Lulu Fortes from Goa. This was followed by a few dancing numbers like ‘Tu Zaay Maka’ and ‘Thanda Thanda Vaare’ for those beautiful couples, which danced on the dancing floor. These songs were rendered by Amabelle Moras, the young talent from Mangalore, and Alwyn.
All the sponsors of the event were then invited to the stage by Shobana, and were felicitated individually by Fr Freddy and Boniface Carlo. The band was also introduced individually by Adolf.
The ‘Team Ye Mana’ continued its performance with ‘Tujya Dolyantulee’ dance number, which got a long round of applause from the audience. The gathering then got an opportunity to hear some of the lovely numbers, which mesmerized the audiences and carried them to their native places once again.
It was the rib-tickling act of the great stand-up comedy king, Richard Louis, that left an impression, that was thoroughly cherished, and will linger long in the memories of, the people. Team ‘Ye Mana’ gave many more magical performances with their songs like ‘Volu Volu’, ‘Kenna Kenna’, ‘Nilya Gagananth’, Hindi medley, Goan songs, Arabic numbers, Tikki Tikiri (Sri Lankan), Dingri Dinga, Mando and of course, ‘Baila session’, without which no Konkani programme is complete. It was really an exceptional opportunity for the Konkani music lovers of UAE, to witness the contemporary and eminent singer of Mangalore, Adolf Jayathilak, who entertained the audiences with his brilliant musical band, ‘Team Ye Mana’. Adolf, whose following is growing strongly in and around Mangalore and the Gulf, had presented several shows here earlier, and has carved out a special place for himself in the hearts of Konkani music fans with his melodious and soulful singing. In the 80’s, his band, ‘Phoenix’ was admired by the populace in Mangalore. With his new album, Adolf has exhibited great diversity in Konkani music. Adolf has formed ‘Ye Mana’, the first-ever Konkani solo music album, which was released in December 2007, and has attained a special place in the hearts of every listener. Adolf, with his team comprising of talented singers, musicians and dancers known as ‘Team Ye Mana’ really rocked Dubai with their versatile and varied music, ranging from soft rock to pop, Bhangra to Baila and so on.
The popular dance team that performed during the day was ‘Naach Sobhan’ team led by Avil D’Cruz. This dance team has artistic dancers like Anil Spinoza, Shalini D’Souza, Lisa Carlo, Marula Gibson and Snehith Lobo.
It was amazing to see Alwyn Fernandes, a brilliant composer, arranger, one of the most talented young film music directors, and an accomplished guitarist, enthrall the crowd with his magical fingers. Well-known music director, Roshan D’Souza, led the team of musicians from Mangalore and Cochin.
Another star attraction of the day was Lulu, who is popularly known as Goa’s nightingale. She rendered beautiful Konkani numbers, which were a feast to the ears of Konkani music lovers. Upcoming young talents, Amabelle and Vijay Vas, were the other singers, who joined the party to complete the team. Amabelle, one of the sensuous, young and energetic upcoming singers of today, enthralled the crowd with her sweet voice, and the crowd asked for many more numbers from her. She got a good round or applause from the enjoying audience for every song. People are eager to hear this melodious voice in the near future.
The audiences thoroughly enjoyed the programme, which was well-managed by the able members of the SMKC, who put in lot of efforts to make this event happen.
A sumptuous buffet dinner was arranged with a wide-spread menu, and around 800 plus audiences left home happily, yearning for an opportunity to witness such an event again, in the near future.