Gerry D’Mello

Daijiworld Media Network - Toronto

Toronto, May 26: The Mangalurean Konkani-speaking community musicians and singers based in Canada under the dynamic leadership of Canada’s Nightingale Sonia D’Souza Monteiro are collectively set to create history. A fascinating musical chain of video songs viz: ‘Mothiyam So’r’ (the chain of pearls) to pay rich tribute to the Konkani legends is all set to be released, which is the first-of-its-kind in the country of Canada.

A few months ago, a brilliant thought came into Sonia’s mind, to honour and pay tribute to the Konkani legends who are living and passed to a heavenly abode to be presented by renowned Konkani musicians and singers residing in Canada. Now in association with ‘Konkani TV Canada’, her dream will be a reality on Saturday May 28, 8 pm Toronto time!

Sonia Monteiro nee D’Souza is a versatile and passionate singer reckoned as Canada’s ‘Konkani Nightingale’. She is bundled with immense singing specialization and is always concerned to do things to perfection. In this special project, she has proved herself as the dynamic project leader with no comparison. She is the same chip-of-the-block of the renowned musical D’Souza family. Her maternal uncles music maestro Apolinaris D’Souza and Konkani prince Oswald D’Souza are the most popular in the Konkani music world. One of her nephews Joslin D’Souza from the United States is a shining star on the world music stage. Her beloved husband Rony Monteiro is a stage actor par-excellence acted in umpteen stage dramas and skits in India, Dubai, and Canada. Their only son Ken is a multi-faceted personality and a shining great soccer player with many trophies to his credit.

Canada’s Konkani music maestro Ashith Glen Pinto has carried out the music arrangement and direction for the music album. His recent arrival to the beautiful shores of Canada has given new inspiration to many Konkani-speaking people, especially Konkani singers living in Canada. A versatile musician of Konkani, worked tirelessly to furnish a new and modern dimension to Konkani music in Mangaluru. He was instrumental in organizing and presenting, of its kind marathons and a successful singing competition, ‘Mhozo Thallo Gaithalo’ involving many Konkani singers of the coastal Karnataka region and then, also the Gulf countries. He had developed the concept of DoReMeFa on Daijiworld TV 24x7 and planned the full show presentation.

Joswin Pinto, the renowned music director of the Konkani music world has carried out the music programming. Vocal recording done at Glen Studio by Canada’s yet another talented musician Glen Saldanha. This video has been mixed and mastered by Srikanth Srinivas.

The much-awaited ‘Mothiyam So’r’ will be televised on Canada’s one and only ‘Konkani TV Canada’ (KTV) headed by Canada’s dynamic community leader Wilson D’Souza. Together with Fr Roshan D’Souza, Wilson and Sonia were instrumental in televising Holy Mass in Konkani every day during the time of pandemic that was watched by thousands of faithful across the globe.

‘Mothiyam So’r’ video has made full justice in giving a befitting tribute to the greatest Konkani songs composers and singers. The names of the legends who portrayed in this video are the late Wilfy Rebimbus, Meena Rebimbus, Melwyn Peris, the late Mick-Max, Apolinaris D’Souza, Gration D’Souza, Lawrence Saldanha, Timothy Serrao, the late Victor Concessao, the late Henry Thomas D’Souza, the late Jerome D’Souza, Henry D’Souza, Mike Simons, the late P H Pinto, Oswald D’Souza, Claud D’Souza, Erie Rosario and Joyce Ozario.

As mentioned earlier, well known Konkani singers based in Canada are rendering their beautiful voices to this magical video and they are Merlyn Rodrigues, Marina Fernandes, Anita Prabhu, Babita Pinto, Marita Correa, Lara Rebello, Lucy D’Mello, Viyona D’Souza, Joylin D’Souza, Fabina Saldanha, Sonia Monteiro, Fr Roshan D’Souza, Ethan Pinto, Manohar Pais, Wilson D’Souza Lawrence Pinto, Lancy Rodrigues, Edwin D’Souza, Linton Pinto, Priston Ken Monteiro, Shaun Aranha, Larson Pinto, Glen Saldanha, Lloyd Pinto and Gerry D’Mello.

In this video, the dance team Jadoo Friends consists of Natasha D’Souza (Choreographer), Clarissa D’Souza, Parth Naik and Dhruv Naik given a stupendous dance performance.

Canada is famous for its gorgeous scenery and breathtaking nature. Its beauty cannot be described in words but can be partly captured in pictures and videos. Mothiyam Sor has offered glimpses of beautiful Canada through the lenses of Design Out Loud, a well-known video production company in Canada. Throughout the filming of this video, the ace cinematographer Aman Chandak has given special attention to capturing the beauty of Canada without losing the essence of the songs.

Bubbling with joy the producer Sonia Monterio extends her special gratitude to:

• all the legends and their families for their support and encouragement by graciously permitting to add their songs in the medley video.
  
  
• to all the singers in Canada, musicians, Natasha and her dance team, cinematographer Aman Chandak , special guests who have participated in the video and to all those who helped behind the scene specially Vijaya and Prema Dante of Udupi Restaurant, Anna D'Souza, Merlyn Rodrigues, John & Rita D'Souza & Ashith & Babita Pinto without whom this musical medley would not have been possible.
  
  
• to Fr Henry Alva, Fr Roshan D'Souza, Maxim D'Mello of Mangalorean Association of Canada, Max Mendes and Flavian Pinto of Canara World Foundation and Melwyn Sequeira - president and Melwyn Lobo – former president of Konkan Organization of Toronto.
  
  
• to her husband Ronnie Monteiro, Son Ken Monteiro, and Wilson and Viyona D'Souza for helping and motivating her in the project.
  
  
• to her High Five Family Friends for their support and encouragement.

During audio and video recording in Toronto and surrounding areas, I had the unique opportunity to toss a few questions at her as the representative of daijiworld.com.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q. Sonia, on behalf of Daijiworld.com, I am privileged to interact with you. Tell me how it feels at the release of your maiden Konkani video ‘Mothiyam So’r’?

A: Thank you so much Gerry. I feel excited as this was just a thought in my mind and never realized it would really happen in reality. All thanks to almighty God.

Q. Your singing talent is world-famous. Could you tell the readers about your family and how your singing journey began?

A: I don't think it is world-famous. Music was always within our family. My mom was a great Alto singer. During my childhood, I used to get special training from my grandparents (My mom's parents), my uncle Oswald and aunty Rita who really helped me improve in music. Singing in the church choir in Mangaluru, Dubai and Canada. I used to participate and win in various singing competitions held at school and in college days and also at various other events having singing competitions at the inter-parish level and at Don Bosco in Mangaluru as well as at Mangalore Konkans in Dubai.

Q. Who were the persons that influenced you to bring out your musical talent to the limelight; and who was your music guru?

A: I have many to mention, first and foremost is my mom's entire family which includes my mom's parents, my dad & mom, my four uncles, aunties and cousins, my husband, my son, my husband's family, my friends at college and my church choirmaster at Valencia (late) Marian Pinto, Melwyn Rodrigues of Kavita Trust, Max Mendes of Canara World, Maxim D'Mello of MAC and Wilson D'Souza of Konkani TV Canada. I should say my mom's family members are my main gurus in music who really encouraged and motivated me. Apart from that, I was also taking training in classical music from Pramesh Nandi sir at Swargunjan Music Academy in Brampton, Canada. At present my Guru is Roshan Martis from Mangaluru from whom I am getting trained in Hindustani classical music.

Q. What are your major achievements both in India and abroad?

A: Competing and winning in various singing competitions. It was a privilege for me to get an opportunity to sing in the re-creation of ‘Ye Ye Jezu Mogalla’ composed by my uncle Apolinaris D'Souza. Also got a chance to sing with Mandd Sobhaan team at Mando Fest in Mangaluru, Daiji Dubai event in Dubai, getting elected as an eastern music secretary in college cabinet at St Agnes.Winning in the singing competition at Don Bosco by only 3 participants and getting a shield to Vamanjoor parish. It was an honor to sing in Canada with various singing legends like the late Wilfy Rebimbus group, Henry D'Souza, Claud D'Souza and Melwyn Peris organised by Canara World Foundation and with Eric Ozario at an event organised by Mangalorean Association of Canada.

Q. You have performed with some of the best Konkani singers & composers. Who is your favorite composer?

A: For me, all composers are equally good as each composer compose the music in their own unique style in a different way. So, I do not have a specific favorite composer.

Q. What motivated you to lead such a video as ‘Motiyam So’r’?

A: My passion for music. 'Mothiyam So'r' video is a blessing from God, I am just an instrument who played the role. We have amazing konkani composers in Mangaluru who have composed beautiful songs/music and who have made this Konkani language rich. Many of them know these beautiful numbers but are not aware who the original composer is, so I wanted to revive some of these songs to promote our wonderful legends by giving them a tribute and honour through this musical medley, as well as I wanted to showcase the incredible talents that we have here in Canada.

Q. Don’t you feel proud of your incredible achievement in music?

A: I still have to learn and do lot more in music in the future. I hope my passion for music will help me to contribute more in music.

Q. What is your message for your fans, the Konkani diaspora in Canada and the rest of the world?

A: A huge heartfelt thanks to you Gerry and to Daijiworld for giving me this opportunity to voice my views and thoughts. Hard work, dedication and passion in music can reach anyone to greater heights. My humble request to all Konkani speaking people and music lovers across the globe to please support and encourage music artistes so that they can create more music in Konkani.

Radio Daijiworld and Radio Mango, Canada are the official Media Partners for Mothiyam So’r.