By Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Music has been one of the mainstays of Konkani dramas over the years.
While music is a must to bring melody and rhythm to songs, most dramas have 'incidental' music or musical accompaniment underscoring the dialogue.
Stories of more modern, social subjects are narrated with a beat and cadence where musicians remain the vertebrae of the background score. The drummers, trumpeters, keyboard artistes, guitarists, etc are all part of the show.
Goans, as a community, have always excelled in music and song, and a powerful though unsophisticated expression of this achievement is seen through Konkani stage which draws large audiences.
Goans generally have been avid practitioners and exponents of western music. While many musicians have attained fame as renowned musicians in Kuwait, many others have claimed dexterity with special instruments.
Among one of the star musicians is Kuwait-based Goan drummer Tony Fernandes who has been a key player for number of years in a variety of music shows.
Tony is set to feature in different Konkani shows this season starting with Domnic Fernandes’ musical ‘PALKACHIM NOKETRAM KUVEITANT’ scheduled on 29th September 2017 in Kuwait.
Tony, who hails from Navelim, Salcete, Goa was born and brought up in Bombay. Having a natural flair for rhythm, Tony learnt his basics in drumming at a tender age.
“I used to attend lot of musical shows in Bombay and minutely watch the musicians especially the drummers,” reveals Tony.
After Tony’s parents settled in Goa, he completed his schooling at Our Lady of Rosary High School, Navelim, and further sharpened his drumming skills by jamming up with various beat groups in Goa.
“Musik Mann is one of the bands I got an opportunity to demonstrate my talent, and am ever so thankful to them,” says Tony recalling his early days.
After embarking to Kuwait in the year 1999, Tony got to play for TOP RANKS, one of the premier bands in Kuwait.
As far as dramas are concerned, Tony first featured in Rosary Ferns' drama ‘Mhojem Dusrem Ghor’ playing under late Maestro Juzinho from Goa.
“It was quite an experience playing in dramas after playing for beat groups,” says Tony adding, “Maestro Juzinho guided me a lot and am ever indebted to the legendary musician.”
Tony’s subsequent stint in Kuwait was in Philip de Majorda’s musical show. And the shows continued since then.
Now, Tony is a regular face for any show in Kuwait, no Goan event is complete without Tony jumbling his sticks around from the drummer’s high seat wearing his trademark cap.
Apart from Konkani shows, Tony plays for orchestras and Hindi shows featuring Bollywood playback singers and also plays for Filipino bands.
Prominent accomplishments on Tony's profile include Lorna's show in Dubai organized by Rafael Rodrigues that he played alongside Maestro Shahu.
Drumming is a sound through which Tony expresses his emotions of joy and happiness. A humble, soft-spoken drummer, Tony lets his drums do the talking. Not too surprising then that this fine musician has music in his blood which has taken him places.
See the Tony on drums ‘live’ in a feast of upcoming Konkani shows in Kuwait.