As Goa and Goans gear up to welcome the four-day State-festival “ Carnival 2016 “ it’s for the first time that the capital city will wear an international look that’s an outcome of three different cultures “ South African, Liverpool and our own, Goan. Beginning with a mammoth welcome arch of 100 ft width and 30 ft height outside the Dabolim international airport and another one of 61 ft width and 27 ft height at the entry point in Panaji city, this year’s lead float will see Palomi Ghosh singing and dancing to the tune of the Nachom-ia Kumpasar title song.
Disclosing this to The Goan, Elvis Dias, managing director of Amo Communications Pvt Ltd that has been appointed to manage the entire Carnival programme boasts of a benchmark presentation. “Palomi Ghosh is excited with the idea of having a live presentation that would directly connect her to the Goans,” said Elvis, adding, “The performance of her character ‘Dona’ in the Konkani film Nachom-ia Kumpasar has ruled Goan hearts and this noted singer is now looking forward to establish a permanent bond with Niz Goenkars with her live performance from the lead float. That’s the reason we chose her to participate in Carnival celebrations.”
Especially designed installations across the state will mark the festive mood of the Goans during Carnival. The pillars of the arches are not square but curved and yet sturdy as they are constructed of metal. There will be two circles decorated on the concept of a merry go round as this festival is all about joy and celebrations, one in Panaji and the other at Saligao. The Viva Carnival logo will be displayed at Miramar and Samba square in Panaji. Explaining that the merry go round is the main element in the Carnival all over the world, Brazil, South Africa, Liverpool (UK), Macey’s Carnival and Mardi Gras (New Orleans), both in the USA, Sharon Dias, director Amo boasts of bringing these cultures in Goa for the first time with masks adorning these circles. Sharon mentions that the buntings adorned all over are branded with Viva Carnival 2016 logo and printed, unlike in the past.
“We wish to give something different and so have done extensive research. Amo wishes to give a benchmarking to Goan Carnival but not copying or imitating what other countries do, yet having an exclusive and creative theme of our own that matches with the elements in the capital city,” she said.
The Dias couple who had organised and executed the five-day Coconut-Cashew Fest in Goa with workshops and innovative games, recall that locals still remember their dynamic stage which was differently mapped and had changing backdrops. “The theme was Heritage Homes of Goa and the digitally changing background was not static even for few minutes,” shares Sharon.
The Dias couple is passionately into musicals and theatre direction in true Broadway style in Mumbai for the past seven years and express their wish to bring it to Goa too this year with over 100 people performing live on stage. Their musicals have 8-10 complete set changed in two hours with lay people performing after being trained. Amo has worked for national and international brands like Nissan, Godrej, Sansui, Jumbo Electronics, Toto, Staples etc and also has created a brand identity for Punjab’s Tourism department in 2012. “We work only with the best technicians and companies like Electro Craft,” boasts Elvis mentioning their sound engineer is none other than renowned Roger Drego and light engineer is Michael Nazareth “ the most wanted duo.
“We have designed the costume of King Momo. Our designs for the Carnival masks have originated from a Venetian theme which is more towards beauty and ornaments, which we have carried forward while designing the lead float,” explains Elvis. Most of his designs have integrated with the elements in Panaji city and blend well. The construction tins that surround the parade area are beautified by creating designs that look like painted tins, but actually are not tins but specially designed posters.
Recalling how the couple bagged the management of Carnival 2016 after presenting their designs and ideas to a panel SLMPC (State Level Marketing Panel Committee), Elvis discloses, “It took us 25 days to work on the designs once we got green signal from SLMPC.
The parade will be flagged off by the chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar at 3.30 pm on February 6 in the presence of tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, deputy chief minister Francisco D’Souza, Mayor Shubham Chodankar and GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral. Beginning on 6 February from Panaji there will be floats in three more cities “ Margao, Vasco and Mapusa on 7, 8 and 9 February respectively.
