The tale of Konkani music

BHARATI PAWASKAR

There’s a melee of performing artists at the Black Box, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Singers, dancers, musicians, and child artists, with an array of musical instruments both traditional and modern, are all busy at work as they prepare for their upcoming musical event Chanvar – Konkani Geetancho Parmal (Blossom – The fragrance of Konkani Songs). Their first show will be held on the occasion of Goa Statehood Day, May 30 in association with Ravindra Bhavan, Margao  

“Up until now, we have all been practicing our parts individually. We have now assembled for the final rehearsals during the last few days at the venue to get the real feel of a live show,” states Gautami Hede Bambolkar, a Goan singer who brought the whole concept to life under the banner of Atruz Ghudyo, a cultural group from Ponda.   

“Konkani music has evolved over the years. A lot has changed on the way, with the help of upcoming artists. Chanvar will offer a glimpse into the journey of Konkani music through songs and dance,” states Bambolkar, who is leading the show along with other artists, Akshay Naik, Pravan Hede and Vrutha Karmali.   

“This musical is a history of how Konkani sangeet evolved over the years from its basic folk forms, to its polished versions, fusing and blending with other forms of contemporary music, getting influenced with Western music and finally reaching to its avatar today,” she continues. Every participating artist has strived to do justice to display this metamorphosis through song, dance, and act accompanied by a symphony of traditional, folk and modern musical instruments. “Although we come from diverse fields we are connected to each other through our affiliation to Konkani music,” shares Gautami, a postgraduate in Konkani literature who got her degree in music in 2018.  

In fact the seed of Chanvar was sown back when she chose to researchon the history of Konkani sangeet as a project for her MA.   

“It was just a concept which remained dormant in my mind all these years. When I realised I had around 200 pages of authentic research work on the topic, I thought of conceptualising it into this musical,” she admits.  

The musical consists of 22 members in all – five dancers, four singers, six musicians, five folk artists, two comperes.   

“Me and my friends Gorakh Gawade, Premnath Kerkar, Sachin Naik, Sharmad Naik and Upendra Naik are eager to perform in this large gathering,” says Chetan Khedekar, one of the folk artistes who has previously been a recipient of the Yuva Srujan Puraskar for the year 2017-18. Khedekar has been participating in folk art forms like Loksangeet, Suvari Vadan, Jagor and Naman since his childhood.   

A theatre enthusiast and anchor Tanvi Bambolkar too is all excited and optimistic that this unique programme will take the audience down the memory lane by revisiting some of the Konkani classics. “Since the event is happening on Goa Statehood Day, it’s a perfect way to celebrate Goa’s uniqueness,” she states. Bambolkar has previously done a doctoral thesis on Folk Theatre in Goa for her Masters at Goa University.  

A playback singer, music composer and arranger, recording and sound engineer, Akshay Prakash Naik is another special attraction of the programme. Having albums with music stalwarts like Shaan, Rupkumar Rathod, Suresh Wadkar, Devki Pandit, Swapnil Bandodkar and Savani Ravindra, Naik carries a legacy in music. Akshay has worked with film industry artists too and contributed to albums like Utsav, Nathancha Nath, Krishna Damodara, Café del Mar Goa in Australia and England and has given music for short films like Shahid ae Vatan, video albums like Vedana, Yo Moga, Soch a Jindagi. “My albums Re Damodara and Jai he Damodara were released in July 2017,” he smiles.  

A Bharatnatyam dance instructor and performing artist, Suvidha Naik will perform a solo dance on late Goan poet B B Borkar’s beautiful poem Tya disa vadakaden gadad tin sanna, mand mand vajat aailee tuji go painjanaa. Suvidha who is a choreographer, teaches dance at Surnandan Bharati Academy, Ponda and at Balbhavan Kendra, Khandepar. “Me and my partners in dance, Akhil Sawant, Shivani Phadte, Kalpa Sainekar, Ashwini Naik and Vishal Mandrekar are expecting the event to be a hit,” she says.  

Kanya Pavse who has been with Antruz Ghudyo since its inception, and currently is the president of this cultural organisation expresses, “From participating in Yuva Mahotsav to organising various activities and events, undoubtedly we have come a long way. It’s not just about the fun in doing something for our fellow Goans, but also contributing our bit for our mother tongue Konkani.”  

(‘Chanvar - Konkani Geetancho Parmal’ will be performed on May 30, 6.30 pm at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao)