By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait; Photo Courtesy: Rivon Gomes
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ณ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ.
Kuwait Konknni Mogi (KKM) organized their star-studded UNIQUE MUSICAL SHOW in Kuwait (29th Nov 2019) to a surprisingly, pretty sparse audience which raises a question about the future of Goan shows in Kuwait.
If the audience keeps diminishing to such a percentage, directors/organizers may be discouraged in planning any more shows in Kuwait.
Or, was the sparse attendance due to Black Friday? Many stores in Kuwait and the world over offer highly promoted sales on 29th November, a day called as Black Friday.
Were the audience out shopping?
๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ก
I am not here to comment on anyoneโs opinion, but I donโt think there was anything UNIQUE about anyoneโs human intelligence who watched the show.
To be โuniqueโ, the challenge is to be different than anyone can imagine.
I personally did not find anything UNIQUE about the musical except for the fact that a guest of honor - a visiting Goan Minister of Art & Culture sang โMeera Meeraโ on the occasion.
All the same, am sure everyone enjoyed the evening.
๐๐๐ โ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐
KKMโs speciality and hallmark in encouraging children to sing was well demonstrated once again and greatly admired by everyone.
The kids Valentino Pinto, Valanka and Aaron DโSouza were amazing, and one of the highlights of the evening.
Valankaโs song as โHubli-kanโ was melodiously sung by the little kid with matching dance steps while Valentinoโs โKakonnkarโ and Aaronโs solo were well presented and greatly applauded by the lovely audience who witnessed.
Aaron DโSouzaโs song, tune n lyrics were too comatose for a sparkling, bubbly kid who sang stylishly nevertheless.
The trio by the kids Valentino-Valanka-Aaron was the cream of the show.
Another new-found talent Alitia Fernandes had 2 nicely tuned songs โGoenchem Hindu, and โI love youโ; Alidia sang the first one in a highly commanding voice.
๐ฆ๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐
Be it coincidence or fate, there were as many as 5 songs and more only connected with the word โMogโ (love).
Looked like the singers had run out of subjects, or did they think they were singing for a Valentines Day Program?
Most of the songs were set to โancientโ tunes, โhumdrumโ everyday lyrics, and typical Goan tiatr style except for a handful which were โmusically classโ.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐
Both the London stars Agnelo Valentino Lobo and Joao de Zuari sang about โloveโ; the singers simply seemed fascinated and possessed by the subject.
Bizarre as it was, both singers sang two solos each on the same โmogโ topic which itself is an age-old subject in tiatr circles, to say the least.
Joaoโs โMogโ was set to a wonderful tune, and melodiously sung.
Joao de Zuariโs other song, โMog mhozo korโ was a super-melodious Englebert-tuned rendition.
Joaoโs charming smile made it even more eye-catching and โuniqueโ but strangely the song had just one verse and a chorus.
Joaoโs third song was on artistes (kalakar).
๐๐ก๐ง๐ข๐ก๐๐ง๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ
If the โMogโ topic was not enough, Antonette de Maina had another one on the same theme โ a solo.
The sexy star who is much in demand on Konkani stage electrified everyone by her rocking singing, dazzling style, showmanship and an ingredient much needed to make musical shows 'unique'.
Apart from that song and the opening chorus, Antonette dominated in leading another pulsating song, a romantic duet (of two lovers) with Agnelo Lobo which left everyone tickled pink, surely.
The star performer commands lot of admiration and attention from some fans for her talent, and glitzy presence on stage but can be a little intimidating at times with her choice of costumes!
๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ - ๐ช๐ข๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ
The Queen of Political songs was encored 6 times for her first song
Olga's voice and lyrics were super, the song itself was set to a beautiful tune, rhythm, and lyrics.
Her other solo was a cryptic, political pop song, beautifully sung and to a super tune.
Olgaโs duet โRobotโ with Benny de Aldona had a beautiful concept and won accolades for her striking costume.
๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐ฌ
When we look at the spectrum of Goan female singers in recent years especially of the Goencho Avaz & Voice of Goa type girls, the most successful singers haven't just been gifted vocally, they are most alluring in their singing style as well as song selection.
And that's just a bonus to their unmatched talent.
Sure, some women can't look like Aphrodite ofcourse, but that's not to say their beauty and past brilliance is easily forgettable.
The world has moved since Jenny moved to Germany. Jenny, however, still has the same snail-paced tunes of the past which was evident in her first song Khuris which was more of a hymn than a musical show song.
Her next song Amontronn was a comedy solo on a typical comic tune but the lyrics failed to move any bones.
Jennyโs third song was her own story, rendered strongly and fluently even though the band gave her a wrong start.
๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ
Benny de Aldona sings melodious songs no doubt and he never disappoints, but he does not fall into the crowd-pulling singers of Konkani stage.
Bennyโs song on the new generation was well sung.
The final curtain-closing song was nicely sung by the only known local-artistes from Kuwait apart from the kids - KKM Managing Committee members Domnic Fernandes (President), Salazar Pires de Menezes (Vice-President), Agnelo Rebello (Treasurer) and Gennifer Marshall (Secretary).
๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐
The comedy skits never rose to desired heights. Did the comedians come rehearsed?
While comedian Neto appeared just an average touring visitor relying heavily on the stand-up comedy of the magnificent Sally; Comedian Anita looked more interested in bashing up everyone on stage.
Except for the KKM Committee, and the band on stage, Anita spared no one in flooring down. Perhaps she thought Kuwaitkars are fascinated by WWF and find it amusing.
The band on stage comprised of Shawn Rodrigues (keyboards), Maestro Roy Menezes (clarinet/saxophone), Maestro Faustino Menezes (trumpet), Menino Fernandes (bongo), Denis Gonsalves (bass guitar) and Tony Fernandes (drums).
The band had nothing extraordinary to play for, it takes no genius to observe that a one-man band was enough to handle the whole show.
Regrettably, the band always delayed in catching up in-between songs, and were seen taking sweet, lengthy breaks during skits thereby delaying again in strapping back.
The โsutrasonchaloksโ Domnic Fernandes and Richard Rodrigues managed well but made no efforts to hasten the proceedings.
๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ & ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฆ
Kuwait shows have always provided great entertainment.
However, it is a huge task nowadays to organize shows in Kuwait with so many restrictions and limitations.
As such, directors/organizers rely greatly on sponsors and individual Goan well-wishers to help out. The vanishing audience will surely give a heart-break to many a director.
Nonetheless, KKMโs efforts in bringing entertainment to the Goan community and to pull off another huge show against all odds in Kuwait will always be remembered.
Congratulations to them, their past shows will remain chronicled as follows:
2019 โ UNIQUE MUSICAL SHOW 2013 โ SONGIT SANZ
2018 - VAVANK CHUKLEAR GANVANK CHUKTA (TIATR)
2017 โ MUSICAL - PALKACHIM NOKETRAM KUVEITTANT
2017 - MAIM PAI TIM MAIM PAI (TIATR)
2016 โ MUSICAL - HIDDEN PEARLS OF KONKANI STAGE IN KUWAIT
2015 โ MUSICAL SHOW BY KKM
2014 โ EASTER SUNDAY โKHELLโ
2013 โ SONGIT SANZ