Dubai: Daiji Dubai Lifetime Achievement Award for 'Katrina' Henry D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Apr 12: Mumbai-based veteran Konkani singer and composer, Henry D'Souza, who is highly popular among Konkani music lovers for his evergreen songs like 'ye ye Katrina', 'Ami Dhogo Sezara' and others, has been chosen for Daiji Dubai Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award will be presented on the 12th anniversary of Daiji Dubai, a forum for Konkani writers in the Emirates, on April 29, 2011 at the Shiekh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School. The award will consist of Rs 50,000 cash, a citation and a memento.
Henry D'Souza will also be the star singer-perfomer during the event, along with other leading artistes from Mangalore and Mumbai.
'Sangeet Samrat' Henry D Souza - The Iridescent star of Konkani Music
by Florine Roche
In India’s rich mosaic of cultural diversity Konkani stands out. Many Konkanis have contributed in enriching our distinct culture, our tradition, music, art and cuisine. But there is no denying the fact that Konkani music has been the catalyst in spreading the fragrance of Konkani and also making the younger generation get acquainted with our Konkani culture, language, customs and traditions.
There was a time when Konkani songs like “Ye Ye Katrina” and “Ami Dogi Sezara” could be heard in every Konkani speaking catholic household spread across the country. No catholic function was complete without these songs being played with the crowd cavorting to its tunes. They were chartbuster songs which gained instant popularity and no Konkani function could be complete without these chartbuster songs being played or sung.
People used to enjoy listening, humming, singing and dancing to the tunes of these popular songs - the lyrics and tunes of which amply display Konkani culture and tradition to the fullest. Despite the passage of time these songs have managed to retain their original charm and intoning rhapsody, appealing to the hearts and emotions of the older, current even the generation next. The creator of these songs is none other than Henry D Souza, who has become an iconic figure in Konkani music as a singer, lyricist, music director and producer, all rolled into one. This multifaceted personality has carved out a permanent place in the hearts and minds of Konkani music lovers. His songs have taken him to the peak of glory and success and immortalized his name in Konkani music field. Recognizing his multifarious talents and his contribution to Konkani music he has been bestowed with apt titles such as “Sangeet Samrat” and “Kalaa Ratna” by Konkani enthusiasts.
It is not that Henry’s talent is confined to music field alone though it cannot be denied that his songs have catapulted him to the zenith of popularity. Henry D Souza is a rare gem whose talent and creative genius encompasses a wide spectrum of creative activities such as writing short stories, skits, poetry and articles on diverse topics for various Konkani periodicals. For sometime he also dabbled in journalism by starting “Hi”, an English weekly. But finally it is only music that beckoned this talented singer who kept other distractions at bay to emerge as a top notch performer with a style so distinct and rapturous .
Konkani Roots Calling
Henry D Souza was born in Basrikatte, near Koppa, a small town enfolded by the picturesque Western Ghats and naturally the tranquil milieu must have had a profound influence on his young mind fuelling his creative impulses at an early age. He had his early education at St Joseph’s in Chickmagalur and secondary schooling at Padua High School Mangalore and at St Philomena’s Puttur, before graduating from St Aloysius College Mangalore. During his stint as a student at St Aloysius college Henry got an opportunity to showcase his musical flair winning laurels in western classical singing. This gave him the initial push and fuelled his singing talent. Henry then moved to Mumbai where he did his law degree from Mumbai University and from then onwards Mumbai became his abode. But he continued to nurture his Konkani moors in this commercial capital of the country.
In Mumbai he pursued a professional career as a financial consultant and vented his creativity by pursuing journalistic activities. He also has written 3 Konkani plays “Sobhit Samasar”, “Ghar Rani” and “Athanso Samsar”, which have been staged successfully from time to time. Despite finding various conduits to give vent to his multifarious talents, he could no longer keep his predilection for music in the closet for long. Driven by an uncanny determination he set up his own western music band in 1964 with him as the lead singer. As the lead singer of the group he began to sing effortlessly some of the popular songs of the star singers of yesteryears like Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Pat Boon and many others, in five star hotels, during parties, weddings and other celebrations. Slowly but steadily, Henry D Souza, the singer had arrived and he climbed the ladder of popularity to emerge as a singer in his own right. In the same year the first Konkani song he sang for All India Radio, Mumbai “Sanchem Ketem hai hai Bombhai Sherachem” propelled him to the zenith of popularity and as the cliché goes there has been no stopping of his extraordinary singing talent from blooming.
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From 1964 onwards, he has recorded more than 700 songs for All India Radio, Mumbai and these songs are broadcast repeatedly even now by Mumbai AIR in its Konkani programmes. It is a matter of pride for all Konkanis that his songs are broadcast over radio in Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Henry has given solo programmes and teamed up with Dr Aparna Mayenkar for duet song performance for Mumbai Doordarshan. It goes to the credit of Henry that he has been singing the songs “Ye Ye Katrina” and “Ami Dogi Sezara” written and composed by him in his every programme for the last 45 years and these still drive the audience crazy. Radio Ceylon popularized his song “ye ye Katrina” by broadcasting it for nearly two years . The song has been translated into Sinhalese language keeping the original tune intact and choreographed too and it was a major attraction in most of their functions for many decades. Both these songs are now available on YouTube for music lovers and each song has recorded more than 20,000 hits so far.
Winning Accolades
Henry’s name and fame is not confined to Mumbai or his native Mangalore alone. His popularity has spread across the country and has transcended the regional barrier. He has presented programmes at local, national and international levels. Apart from places like Mumbai, Mangalore, Mysore, Bangalore a Hyderabad and smaller towns in Mangalore like Moodbidri and Belman, he has been invited by connoisseurs of Konkani music from Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Muscat, Doha. In 2009 he performed in Canada in the presence of a fully packed audience of 800, which speak volumes of his
popularity and virtuosity.
Henry also has the acclaim of singing along with Konkan Kogul late Wilfy Rebimbus at St Aloysius College grounds, and in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the presence of thousands of fans of both these Konkani legends. Henry has provided music to two Konkani films “Kazara Upranth” and “Udtha to Budtha” and has played a central role in the commercial success of these movies. Apart from Konkani Henry has written and composed songs in Hindi and English also and many of his songs have been translated into Sinhalese, Hindi and English languages. That he has sung along with some of the well known names in Hindi film music like Mohammed Aziz, Vinod Rathod, , Sadhana Sargam and music director Rajendar Singh demonstrates his versatility as a singer of repute. Noted Hindi playback singer and music director Hemant Kumar had selected and sung some of Henry’s songs for H M V album. In 1970 HMV music company recorded his songs and 2006 Sa re ga ma company has brought out a CD of his songs.
He now plans to bring out an audio-visual CD of his songs and also bring out his songs in the form of a book. Plans are also afoot to bring out a CD of Konkani hymns.
Accolades and recognition for Henry have poured in from all quarters and from different organizations from time to time for his commendable service for Konkani in general and Konkani music in particular. He has been honoured with the titles “Sangeet Samrat” at Town Hall in Mangalore by Shanti Club, Bajjodi, in 1988 and with “Kala Ratna” by Konkan Taran – Jerry-Merry, Mumbai, in 1995. He has been honoured by Permannur Catholic community, by Belman church during it scentenary celebration, by Konkani Cathlic Sangh (R), Mysore, St Mary’s Association, Shirva, Mumbai, Konkani Welfare Association, Mumbai, Konkani Kutam, Bahrain and many other organizations, for his contribution to Konkani music. It was Henry who had the honour of presenting Daiji Dubai Puraskar in Dubai to Konkan Kogul Wilfy Rebimbus in 2007.
In these 45 years of his tryst with music Henry D Souza has no doubt imprinted his name in Konkani music with his sparkling stage performances and innumerable Konkani songs that have found a place in the hearts and minds of Konkani music lovers. Henry is a rare jewel that sparkles with his talent and the Konkani community is fortunate to have nurtured and fostered this talented singer. Let us hope Henry continues to render his unflagging service to Konkani through his music.
Daiji Darbar 2011 :