By Gasper Crasto
Konkani songs have a unique ability to encapsulate emotions, memories, and stories.
Seasoned UK-based singer Tommy Afonso had a song on the collective ‘controversy’ of footballers Maradona, Pele, and Platini in Mathew Araujo’s drama ‘Dukhantlean Sukhachim Motiam’ that entertained Kuwait on 27th Sept ’24.
As a footballer myself and a great fan of the game, the song caught my top interest and attention.
It was based on an iconic photo of the footballers apparently taken in May 1988, in France during an All-Stars Match between France & Rest of the World that ended 2-2.
Then Maradona campaigned against drugs, Platini (supposedly) against corruption and Pele stood for the rights of the children.
Time passed by. Maradona became a drug addict. Platini was banned from football administration for corruption & siphoning of FIFA funds. And Pele refused to accept his biological daughter from his affair with a housemaid.
A former member of the popular Trio Kings, known for their acclaimed performances that captivated audiences all over the Konkan world, Tommy was one of the shining stars of the show.
In a troupe of established singers, Tommy was outstanding in his solo, especially in weaving the epic story of the football giants, capturing their dazzling brilliance on the pitch, and the controversy and impact surrounding off it.
However, the message conveyed reminded the audience that life is a tapestry of triumphs and heartaches. The song teaches that nobody is perfect; and appearances can be deceptive.
Cheers to Tommy for an innovative subject, a challenging & high-pitched tune, and lyrics that could be very hard to memorize for singing on stage.
Tommy’s smile signified his experience as a thorough professional.
TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD
Tommy’s other solo was a sorrowful tribute to friend Nazy Azavedo – a popular Tiatr & football organizer in Kuwait who recently passed away.
Through his emotional lyrics and a touching melody, Tommy honored Nazy recalling some of his benevolent deeds.
Earlier, the organizers too reminded the audience to join in a minute’s silence in Nazy’s memory as a collective expression of remembrance, grief, and prayer for his soul.
PROPHET SHUNNED POSTHUMOUSLY TOO
In acknowledging the lives of those who have passed, we are reminded of the fragility of life.
Surprisingly, there was no mention during the entire event about one of Kuwait’s most popular and greatest Goans Shri Veronica Fernandes who passed away earlier this month in Goa on Sept 12.
Although an outspoken Goan, Veronica was known among worldwide Goans as a living encyclopedia on tiatrs, and an activist of immense abilities.
His deeds are well documented in the chronicles of history, and well recognized and acknowledged by the governments of India and Kuwait.
Veronica’s major accomplishments have been the Konkani language agitation and the famous Solidarity Movement on the streets of Panjim in support of Kuwait during the 1990 invasion by Iraq.
No Goan association in Kuwait ever recognized Veronica’s works or achievements; however, he was honored as a ‘Konknni Zuzari’ by Konknni Kullvar, a Mangalorean association in Kuwait, in 2007.
At that time, Veronica was cynically on record, stating, “Prophets are not hailed by their own people, nevertheless it’s a great honor for me to be hailed by my neighbors.”