What do you get when you offer members of the Goan community(most of whom are musically inclined), the opportunity to take to the stage andlet their hair down? The best kind of mayhem available: musical.
From the outside, Pateo D’Alfama, located at the Rua SaoJoao da Praça, seems a serene and very historic. And on the night of October11, it was historic indeed. Starting off with a performance of the fado, aswell as a performance of Portuguese folk music accompanied by a series of danceforms as well as a few impromptu musical skits, the night was like any other.
However, with the performing group launching into theirrendition of the classic, ‘Tudo Isto E Fado’, the entire Goan group belted outthe chorus for the performers benefit. However, with one side of the roomappearing to be louder than the other, a full-on sing-off between the twoensued. Within a matter of a few minutes, there was no longer a question ofexistent linguistic or cultural barriers. The songs on display spanned variousgenres of music, and included the languages of Konkani, English, andPortuguese.
Much to the amusement of the Fadistas, they let the Goanstake the stage and stayed off merely so that the show could receive its ownlocal twist. Needless to say, it was but a meeting of old friends, in a newvenue; much like the interactions over a delicious plate of Bhonsle’s bhaji oneearly morning, with far more audible singing.
