As a parent, there is
nothing more fulfilling than seeing your children happy. This joy is doubled
when children take on the same love for a passion as the parents. Whether it is
music, art, or any other hobbies, the time spent together makes it more
special. As the world celebrates Global Day of Parents on June 1, parents in
Goa are happy to share their relationship with the children, doing what they
love.
ASHMITHA DA CRUZ AND APLON REBELO
Ana
Maria Aplonia Rebello Da Cruz is better known for her stage name, Aplon and
comes from tiatr family, being the daughter of Rom Tony, the fastest song
composer in the tiatr world and the younger sister of Felcy, a noted tiatrist.
An awardee of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Tiatr Academy of Goa, Aplon has
let her daughter, Ashmitha, choose the path she enjoys the most. However she is
happy to revive her moments on stage when she watches Ashmitha perform on
stage. “I feel very happy to see her on stage as I get nostalgic about my
performance. She is a wonderful singer and has acted in tiatrs like ‘Reporter’
and ‘100 Percent’,” says Aplon.
AMRUT AND AKSHATA SINGH
One
of the leading animal rescuers in Goa, Amrut Singh from Bicholim is just a call
away. When his daughter, Akshata, was just a year old, she was introduced to
non-venomous snakes and undoubtedly, the day she turned 18, she took over
handling venomous snakes. A Commerce graduate, she has been well trained over
the years by accompanying her father for rescue missions. “What I love about my
daughter is her inquisitiveness. She wants to know more, how to learn from her
mistakes and she comes to me for all the clarifications. I am always happy to
guide her,” says Amrut.
MOHIT AND MOHAN NAIK
A
noted artist from Goa, Mohan Naik has his own style of portraying the village
life on a canvas. Surrounded by colours and influcened by the art scene around
him, Mohit, Mohan’s son was attracted towards art. However, his professional
life in the corporate world kept him occupied until he returned home during the
pandemic and decided to take up art as a career. “Mohit and I share the studio
and we have different work stations but I feel good to know that he is also
painting. He is still on a quest to find his individual style but it is a
learning process,” says Mohan.
JYOTI AND SAMPADA KUNKOLIEKAR
Jyoti Kunkolienkar from Banastarim, has written 34 books in
different genres in over 30 years. She has won four National and seven State
awards for literature, acting and film making and has been actively involved in
making 25 documentaries. Her daughter, Sampada, followed in her footsteps and
has published 13 books. However, what makes this mother-daughter even more
special is that they are the only duo to both win the Sahitya Akademi Award.
“Sampada has been with me for different literary events and programmes since
she was 8 years old. While I have my hands full with dramas, social causes,
films and literature, she solely concentrates on her writing. Yet I admire her
dedication to writing,” says Jyoti.
CEZAR AND KEVIN D’MELLO
Cezar D’Mello has been acting and singing on the Konkani
stage as part of the famous trio, Mil-Mel-Nel. His son, Kevin, was influenced
by his performances, also stepped on stage. From playing the ghumot for school
programmes to winning prizes for singing Konkani songs, Kevin was motivated and
guided by Cezar. “I used to ask him how to add expressions while singing. I was
always interested in acting and he has always been there to guide me. I feel
more confident if I am acting with my father in the same scene,” says Kevin,
who has made a name for himself by acting in Konkani films.
SHARON GONSALVES AND JARRYD RODRIGUES
Sharon
Gonsalves, a prolific jazz singer herself, is the daughter of jazz saxaphonist,
Braz Gonsalves and Yvonne Vaz and the granddaughter of India's ace trumpeter,
Chic Chocolate who was known as India’s India's Louis Armstrong. She feels
great that her son, Jarryd took to playing the saxophone and learnt it from her
father. “He is the only saxophonist in the third generation of the Gonsalves
and Vaz and it makes it all the more special that he loves playing the alto and
soprano saxophone. I feel total happiness to see my son perform on stage,” says
Sharon
Nitin Mardolkar from Mardol is an Indian classical musician
who represented Goa at the World Culture Festival in 2016. Father of Nidhi, he
is proud that his daughter is also learning music and not just Indian classical
but she has interest in western classical too. Currently studying Grade VI in
piano under the guidance of Rui Lobo, a noted musician himself, Nidhi is also
undergoing vocals training by Roque Lazarus. “It is a proud feeling to play
music with my daughter and we also practise together,” says Nitin. Nidhi adds,
“I am proud to take the mantel forward and it’s a hereditary trait to play
music.”