Doha: Reena of Oman, Orson of Kuwait Crowned GVOM-3 Winners
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha (GA)
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Doha, Oct 20: After a lot of anxious moments and neck-and-neck contest between 12 Konkani singers of the Gulf region, meticulous judging in a fantastic gala finale held here on Friday October 19, Voice of Oman Reena D’Souza and Voice of Kuwait Orson Albert D’Souza were crowned the winners of Gulf Voice of Mangalore.
While Reena made her mark with her enchanting singing and exuberant presentation, Orson was a powerhouse as he dished out a stunning performances one after another. They proved their mettle in the most closely-contested finals of Gulf Voice of Mangalore and walked away with the glittering crown and cash awards.
Moreover, with them winning the greatest Konkani reality show of the Middle-East, the Konkani world has got two new singing sensations and shining stars. The contest was held amidst vociferous backing of Konkani music lovers from Qatar and those who flew to Doha specially for the finals from all the GCC countries.
While Voice of Qatar Preema Printo bagged the first runners-up for the second consecutive time in female category, voice of UAE Jeevan Voice was crowned first runners-up among the male contestants. Voice of UAE Sabita Mathias and voice of Oman Morvin Quadros bagged the second runners-up in the respective categories.
Earlier, the programme began with the introduction on Gulf Voice of Mangalore by Alfred Crasta after the playing of the anthem Mangalore Cultural Association (MCA), the hosts for the Gulf Voice of Mangalore-3. The much awaited finals were formally inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional lamp by MCA president Harry Lobo, vice-president Jason Quadros and advisory committee members Joachim D’Souza, Jerry Pinto, Felix Lobo and Wilfred Fernandes. MCA president Harry Lobo then extended a formal welcome to the GVOM-3 finals and offered an auspicious opening to the event. It was then the turn of Sana Britto and her troupe to delight the gathering with a scintillating dance.
It was at this point that Konkani’s number one compere Leslie Rego took over the reins of the finals of Gulf Voice of Mangalore-3 for the third consecutive time. Leslie has played an important role in envisaging Gulf Voice of Mangalore from the beginning and his power-packed compering made even delightful with his excellent control over the language and the audience has also played a significant role in popularizing this greatest Konkani reality show of the Middle-east. Right from the beginning Leslie meant business and without wasting much time invited founders Louis Rodrigues and Lawrence Pinto, contestants, heads of the local coordinating organizations and GVOM core committee to the dais with the grand march. The jury members of Joel Pereira, Fr Denis D’Sa, Henry D’Souza and Meena Rebimbus were then introduced to the gathering and main sponsor of the evening Ronald Colaco presented them with the marksheet.
Finally the moment had arrived and Voice of Bahrain Teena D’Souza began the proceedings with the ‘Noxiba’ composed by Melwyn Peris and originally sung by Anita Samson. It was the perfect beginning for the historic event which has been the talk of entire Konkani world for the last four years eversince it was first introduced in Kuwait in the year 2008 by Louis Rodrigues and Lawrence Pinto. Shalet D’Silva, the finalist from Saudi Arabia was second on the stage and her choice of song was ‘Modianecho Tallo’, one of the memorable compositions of the late Konkann Kogull Wilfy Rebimbus. The song was first time heard in well-known Konkani play ‘Tisri Cheet’ in the melodious voice of Konkann Myna Meena Rebimbus.
Preema Pinto nee Menezes isn’t new to Gulf Voice of Mangalore. The immensely talented singer who hails from the talented music family was the first runners-up at the second edition of Gulf Voice of Mangalore held in UAE in 2010. Perhaps missing the crown by a whisker had motivated her to put in extra efforts and come back with bang. It was very much evident as she presented ‘Gaitelim Gaitelim’, one of the acclaimed compositions of legendary Wilfy Rebimbus. Backed by vociferous host audience Preema dished out a superlative performance that was approved with a thunderous applause. P H Pinto’s composition ‘Jai Bharata’ by Sabita Mathias, the voice of UAE was one of the best performances of the evening. The song ‘Jai Bharata’ has been hailed as a novelty yet people of this generation have hardly heard this magnum opus of Konkani music. But Sabita’s choice of this song came in praise from all including the august jury.
Lavina D’Souza who has already made name as a versatile singer had topped Kuwait semi-finals in a nail-biting contest with a stupendous performance. She was again at her best while presenting ‘Pinjreantlem Suknnem’, composed by Claud D’Souza. Reena D’Souza, the voice of Oman was the last among the female finalists presenting the song of her choice ‘’Harshem Kedna’ composed by Elyer (Llyod Rego) Taccode. The romantic number was presented with superb emotions and skills giving ample to think to the jury when they choose the three best female voices of the evening for the next round.
Advent of Remy D’Souza, the voice of Qatar was eagerly-awaited by the host audience who had come in large numbers to cheer their favourite contestant. He as usual did not disappoint any. His voice has a magical touch that enchants the audience to the maximum. His presentation of ‘Mandd Sobhann’s’ memorable number ‘Kallza Gaaz’ sung originally by Prakash D’Souza was greeted with thunderous applause that had echoed within the majestic Giwana Hall of Hotel Radission Blu for few minutes. Remy was followed on stage by Orson Albert D’Souza, the powerhouse of Kuwait with Tony Bejai’s recent number ‘Angelina’ again sung by Prakash D’Souza. It was perhaps the best performance of the evening, at least for the audience. It took compere Leslie Rego’s extraordinary skills to bring the Giwana Hall back in order as the audience went berserk with applause. With this performance Orson enhanced his chances of making to the next round.
‘Mojha Kudintlea Xirani’ is one of the best numbers ever composed on mother and her love in Konkani and it is not surprising that only the late Wilfy Rebimbus could compose such emotional numbers. Voice of UAE Jeevan Vas not only did complete justice to the composition but also came in special praise from the judges for special variations that brought in. It is as if Konkani singing contests are incomplete without the rendition of ‘Ganv go Chedwa Mujho Gaanv’, a masterpiece by Mandd Sobhann. One or the other contestant comes up with this song which shows the popularity of this enchanting number and Saudi Arabia’s Konkani Melody King Roshan proved that he had chosen a right song for a contest of this magnitude.
Morvin Quadros, the finalist from Oman is the youngest among all the finalists but his presentation of Elyer Taccode’s ‘Kedna Tujho’ had all the ingredients of an experienced singer. The heartthrob of Muscat had blessing of the audience as his performance received loudest possible applause. Last among the male finalists Sydney Correa from Bahrain is an ardent fan of the late Wilfy Rebimbus and he presented Konkann Kogull’s acclaimed composition ‘Mai Bhaxe Mojha’ amidst the thunderous applause of the weekend audience.
It was an awesome first round wherein 12 finalists came up with absolutely stunning performances leaving jury members a hard task at hand in choosing the 3 best voices in each category. But the jury was equally up to the task. Meena Rebimbus, Henry D’Souza, Joel Pereira and Fr Denis D’Sa are stalwarts of music and meticulously judged each of the contestants and finally chose the best 6. While Preema Pinto from Qatar, Sabita Mathias from UAE and Reena D’Souza from Oman made to the Top-3 in the female category, Orson D’Souza fdrom Kuwait, Jeevan Vas from UAE and Morvin Quadros from Oman walked into the final round.
The next challenge for the Top-6 was singing a song of jury’s choice without support of background music. Living up their billing as the Top-6 voices of Gulf countries, the finalists again came up with sterling performances knowing well that even a minute error won’t go unnoticed in the eyes of experienced judges and that the marks earned at this round would be counted in crowning the best.
The last round of the Gulf Voice of Mangalore-3 then commenced wherein all the finalists were given a common song to sing. While ‘Chilipili Suknneano’, a composition of the late Wilfy Rebimbus was given to the female finalists, the male contestants had to render ‘Manglur Devalla’, a beautiful composition of Konkani’s showman the late Mick Max. The final round was as exuberating and mesmerizing as it could be with the contestants giving their best at the last chance they had to impress the jury in order to be crowned as the best voice at the Gulf Voice of Mangalore-3.
Cornel, Mangalore’s latest dancing sensation along with his ‘Dance India Dance’ and ‘Jhalak Dik Laa Jha’ co-dancers Elton Mascarenhas, Sonali and Sneha entertained the audience with scintillating dances to the tunes of popular Konkani and Hindi numbers. They were the star attraction of the evening and these elegant dancers left the gathering stunned with their exhilarating performances and showed as to why they are considered among the best dancers of India.
A short stage programme was held after the completion was over. Indian Ambassador to Qatar Sanjeev Arora was the chief guest for the stage programme while main sponsor of the event Ronald Colaco and his wife Jean Colaco, Walter Nandalike, the Editor-in-chief of Daijiworld, Rudolf D’Souza, the representative of Property Infratech, Mangalore, the co-sponsors of the event GVOM-3 coordinator Veena Pais and MCA president Harry Lobo were also present on the dais.
Sanjeev Arora in his address hailed the efforts of MCA in hosting such a grand event and also praised the Konkani-speaking community for their vibrant presence in Qatar. Addressing the audience after releasing the Gulf Voice of Mangalore souvenir Ronald Colaco declared that the third season of Gulf Voice of Mangalore as the best one ever and said that the MCA has raised the bar for the next organizers. Coordinators of GVOM-3 from each of the participating country too were felicitated on the occasion. Jean Colaco felicitated Arun Palimar from KSA, Roshan D’Silva from UAE, Richard Moras from Bahrain, Stany Fernandes from Oman, Wilson Saldanha from Kuwait while Walter Nandalike felicitated all the 12 finalists. Later addressing the gathering Walter said that Gulf Voice of Mangalore has not only brought out the hidden talents but has also united all the Konkani-speaking people of GCC countries.
Musicians Joswin Pinto, Theo Alvares, Richard Monteiro, Melwyn Fernandes, Azhar and Asghar and .dancers Cornel, Elton, Sneha and Sonali too were felicitated along with the members of the jury Joel Pereira, Fr Denis D’Sa, Henry D’Souza and Meena Rebimbus. Noted Konkani artist Eddie Sequeira too was honoured on the occasion for his contribution to Konkani at large and MCA in particular. Fr Denis D’Sa addressed the gathering on behalf of the jury before GVOM-3 main coordinator Veena Pais shared her experience.
Before the results were finally announced Sangeet Samrat Henry D’Souza and Fr Denis D’Sa entertained the gathering with the immortal Konkani number ‘Ami Dogi Sezara’ that had the audience storming to the dance floor and asking for more.
After the three successful seasons of Gulf Voice of Mangalore in Kuwait, UAE and Qatar, the show now moves on to Sultanate Oman with Oman’s premier Konkani organization MCCP has taken over the baton from MCA Qatar. MCCP representative was symbolically handed over the responsibility of hosting the season four of Gulf Voice of Mangalore.
Mable Fernandes compered the stage programme and MCA member Arthur Pais proposed the vote of thanks.