Mangalore: United Youngsters to Honour Five Senior Konkani Artistes on Aug 15
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (CN)
Mangalore, Aug 12: United Younsters (Reg) Mangalore, which is on the threshold of its 50th anniversary has planned to honour five senior artistes for their extended association with the organization.
United Youngsters is hosting the 247th ‘Wilfy Nite’ as a part of its 50th year celebrations on Independence Day on Saturday August 15 at the Don Bosco Hall from 5.30 pm.
Entry is restricted to invitees and free invitations are available with United Youngsters’ members. (Tel: 9845086818)
Recently, United Youngsters had organized a highly successful show which had attracted over 2,100 people and disappointed thousands of others who could not attend due to early sell out.
The specialty of 247th Wilfy Nite will be fast numbers of yesteryears from Wilfy's album as well as songs featured in Konkani dramas of yore. Jokes and dance will be an added attraction of the evening.
Leslie Rego, internationally renowned compere, also a member of United Youngsters and associated with Wilfy Rebimbus since the past 21 years, will host the event.
Fr Walter D'Mello, parish priest of Milagres Chruch, will be the chief guest. Walter Nandalike of Daijiworld.com and Richard Moras of ‘Konkani Kutam’ Bahrain will be the guests of honour.
Avitas Adolphus Coutinho, Ivan Sequeira, Mervyn Pinto, Christopher Mascarenhas, and Claude D’Souza, are the five artistes who will be honoured.
Avitas Adolphus Coutinho (Dolla)
He was born on June 17, 1946, to late Joseph Coutinho and Molly Coutinho in Milagres parish. He was attracted to Konkani theater since his early childhood and later became popular as ‘Dolla’. He has acted in over 300 Konkani, Tulu, and Kannada plays so far.
Dolla has also acted in Konkani movies ‘Mog ani Maipas’ and ‘Bonglant’ besides Kannada movies ‘Tuvi Tuvi Tuvi’ and ‘SMS 6269’ as well as Kannada TV serial ‘Vatara’.
Dolla joined United Youngsters in 1966 and acted in popular Konkani plays ‘Tisri Chit’, ‘Kedy Bona BA’ and others. He has directed over 100 plays.
He introduced the innovative Konkani comedy ‘Doll–Fell–Chall’ held during the 100th Wilfy Nite at St Aloysius College grounds here in 1987. With this, he became a comedy sensation both in India and abroad.
He bagged the best director award for his play ‘Kon Kiten Munta?’ that was staged at Don Bosco Hall here in 2009 as part of the Daiji Dubai decennial celebrations. Dolla is the lead director of most biblical plays held annually across Mangalore diocese.
He has produced two CDs of his comedies and published two comedy books ‘Hip Hip Hurray’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Kuchilyo’, which are quite useful to aspiring comedians.
Con Cab of Bangalore has conferred the awards ‘Hasya Rai’, ‘Karaval Konkan Kalakar’ and ‘Kala Shrest’. The Konkani Natak Academy has also conferred its prestigious award and other awards in recognition of his contributions to Konkani theater. He is also an amateur singer.
Dolla was appointed director of the Mangalore Catholic Co-operative (MCC) Bank, recently. He is married to Valentine and has two sons Kyanal and Dyanal.
Ivan Sequeira
Ivan was born on January 20, 1955, to late Lawrence Sequeira and Jessy Sequeira of Valencia parish. He sang his first Konkani song ‘Kani Sangge Vodli’ for ‘Aounkaryancho Hankar’, the Konkani play staged by Baptist Mendonca (Bams) here on October 11, 1970.
He bagged the first prize for his song ‘Mai Tum Geliy Maka Eksuryak Sandun’, composed by late Jerome D’Souza during the singing contest held at Don Bosco Hall in 1970.
Konkani music buffs applauded his singing of ‘Mai Tuka Sodun, Muje Pai Gele Volun’, during the first Wilfy Nite in 1971. He was the lead musician for the first 18 Wilfy nites.
Although he was working in the Gulf countries, he continued to take part in Wilfy nites staged in Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar. After returning to settle down in Mumbai, he continued his musical support for all Wilfy nites staged in Mumbai and Mangalore.
Ivan is married to Philomena and has two sons, Nishal and Nihal.
Mervyn Pinto
He was born into a musician’s family to late Stany Pinto and Emmy Pinto of Bendore parish. His mother was a talented musician who inspired Mervyn to take up singing in his childhood, supported by his uncles. He earned his B Com from St Aloysius College and also trained in guitar with a private tutor.
He got an opportunity as a guitarist in the Wilfy Nite held at Udyavar in Udupi district in 1979 and later served as its lead guitarist till 1983.
Mervyn is a founder member of ‘Cosmic Rays’, a youth professional music group that was set up in 1978. He served as director of Wilfy Nite staged at Qatar in 1988. He has been serving as lead guitarist since the first ‘Wilfy’s Sentimental Nite’ of 1991.
He has been contributing music to United Youngsters over the past three decades. He is married to Ida and has a son Meldrin.
Christopher Mascarenhas
He was born on July 25, 1957, to late Alphonse Mascarenhas and Metilda Mascarenhas of Bendore parish. He is a founder member of ‘Cosmic Rays’, a professional music group, and became the managing partner of ‘Mikes Sound Systems’ in 1979.
He set up his own firm ‘Chris Electronics’ in 1985 and extended the use of his stereophonic sound systems for the Wilfy Nite staged here the same year.
Chris Electronics has recorded several audio CDs of Konkani, Tulu, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, and Beary music besides helping arrange sound systems for various churches, temples, prayer halls, and mosques, across Karnataka as well as special arrangements with sound systems for all Wilfy nites staged in the city, Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai, and Gulf countries.
Christopher has extended his musical talents in the initial stages of Wilfy Nite and recorded several of his audio cassettes at his facility.
He has extended the services of Chris Electronics to musical concerts of India’s popular singer and musicians such as Jesudas, Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chourasia, Johny Lever, S P Balasubramaniam, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhat, Ashok–Charan, and Guru Kiran.
Christopher was one of the guitarists who played for ‘Gulf Voice of Mangalore’ singing competition held in the Gulf recently.
Claude D’Souza
He was born on November 10, 1956, to late Lawrence D’Souza and Lilly D’Souza of Bendore parish. He developed an interest in Konkani music and drama in his early childhood.
His association with United Youngsters began in 1984 while playing with musical instruments in Wilfy nites since 1984. He has served as singer in all Wilfy nites and doubled as a musician when required.
He became the founder member of ‘Cosmic Rays’, a professional music troupe set up in 1978.
Claude has also acted in Konkani plays ‘Tisri Chit’ and ‘Kedi Bona B A’, by playwright Wilfy Rebimbus.
He also acted in Konkani movie ‘Mog ani Maipas’ and sang in the recently-screened Konkani movie ‘Padri’. He is also a comedian who can enthrall an audience immensely.
Claude has composed nearly 600 Konkani songs and staged 45 ‘Claude Nites’ besides releasing 13 CD albums. He is also a playwright of many Konkani plays and comedies.
He, is married to Marie and has two daughters Moushumi and Melissa.
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