by Naveen Frank
Pics by Ramcy Fernandes and Sujay Bendore
Daijiworld News Network - Dubai
Dubai, Dec 15: The damp and wet UAE weather did not dissuade the music-lovers from thronging into the Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai Ice Rink to watch what would be the most scintillating of all evenings with the Mando Baila Fiesta 2006 on board.
The elegance and grace of the comperes of the show Annie and Cedric added a special charm to the evening. With prizes and gifts galore, both of them kept the evening alive.
Zodiac from Sri Lanka welcomed the early birds with their Sinhalese best. Upcoming artistes from Mangalore Allwyn and Prakash proved their mettle. But the child prodigy Nisha Shirley Prasanna brought the audience to their feet when she came on stage. A young and talented seventh-grade student of Morning Star, Bajpe, Mangalore, Nisha told Daijiworld: “ My hope and dream is to do more shows like this. And with the support of my parents, sisters and my well-wishers, I can do it.”
The impatient crowd could not wait for the formalities. Unannounced, they stormed and took over the dance floor. The young and the not-so-old swayed to the warm-up music. It was anything but not Konkani to start with - Roop Tera Mastana – of the 'Aradanha' fame and the more recent 'Dil Lage' make the crowds to move from their seats.
Then came the charming Nightingale of Goa, Lorna, dressed in her dazzling black robe and a heavily-studded diamond necklace. "Mai Mhaka nasoo dista" stole the show with an accompanying dance troupe and the crowd merging right until the stage.
Earlier daijiworld.com again caught up with Usha backstage reciting the Lord’s Prayer before she went upstage to perform. Modestly dressed, hair decked with jasmine, but combined with a taste of night-club music, out emerged the evergreen Usha Uthup. After her first song, Usha set the crowd to a frenzied tone when she asked them, “How do you like my sari?”
Backstage Usha spoke excusively to daijiworld where she expressed her heartfelt thoughts. Asked why she preferred to be a modest sari-clad celebrity, Usha confidently replied saying, “ I did not feel the need to do anything more. People liked me and still like me the way I am. Besides, I come from a traditional family. I do it by choice.”
Never having spoken about it ever, Usha finally broke the silence on her venture on the famous Dum Maro Dum bollywood song. Her rehearsals and finals were done. But for some unknown reason, it was snatched away from her. “I do not know what happened. Originally I was supposed to do a duet with Lata Mangeshkar. Somewhere down the line something happened and Asha Bhonsle sang the song. I was young, sensitive. I felt bad about it. But I never get into controversies and I have no regrets either.”
Lorna, on the other hand, told daijiword.com that it was a privilege to share the stage with Usha. “ I have known her for 35 years and what more could I ask for but to be on the same platform with Usha,” said Lorna.
The organizer of the show Ronny Prasanna of Distant Dreamz Holiday Makers told daijiworld.com that it was not the crowd but the spirit that mattered. “There is soon going to be a Mando Baila again. It has been our first show and we are proud of it,” said Ronny. “As long as the crowd enjoyed it that is all that matters” he said. “I thank all the sponsors who placed their trust in me and helped me make this dream come true,” Said Ronny.
All throughout the show, daijiworld's watchful photographers grabbed a glimpse of an unsung hero of the evening, Abdul Kalam a gate security of Al Nasr Leiserland. Tall and sturdy, dressed in a black jacket, much as he wanted to watch the fascinating show, he instead watched the door which led to the great evening show.
CLICK HERE ALBUM 1
CLICK HERE ALBUM 2
CLICK HERE ALBUM 3