Mangaluru: For the first time in the history of USA, a Konkani performer from Mangaluru -a well known singer and emerging actress, Ester Noronha will perform in three cities with four shows across America, along with Goa’s Evergreen Nightingale, Lorna. The shows in US are organized by Effie Tavares and Gladston Tavares-who are the executive producers at ‘Invictus Films Inc’. The show in Toronto-Canada is organized by the “Goan Overseas Association”.
Apart from these two mega stars, Goa’s crooner Lorna and rising starlet Ester, the shows will feature other renowned Goan and Mangalurean singers. Added attraction will be by Melody King of Goa Lawry Travasso, along with some witty skits by comedians John D’Silva and Socorro. Music for the show will be conducted by Norman Cardozo.
The show dates in USA are : On September 27 at San Jose, California; On September 29 and October 2 at Houston, Texas; and On October 4 at Newark, New Jersey. The tickets for these shows can be booked online by visiting www.invictusfilmsinc.com. The Toronto show in Canada is organised by ‘Goan Overseas Association’ will be on 10 October 2015- refer poster for tickets details.
Goan Nightingale Lorna Cordeiro- a profile:
Lorna Cordeiro, a Konkani language singer from the state of Goa, India, is popularly known as the Goan nightingale. Lorna was born in Saligao, Goa on the 9 August 1944 to Cecelia and Teofilo Cordeiro, the third child born in a family of three boys and three girls. She belongs to the Goan Catholic community; Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas, their immediate neighbour in Goa, recalls being very impressed by the family’s singing of Konkani hymns after the night Rosary. Lorna recalled how as a young girl another Parsi neighbour in Mumbai would clap and gift her four annas, whenever he heard her sing along with the radio. “My girl, one day you’ll be a big singer,” he’d often say.
Lorna was one of the dominant Goan Singers, particularly in the 1970s. She regards Chris Perry as her guru (teacher) and credits him for bringing to light her singing talent and making her a popular singer. Lorna’s family encouraged and supported her singing talents. From the age of 15, for 9 years, she sang for Chris Perry’s Band in English, basically as a Jazz singer in Star Hotels and Night Clubs in Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Bangalore. She has sung many popular songs composed / arranged by Chris Perry which remain unforgettable hits.
Some popular songs sung by her are: Pisso, Bebdo, Red Rose, Tuzo mog and Noxibak Rodta. Nachom-ia Kumpasar : (‘Let’s dance to the rhythm’), is a Konkani film. It is based on the lives of two jazz musicians, Chris Perry and Lorna. The film, which takes its title from the name of a song by the two artists. The story is told through over 20 popular Konkani songs from the 1960s and 1970s that have been re-recorded for this film. The film is set in the 1960s and is a tribute to the ‘unsung’ Konkani musicians of that era.
Rising starlet of Kudla, Ester Noronha- a profile:
Ester began her journey at the tender age of 9, and soon went on to become a teen sensation with her magical voice and her stupendous talent in music and dance. Now, Ester Noronha has stepped into the world of movies, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and Tulu, in her kitty already. Ester’s first Hindi movie was ‘Qayamat Hi Qayamat’ (QHQ) starring herself with Saagar.
In ‘QHQ’ Ester played a double role, one as a simple middle class Rajasthani girl called ‘Radha’ and the other, a rich Gujarati girl called ‘Rani’. QHQ was about a love story which continues even after death and is re-born to seek revenge. Her next Bollywood movie was ‘Mr Money’ directed by Rikshit Matta and was a romcom (romantic comedy). Ester played the role of a rich Punjabi girl called ‘Lovely’, opposite Krushna Abhishek in this movie. ‘Nimhans’ was her first Sandalwood movie made under the guidance of Yograj Bhat and directed by his disciple H K Ramesh.
Daughter of Janet and Valerian Noronha from Mangaluru, Ester has been a live performer since the age of 9 and is a trained classical dancer, singer and musician. She has performed in a number of shows in India and abroad, and has also released her own music album. Her captivating voice and lively presence on stage has won her accolades. Her first album ‘Kalza Thavn’ was released in 2009. Initially, Ester had plans of becoming an IAS officer and wanted to continue her studies in political science. But during one of her shows in Bangalore, bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan spotted her. She convinced Ester and her mother, after which Ester joined Anupam Kher’s acting school. She is also trained in bollywood dance and Kathak. She has an unbound respect for Saroj Khan who has supported her all through.
She is also presently acting in a Kannada movie ‘Local Train’ opposite Madarangi Krishna and in a Telugu movie ‘Jalsarayudu’ opposite Srikant Meka. In addition to the above, she is debuting in a Marathi movie titled ‘Majhi Aashiqui’, directed by Pravin Karle, one of the top directors of Marathi filmdom. She is also debuting in a Tamil movie which is yet to be titled. Currently she is also acting in a Tulu movie ‘Jugari ‘directed by Anand Raju opposite Karthik Attavar. The shooting of the film is in progress.
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Mangalore: Svelte Leggy Kudla Lass Ester Noronha Shines Big in Bollywood & Sandalwood Movies at Age 22
