06 Sep 2022  |   04:51am IST

Goan Diaspora sings in unison for Mother Teresa

Goan composer Joe D’Costa released a music video on the life of Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, on her 25th death anniversary. What makes this video special is that it has been sung in five languages and singers from the Goan Diaspora have lent their melodious voices

Dolcy D’Cruz

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t the end of last year, Joe D’Costa was struck by the idea of creating a unique song to pay tribute to Mother Tereza. He realised that this was the 25th death anniversary of the Saint of the Gutters and thought of showcasing the work she has done in different regions of India by bringing their voices together singing glory to her. That’s how ‘St Teresa of Kolkota (Call within A Call)’ was conceptualised and now finally released on Joe D’Costa’s YouTube channel on her death anniversary.

A noted name in the music industry in Goa as well as in Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai, Joe has a career of three decades to show his versatility ranging from pop to jazz and even Bollywood music. Originally from Curchorem, D’Costa now shares his time between Mumbai and his home in Taleigao. During the peak of the pandemic, he spent most of his time in the studio set up in Panjim. “I connected with Global Goan Alliance & Network (GGAN) and through that with Maria Gomes Fernandes, the Global Coordinator for GGAN. She was very helpful in introducing me to the choirs based in New Zealand, Mozambique and Canada. In India, I focused on Bengal because Mother Teresa lived her life there and the nuns of Missionaries of Charity are doing a lot of work in Kerala. I wanted to portray a different image of India. I wanted to give a message to support the Missionaries of Charity as it was done when Mother Teresa was alive,” explains D’Costa.

The song’s music was composed and the video was directed by Joe D’Costa. It was recorded at Mind Vision Studio, Panjim, and the mixing and mastering was completed at Jojo Productions Studio in Andheri, Mumbai. The DOP is Gaurish Naik and post productions is by Jojo. The lyrics were written by Joe D’Costa for English and Konkani, John Aguiar wrote the Hindi verses, Tinky George and Salila Dinu Kumar wrote the Malayalam verses and the Bengali verses were by Meghna Kothari, daughter of Padma Shri awardee Rita Ganguly, an accomplished dancer, musician and vocalist in Hindustani music.

The music included only guitar by Joe D’Costa and shehnai by Ashwini Shankar from Delhi. Ashwini is the son of acclaimed Shehnai exponent Pandit Daya Shankar and they belong to the Banaras gharana where the tradition is followed for the last 350 years.

The singers from, Goa include Joe D’Costa, Fr Peter Fernandes, Dr Fr Bolmax Pereira, Elvis Goes, Laura Santana, Amanda Fernandes, Milind Sagar, Allan Vaz, Salila Dinu Kumar, Bidisha Chetterjee, Ninoshka Norton, Shantanu Bhattacharya and Khiara Godinho. The chorus singers from Panjim include Eileen Soares, Esther Soares, Elaine Soares, Schirl Carvalho, Khiara Godinho, Amanda Fernandes, Monica Fernandes and Raahi Lawande.

All the way from Mozambique, Africa, the choir members include Malaika Falcao, Claudia Vaz, Diana Da Costa and Ninoshka Norton. The choir, the Melodic Stars of Montreal, Quebec, Canada includes members like Blanche Da Costa, Melissa Fernandes, Priscilla Fernandes, Nathan Prem, Tara Prem, Sarah Rego, Sherwin Rego, Belmira Ribeiro, Ninoshka Ribeiro, Michael Ribeiro and Natasha Young. Other singers from Canada were Sylvester D’Souza, Melita Pinheiro, Genevieve Pereira and Griffin Pereira.

The choir from Auckland, New Zealand, comprises Sushila Pinto, Gorretti Rodrigues, Jeff Rodrigues, Marisa Misquita, Carmen D’Souza, Cynthia Mascarenhas, Loretta Byramji and Brenda D’Mello. The Merces choir comprises Bencia Fatima Monteiro, Conchita Mabel Vas, Mackenzee Vas, Monica Fernandes and Adrian Fernandes. Alan De Menezes from Melbourne and Tony Almeida from Goa.

Elvis Goes from Curchorem is a singer, songwriter, music director and also the Director of the internationally renowned Goan Cultural troupe ‘Kepemchim Kirnnam’, besides being a Mathematics teacher at Guardian Angel High School, Curchorem. A long standing friend of Joe D’Costa, he was thrilled to be a part of the song. “I feel really blessed to be a part of this song. Joe usually shares ideas with me and I was elated when he told me about the song on Mother Tereza. She was inspiration to the entire world and an utmost example of humanity,” says Elvis Goes.

“The song is dedicated to my parents, late Minguel Jeronimo D’Costa and Rita D’Costa. I would like to say a special thank you to child artist Raahi Lawande and to Cyprian Fernandes, Monica Fernandes, Furtado Music Panjim, Fr Pio Furtado, Douglas Fernandes, Amit Mishra, Brauleo Soares and Nolan Fernandes,” concludes Joe D’Costa