PTI
Brasilia, Sep 13: It was popular pop and rock artist Remo Fernandes' evening all the way when he performed for a select audience of top leaders from India, Brazil and South Africa hosted by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath on the eve of the first summit of the IBSA forum here.
Fernandes, a Goan, presented a mix of pop and rock numbers in Konkani and Portuguese, the dominant language of Brazil which shares a common history of Portugese colonisation with the Indian state, and delighted the audience which longed for more from him.
When he signalled the end of his concert, the audience shouted humma, humma, a famous playback song of his in the film Bombay. He promised to sing only on the condition that the entire audience should dance to its beats. Eventually when he did they lapped it up.
The audience, including Brazilian Foreign Minister Calso Amorin, enjoyed every bit of it. Amorin took the floor accompanied by his wife while host Kamal Nath watched and the rest of the gathering including officials from South Africa and the Indians present joined the dancing.
Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan were among the audience.
At one point when a thirsty Remo drank water from a bottle, someone from the balcony shouted "You drink feni (a drink made from cashew fruit) in Goa." He shot back, of course, in an equally lighter vein "I don't drink feni in my office. Do you?" and after a pause added, "the stage is my office".
After he finished rendition of a Portuguese Brazilian song, he got a chit from the Foreign Minister which he read out saying, "now the minister has promised that he will take personal clearance of his visa". He apparently had sought extension of his visa.
The gathering gave him a standing ovation at the end of the concert that was held under the aegis of India Brand Equity Fund.
Remo's Records: