Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Goan music: a long, twisted, and often colourful road across time

Goan music: a long, twisted, and often colourful road across time

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By Valmiki Faleiro valmikif at gmail.com
[First published in Herald, in 2008]
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Among my many debts of gratitude, one I owe to Goan music. To
cantorists and lyricists of Konknni songs. To those who set
the verses to music, and produced a repertoire very dear to a
substantial segment of Goans. From old-world gramophone
records, transistor radio and the first cinema, it was the
music that took me to the songs. The songs then took me to
the lyrics.

That is how Konknni songs, among few other things like
Konknni-speaking friends -- and the ever witty, wise, and
often wacky, world of Konknni adages -- improved my otherwise
severely limited vocabulary of the mother tongue. To them all
who scripted, scored and sang all those great Konknni songs,
here is a humble salute.

I met Frank Fernand, producer of the everlasting
songs in his early-1960s films 'Amchem Noxib' and
'Nirmonn,' in the late 1970s. I carried his angst,
on the disdain of Goa's elite and government
towards Konknni, in a Sunday piece in the
Margao-based West Coast Times I was then with. He
introduced orchestral music to Konknni song and
adapted the Tiatro celluloid. To me, he's also the
greatest Konknni music composer.

Frank Fernandes -- born Curchorem, May 3, 1919-- played the
violin and trumpet like they were toys. He was maestro to
Bollywood greats like Shankar-Jaikishan and Kalyanji-Anandji.
He set the tunes of [the prominent Konkani films of the
yesteryears] Amchem Noxib and Nirmonn to musical magic. This
great son of Goa passed away in Mumbai, April 1, 2007.

My good neighbour and friend, Francisco C. Colaco, no less a
cardiologist than the singer he also is, opines that late
Chris Perry was the greatest. I have no problems. Both Dr.
Colaco and I were blessed to be born in an area, 100 metres
in radius, that gave birth to several Konknni greats (the
list is long, but allow me to mention a few):

Joao Agostinho Fernandes, Pai Tiatrist (father of the Tiatr).
Mestre Fancu of the Holy Spirit Church and its music school,
who spawned a generation of famous musicians. His
reconstructed house at Tepodi Pandd, leading to the house of
some Tepodd -- catch Margaoites nicknaming people charitably!
-- still stands, as does the original quaint residence of the
Pai Tiatrist at Modsai.

Roque Bernardo Barreto Miranda, scion of a great literary
family, kept Konknni traditions alive with his Enfiada de
Anexins Goêse (Imprensa Nacional 1931). Amazing that such a
tiny geographic area also produced the likes of Mestre Nunes
Fernandes and Anthony Mendes, to me the greatest Konknni
comedian. His role of compounder in the film Amchem Noxib is
yet unsurpassed. And, of course, Chris, Joe and Paul-Perry.

Another 100 metres from here, then tiny Pequeno Madel gave
Goa musicians of the meter of Mestre Agostinho Carvalho. Also
the much decorated singer-comedian, Manoel Santana Aguiar
(State Award-1985, Sangeet Natak Academy's-1995, and Padma
Shree in 2005 -- an award every decade!) Born in Madel, M.
Boyer settled in Santemol, Raia. His stage brother, the
unique Jacinto Vaz, Goa's own Charlie -- Sir Charles Spencer
-- Chaplin, came from Mandur, Tiswadi though.

I am under no illusions that any justice can be
done to the world of Konknni music within one or
even a series of newspaper articles. Permit me,
though, to reminisce a bit.

Half a century ago, when I was a child, Konknni was shunned
both in schools and in upper class homes. Konknni, our
identity and heritage, thrived on the laps of the red
lateritic soil of the central of Parashurama's seven
Konkanas. Our ancestors made that identity bud, bloom and
blossom. Konknni writers, musicians and songsters kept the
language going.

Some have chronicled Goa's film and stage music. Andrew Greno
Viegas, who fell to cancer at 40 last year, was among them.
Between his lab assistant's job, he collected memorabilia of
Konknni song, wrote, and brought out the book titled 50 Years
of Konknni Cinema (2000). He worked at building an
encyclopaedia of recorded Konknni music.

There is the almost self-effacing Bonaventure
D'Pietro of Anjuna. He not only writes copiously --
his Songit, Doulot Goenkaranchi (2004) is a
treasure -- but plays and produces Konknni music as
well.

We have our own inimitable storyteller, Mario Cabral e Sá,
who, between his many books, edited Location Goa (2006).

To promote Konknni films

DALGADO KONKNNI AKADEMI - Pratap Naik, S.J.

Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) was established in 1988. This Akademi is
named after Mgr. Sebastião Dalgado, for his various contributions to
enrich Konknni Language. Mgr. Sebastião Dalgado was a scholar of
Konknni as well as many other languages. Dalgado was born in Asagao, a
village in Bardes, on May 8, 1855. Mgr. Dalgado devoted himself to the
study of Konknni in scientific and systematic manner. He was the first
person in Goa to use Devanagari script for Konknni and to print the
first Konknni book in it. He compiled two dictionaries
Konknni-Portuguese and Portuguese-Konknni; Konknni was then written as
well as spoken in various dialects. Mgr. Dalgado found his own
Bardeshi dialect the most suitable to standardize Konknni. Mgr.
Dalgado's aim was to show that Konknni was a full-fledged independent
language. Considering the various contributions Mgr. Dalgado made to
Konknni language, Dalgado Konknni Akademi was established so that the
Konknni writers of Roman script may

bring out standard literature and to initiate activities in its various fields.

The first and foremost objective of DKA is to promote Konknni language
in Roman script, which is neglected, side tracked and given step
motherly treatment for two decades in official fields. Konknni written
in Roman script goes back to 1560. Without its Roman script history,
Konknni would not have got the recognition by Sahitya Akademi, New
Delhi in 1975. It has the rich cultural heritage and it has become
integral and unavoidable part of Goan culture, specifically of
Christians. The vast majority of Goan Christians read Konknni written
in Roman script. Hence it has to be preserved fostered and developed.
DKA has taken upon itself this as its mission. DKA will unite those
Goans who are reading and writing Konknni in Roman script. It will
work untiringly to obtain for them their just and lawful demands, dues
and rights. DKA recognizes those institutions which are working for
the promotion and development of Konknni Language, literature and
culture in Roman script. It has initiated various activities in
literary, cultural and social fields. It will provide financial
assistance, and scholarships to writers, dramatists, talented
important people, scholars and students to carry out research and
other undertakings in the field of Konknni. The other objectives are:
Holding and organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions,
lectures, competitions of different types; undertaking and editing
Konknni folk songs, music, folk literature, stage performances and
other expressions of Konknni culture; Library and documentation centre
facilities to the students, writers, teachers, producers and
actors/actresses of Konknni; collecting and preserving Konknni
documents, records, books and objects scattered with individuals and
families which are related to the cultural and literary development of
Konknni.

Goa's Konknni community is divided into two groups, namely those who
read and write Konknni in Devanagari script, and those who read and
write Konknni in Roman script. Therefore, DKA has a number of demands:
Goa Government should give equal and official status to Konknni
written in Devanagari and Roman scripts. For this the Govt. should
modify the Language Act accordingly. The present Language Act,1987 2.
(c) reads "Konknni language" means Konknni language in Devanagari
script. DKA proposes the following amendment to 2. (c): "Konknni
language" means Konknni language in Devanagari and Roman scripts.

Goa Government recognizes Marathi Akademi as the official Akademi for
Marathi in Goa and gives grants through the Directorate of Official
Language. In the same way, Goa Government must recognize Dalgado
Konknni Akademi as the official NGO of Konknni in Roman script, and
give the same amount of grants directly to DKA.

So far, Goa Govt. has not appointed the president of GKA from the
Roman script group. Hence this time Govt. must appoint the president
of GKA from the Roman script group. In the future, Govt. could appoint
the president by turns from Devanagari script and Roman script
promoters alternatively.

GKA is a Govt. institution. At present a nominee of the All India
Konknni Parishad is the ex-officio member of GKA. GKA Constitution
must be amended to include a nominee of Dalgado Konknni Akademi as the
ex-officio member of GKA. Goa Govt. appoints three persons eminent in
the field of Konknni language, literature or culture as ex-officio
members of GKA. While nominating these three persons Govt. should give
equal representation to Devanagari and Roman script.

In the past Kala Akademi (KA) used to give annual prizes for books
published in Devanagari and Roman scripts. For the last many years it
has stopped giving awards to books written in Roman script. KA should
be ordered to give awards to Roman script Konknni writers, and extend
to them all other projects and schemes which are available to Konknni
in Devanagari script.

Kala Akademi gives Gomantak Sharada Puroskar to Konknni writers in
Devanagari script and Marathi writers. In future KA must consider and
give this prestigious award to Roman script writers and artists as
well.

Kala Akademi is established to promote the culture of Goa. Hence it
should be asked to hold competitions and to promote non-stop Konknni
drama, one-act plays in Konknni in Roman script, Mandos, Dekhnnis,
Christmas carols, Church hymns, Motets, Intruz khells, Kantaram, Kunbi
songs and dances, and other folk arts.

Govt. must name its new theatre for the performing arts in Margão, in
honour of Late Joao Agostinho Fernandes, who is popularly known as
"Pai Tiatrist". By doing this Govt. will honour a great Goan tiatrist
and his minority community.

Goa govt. has the Advisory Board for Directorate of Official Language.
In this advisory Board the govt. must give equal representation to
Konknni in Roman and Devanagari scripts and Marathi.

Tiatr is the most popular form of theatre in Goa. To promote this
local art form, Goa Govt. should make available its theatres in
Panaji, Ponda, Margao and elsewhere at subsidized rates for tiatrs.
This generous gesture of the Govt. will boost the tiatr industry.

Goa Konknni Akdemi, Kala Akademi, Directorate of Art and Culture, and
other Govt. departments while publishing Konknni books, should publish
them in both Devanagari script and Roman script.

Konknni has two representatives in Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. Goa
Govt. sends three names to Sahitya Akademi as its nominees. Let the
Goa Govt. send names of both Devanagari writers and Roman script
writers.

To promote Konknni films the Govt. must establish a separate board of
films consisting of writers, artists and experts in filmmaking. This
board too must have equal representation of Roman script experts as
demanded in all other cases

Devanagari and Roman scripts could be compared to two wheels of a
cart. Both the wheels are equal, important and necessary. Konknni in
Devanagari script is highly Marathicized and Sanskritized. To
neutralize this non-Konknni influence and to maintain its Konknni
identity, Konknni in Roman script is essential. Konknni will loose its
Konknni-ness without Bardeshi Konknni dialect written in Roman script.

The history of written Konknni began with Franciscan and Jesuit
scholars who began writing Konknni in the Roman script in the 16th
century. It was developed and nurtured by Roman script writers. It is
only after the Liberation of Goa the proponents of Devanagari script
with the support of some from the minority community gained the upper
hand in the field of Konknni and reap all the benefits. These tried to
suppress Konknni in Roman script under the guise of promoting
patriotism or nationalism. This has created a sort of fear and
inferiority complex among the community using the Roman script. Now
that this community is enlightened and emboldened by DKA and other
organizations, is asserting itself.

Therefore, DKA demands justice to Roman script and not mere charity or
alms. DKA will not accept anything less than equal status to Konknni
in Roman script in the Official Language Act

Konknni Film korchim

Konknni Film korchim

Fattlea vorsamni kaiborim cholchitram `Amchem Noxib’ hea sarkim Konknni cholchitram ami pollelim, oslinch anik-ui amkam kednam polleunk mellot kai? Ho proxn amche mukhar hea disamni ubo zata. Ponnjent Cholchitrancho Utsov cholta, tantum Konknni cholchitrank suvat mell’lea vo na? Xri Dias asa to Cholchitrancho utpadok mhonn sangtat, tannem tori fuddem sorun Konknni cholchitram korun dakounchim. Hea kamak kruttamni duddu zai. Hea cholchitrancho karbhar choloitat tannim taka adar diuncho. Borim dekhichim ani rit moriad xikoilolim cholchitram toyar korchim mhonn ek axa ballgitanv.

Domnic Fernandes ,Agxe
V-Ixtt.com

Friday, February 6, 2009

Saavariyaa.com - The Konkani film on internet marriages

To understand love, log on to this 'website'
By: Vivek Sabnis Date: 2009-02-05


Pune: As youth get hooked on to matrimonial sites in search of soul mates, a film titled saavariyaa.com has been made to make people identify and understand true love
With the increasing use of Internet by youngsters, love stories have started blossoming online. The youth are getting hooked on to chats rooms and matrimonial sites in search of love and soul mates.

And to make people understand the love that they seek on Internet, producer-director Rajendra Talak, has made a film titled saavariyaa.com which would be released this Valentine's Day.

"People are in search of soul mates through the net. But does it really work? That's the question I want to ask the audience through this movie," said Talak.

According to Talak, we don't get time for ourselves and are busy with our day-to-day work. But technology makes things easier. "We don't even have time to find our soul mates and hence, we get hooked to matrimonial sites for prompt results, which are just a click away," he said.

Talak added that even for doing so, one requires some perceptive and a rational mind to take the final decision like Prajakta, the leading lady did in the film.

Partly shot in London, saavariyaa.com also provides tips for heart to heart interactions, which can make relationships a bliss.

The film even provides tips to youth about maintaining a relationships. "Besides, the film also speaks about techies, who look at life from a different view point, but in a positive way," Talak claimed.

The e-love

In an incident of love blossoming through Internet, a Pune-based girl fell in love with a Pakistani boy as they used to chat for long hours. Later, the girl even went to Pakistan and got married to him.

However, their love didn't last for long and the couple parted recently after being together for three years.


http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/feb/050209-saavariyaa-matrimonial-sites-chats-rooms-soul-mates-love-Rajendra-Talak-Valentine-Day.htm
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'Saavariyaa.com'- a film on internet marraiges- in the making
Panaji, Nov 7 (UNI) A two-hour film in Marathi and Hindi titled 'Saavariyaa.com', featuring emerging trend of internet marriages among Indians, is in the making.

Disclosing this to media persons here yesterday, its director Rajendra Talak, who has won several awards for his Konkani and Marathi films, said that the bilingual film will be shot both in Goa and London locales from early next year.

''These days, the youth are more confused lot and they should decide whether internet marriages are good or bad for them. In fact, we should encourage such marriages,'' Mr Talak said.

The film, with Rs 19 lakh budget, will be completed within a month if everything goes well, he said.

He, however, hastened to add that he did not seek the assistance of the Goa Government for making the film as he had burnt the fingers by doing so for his three award winning films since the year 2004.

''I have so far received a mere Rs 60 lakh from the Government, as against my claim of Rs 1.35 crore spent on the three films, even as I am moving from pillar to post to get the arrears under the Government scheme,'' Mr Talak said.

The scheme, he said, was introduced with a good purpose to encourage making of award winning films in Konkani and Marathi in Goa.

He blamed bureaucratic hurdles for the inordinate delay but admitted that none had so far asked him for ''commissions'' for clearing the arrears.

Mr Talak has urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to fix a deadline for sanctioning the assistance under the scheme so that there will not be any such ''hurdles, headaches and sad experiences as mine.'' A determined Talak has also announced his decision not to produce any films in ''Konkani'' so that others came forward to make them.

He, at the same time, regretted lack of enthusiasm and committment among Goan artistes in making Konkani/Marathi cinema in Goa for various reasons as cinema production involved ''hard, dedicated and protracted work which none prefer in the state.'' It may be recalled that Mr Talak has won laurels for his Konkani telefilm 'Shitu', another national award winning Konkani film 'Aleesha' and bilingual film 'Antarnad' in Konkani and 'Savelee' in Marathi.

'Aleesha' was screened in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2004 when the festival was held for the first time in Goa, while ''Antarnad'' was screened in the Festival last year.

UNI BM NM MP AS0703
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Talk's 'Saavariyaa.com' to Premier at IFFI
NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-11-29
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Different Types of MilkFilmmaker, Rajendra Talak announced his sixth celluloid film 'Saavariyaa.com' for an IFFI opening, appealing for a "good support from locals" in terms of viewer-ship.
At a press conference, the filmmaker said that his latest release will open under the Indian Panorama section of the festival at Kala Academy on Sunday. The film will be a bi-lingual in Konkani as well as Marathi.
On 'Saavariyaa.com' the filmmaker said that it took him two-and-half months to make "at a total cost of Rs 1.2 crore, of which the Konkani version cost Rs 60 lakhs." While the Konkani version is ready for screening the Marathi one will take some time with a tentative date of February planned.
Describing his latest release, Mr Talak said that it was a love story, which will "appeal to lots of people because it has music for the younger generation in it." He plans to ask for an entertainment tax exemption for it as he "wants to make it more affordable to the masses."
'Saavariyaa.com' is a story about a young girl, played by actress Priyanka Bidaye whose marriage is arranged through an internet matrimonial site. Whether the girl decides on a partner selected by the computer or one whom she meets while at work, in her college, is the crux of the film.
(The Navhind Times)

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Premiers

The Indian Premieres segment includes a wide range of Indian cinema that will be screened from the 24th of November to the 30th of November, 2008 at various venues that include INOX and Kala Academy.
The films include ‘Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye!’ Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the film revolves around ‘Lucky’ a 15-year-old middle class kid who rises to notorious fame but at the same time is deeply searching for that one thing that shall always keep him satisfied in life.
Secondly, ‘Dhuaaan...From the Fire Within’ is the heartbreaking story of how a young woman is trying hard to bring into this world her beloved child and at the same time also tries to keep her family and the world happy.
One interesting film to watch out for is the Goan movie ‘Saavariyaa.Com,’ directed and produced by Rajendra Talak. It’s an interesting story of how two youngsters begin to find each other’s lives interesting and then all of a sudden, Love takes them to an altogether new world. Saavariyaa.Com is indeed a must watch to all those who love and respect Konkani and its Cinema.
‘Thanks Maa’ produced by Quantum films limited and directed by Irfan Kamal is a heart touching story of how a young street kid comes to the rescue of a two-day-old abandoned baby and in the bargain loses his most precious possession...the flawless and God like image of a Mother he used to see in his dreams.
‘One Day In Cochin’ Produced by Philippa Isidore Presentations and Directed by Tom Peirce is the story of a group of people coming from different social backgrounds but their paths cross when their love for travelling comes to fore when they tour the lovely city of Cochin. In doing so, they win, love and loose. In short, everything can change in one day at Cochin!
And lastly, ‘Tandala – Ek Mukhavata’ is Produced by Madhuri Ashirgade and directed by Sanjay Surkar. A woman is not born, but she is made a woman! The movie is the story of a woman’s struggle to get herself liberated from all such superstitious customs, beliefs and experience the pleasure of womanhood!
So in short, the Indian Premieres is a great treat to all those who adore Indian cinema and indeed its one opportunity that shouldn’t be missed!

http://www.iffigoa.org/esg2008/iffi2008/premiers.php

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India
'Saavariyaa.com'- a film on internet marraiges- in the making
Panaji | Wednesday, Nov 7 2007 IST



A two-hour film in Marathi and Hindi titled 'Saavariyaa.com', featuring emerging trend of internet marriages among Indians, is in the making.

Disclosing this to media persons here yesterday, its director Rajendra Talak, who has won several awards for his Konkani and Marathi films, said that the bilingual film will be shot both in Goa and London locales from early next year.

''These days, the youth are more confused lot and they should decide whether internet marriages are good or bad for them. In fact, we should encourage such marriages,'' Mr Talak said.

The film, with Rs 19 lakh budget, will be completed within a month if everything goes well, he said.

He, however, hastened to add that he did not seek the assistance of the Goa Government for making the film as he had burnt the fingers by doing so for his three award winning films since the year 2004.

''I have so far received a mere Rs 60 lakh from the Government, as against my claim of Rs 1.35 crore spent on the three films, even as I am moving from pillar to post to get the arrears under the Government scheme,'' Mr Talak said.

The scheme, he said, was introduced with a good purpose to encourage making of award winning films in Konkani and Marathi in Goa.

He blamed bureaucratic hurdles for the inordinate delay but admitted that none had so far asked him for ''commissions'' for clearing the arrears.

Mr Talak has urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to fix a deadline for sanctioning the assistance under the scheme so that there will not be any such ''hurdles, headaches and sad experiences as mine.'' A determined Talak has also announced his decision not to produce any films in ''Konkani'' so that others came forward to make them.

He, at the same time, regretted lack of enthusiasm and committment among Goan artistes in making Konkani/Marathi cinema in Goa for various reasons as cinema production involved ''hard, dedicated and protracted work which none prefer in the state.'' It may be recalled that Mr Talak has won laurels for his Konkani telefilm 'Shitu', another national award winning Konkani film 'Aleesha' and bilingual film 'Antarnad' in Konkani and 'Savelee' in Marathi.

'Aleesha' was screened in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2004 when the festival was held for the first time in Goa, while ''Antarnad'' was screened in the Festival last year.

-- (UNI) -- 07DR5.xml
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071107/815549.html
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Small talk
Font Size EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICE
Posted: Feb 05, 2009 at 0156 hrs IST


Small talk

Echoes from the valley E-Love

Depicting a new age love triangle between an internet relationship and in-person relationship, director Rajendra Talak is all set for the release of his next Marathi film- Saavariyaa.com. In the city for the promotion of the film, Talak said, "Despite the fact that the exchange of information and emotions have become easier, we are going away from each other. This needs to be given a thought. The film is based on expression of love using Internet as the medium. Priyanka Bidaye, who plays the lead role in the film said, "This is the first time that I am doing a Marathi film and I personally believe in the philosophy that my character in the film portrays. I am playing the role of Pritam, a Goan girl in the film." Saavariyaa.com is scheduled to release on February 14.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/small-talk/419478/