News: Shodhan Prasad

Udupi, Dec 21: Popular Konkani movie director, Harry Fernandes, Barkur, was conferred with prestigious, ‘Konkani Cine Kala Samrat’ Award on December 18.

It was a great and pleasant day of first parish feast of renovated church of St Peter in Barkur and in the evening, the church open ground was filled with thousands to watch the Konkani movie ‘Benddkar’, at 7 pm. The ICYM Barkur, SPA Barkur – Mumbai, ICYM Barkur Ex-Members Association, jointly organized the mega show, where most part of the super hit film was shot, in the surroundings locations.

During felicitation programme held just before the show, veteran director and producer Harry Fernandes, Barkur, was honoured with a citation conferring the most deserved title, ‘Konkani Cine Kala Samrat’. Parish priest of St Peter Church, Fr Philip Neri Aranha presided over the glittering ceremony, accompanied by pastoral council vice president Jerald Gonsalves, secretary Vivet Lewis, and convener of the commissions Dolphy D’Souza.

Seasoned pair of former president of St Peter’s Association, Felix Barnes and secretary Vincent D’Almeida, California USA, were the chief guests. Fr Cyprian Henry D’Souza, well-known priest from native Barkur, superior of the IHM Convent Sr Jasmitha, Varado ICYM president Venrold Lewis, and Yuva Ayog president Alwyn D’Almeida, were escorted to the dais by ICYM president Glen Furtado with roses to welcome all of them.

The highlight of the event was to honour popular, son of the soil, a man who earned a distinct recognition in films in four Indian languages, viz. Hindi, Bhojpuri, Marathi and Konkani.

On behalf of SPA, ICYM, ICYM Barkur Ex-Members Association and parishioners, the well-worded citation (mann-potr) describing manifold achievements of Harry Fernandes was read out by Archibald Furtado, founder secretary of SPA Barkur - Mumbai, conferring the Title, ‘Konkani Cine Kala Samrat’, witnessing a thunderous round of applause and a standing ovation to endorse and acknowledge the deserving honour, by a full packed audience. The parish priest, guests on the stage garlanded Harry, and handed him a bouquet, colorful headgear and basket full of fresh fruits. In his humble and emotional reply to the recognition of this magnitude, Harry recalled his days in Barkur in 60s and thanked all Barkurians for their kind support, encouragement and magnanimity at all times. Also, he expressed his contentment to see great reception the movie ‘Benddkar’ received all over the Konkani world.

Vincent D’Almeida, who spoke on behalf of all the organisations, praised Harry for his rich talents, and said “We all being Barkurians assure our patronage in all your activities.” He said that ICYM the SPAand others who are very dear to his heart, will stand like a rock to encourage and in coming days he expected greater service from Harry on the silver screen. He also appreciated the ICYM for its initiatives and extended an invitation to attend the conclave of all ICYM Members of last 43 years (1976 – 2019) on December 23, 2019.

The vicar also honored all ‘Benddkar’ movie artistes Alwyn and Sujatha Andrade, Archibald Furtado, Dolphy D’Souza, Jessie Menezes, Ivan Furtado, Sylvan D’Almeida, John Picardo, Oswald Fernandes, Patrick D’Silva, Edwin Picardo, Patrick D’Almeida, and others who were present on this occasion, including the live New Jolly Band team Perampally, production manager Prem D’Souza, editor of the film Abhishek etc.

In his presidential address, Fr Philip Neri Aranha, heartily admitted to be proud, and part and parcel of Barkurians, since last 2-3 years. He expressed his great satisfaction to know about the veteran movie personality in four languages and congratulated Harry Fernandes Barkur, on behalf of the citizens, as well as parishioners of Barkur. While wishing a roaring success to the film ‘Benddkar’, he expected Harry to come out with many more masterpieces in Konkani language in years to come. “Konkani Cine Kala Samrat deserves all praises and needs people’s encouragement in his future endeavors,” he concluded.

Once the stage programme was concluded with vote of thanks on behalf of Dolphy D’Souza, the animator and one of the former presidents of ICYM, the man behind the free show in Barkur, Archibald Furtado, who aptly handled proceedings, announced to the spectators, almost full to its capacity in the Church open ground, to be ready watch ‘Benddkar’.

The movie received a glorious welcome in Barkur and people from neighboring parishes too, glued to their seats till 10.00 pm, as the live band brought dance lovers to the floor to rejoice and celebrate.