Mandd Sobhann ‘Kalakar Puraskar’ Conferred on Avil D’Cruz
Mangaluru: The 179th Monthly Theatre of Mandd Sobhann was held on Sun., Nov. 6, 2016, at 6 p.m., at Kalaangann, Mangaluru, also during which the 12th Carvalho Ghorannem–Mandd Sobhann ‘Kalakar Puraskar’ award was presented to Avil Deepak D’Cruz, for his contribution in promoting Konkani dance forms, for the past 16 years. On the occasion, musician and song writer Anil D’Sa Pangla presented his musical show titled ‘Mariola’. Kalakar Puraskar is awarded to deserving artistes, one every year, of Karnataka origin, chosen from the field of Konkani folk and performing arts.
The chief guest for the occasion was famous Bollywood-Bhojpuri-Marathi-Konkani film director Harry Fernandes ( Director of Konkani film ‘Noshibacho Khell’ ), along with guest of honor, Rev Fr Pratap Naik Sj -Goa (Director of the Thomas Stephens Konkkni Kendr (TSKK), a research institute working on issues related to the Konkani language, literature, culture and education). The ‘Kalakar Puraskar’ award instituted by Mandd Sobhann is sponsored by Carvalho Ghorannem, which consists of a cash amount of Rs. 25,000, a trophy and public honour was presented to Avil Deepak D’Cruz by Harry Fernandes, along with other dignitaries on the dais, including Eric Ozario- Gurkar; and Loius Pinto-President of Mandd Sobhann respectively.
Avil Deepak D’Cruz is a young Konkani dancer and choreographer, who has been dancing and choreographing for Konkani performances of various Konkani artistes from the past 16 years. As the leader of the dance troupe ‘Nach Sobhann’, he has promoted various Konkani dance-forms – ‘Baila’, ‘Dekhnni’, ‘Manddo’, ‘Baila Dandia’. For his contribution in promoting Konkani dance forms, he was chosen for the Kalakar Puraskar.
In the musical extravaganza “Mariola’ – Anil D’Sa, Varun D’Sa (son of Anil), Nihal Tauro, Shilpa Cutinha, Babita Pinto, Prakash D’Souza, Meera Crasta, Oliver Rebello and Arun Danthy performed a few Konkani songs, with background music provided by Roshan D’Souza Angelore and his group. The audience were taken into a world of laughter by ‘Bindas Pernal’- comedy skits presented by Alwyn Danthy-Pernal and his team. The formal part of the evening was compered by Arun Raj Rodrigues-Coordinator of Mandd Sobhann, while Alwyn Danthy compered the entertainment session.
About Mandd Sobhann :
It all began with this experiment called ‘Mandd Sobhann’ – a search for a Konkani identity in Konkani music. Literally, ‘Mandd’ means stage and ‘Sobhann’ means beautiful programme. In short, ‘Mandd Sobhann’ means – beautiful stage. The first Mandd Sobhann experiment unfolded on the lawns of Hotel Woodlands, Mangalore on November 30, 1986. This date is regarded as the day on which Mandd Sobhann – the musical experiment, Mandd Sobhann – was born.
Konkani music (other than folk music), then, and even now, could broadly be divided into 2 categories- Based on Indian (Classical) music – among the Hindus (mainly Saraswats and Gaud Saraswats); and Based on Western music – among Catholics.
Until Mandd Sobhann came on the scene, the concept of identity of Konkani as a culture or in music was never proposed. In that sense, Mandd Sobhann triggered the opening of the floodgates of ‘Konkani-identity-consciousness’. The concept of Mandd Sobhann also came as a shock to the status-quo-loving, conservative Mangalorean Konkani Catholic Community. It also rattled the established music makers. On the other hand, Mandd Sobhann came as a welcome relief to music lovers, poetry enthusiasts and above all, it was able to build bridges between the various dialects, communities and regions, as all Konkanis began to identify Mandd Sobhann music as their own. Eric Ozario, the music composer and the chief proponent of this and all other experiments of Mandd Sobhann, set to tune, lyrics written by poets of different communities and regions and presented them through Mandd Sobhann. In a sense, Mandd Sobhann broke not only conventions but also community barriers. No wonder therefore, that Mandd Sobhann (the musical performance) was presented 12 times in the first 2 years in Goa, captured the attention of the media while at the same time inviting the wrath and ire of the conventionalists.
What began as a performance titled ‘Mandd Sobhann’, grew into a movement of revival and rejuvenation of Konkani culture; and solidified into an organization called Mandd Sobhann. Today, Mandd Sobhann boasts of all these 3 identities namely – a performance, a movement and an organization.
