Culture is often taken for a legacy of the past, to be remembered and treasured. But culture is even more a thing of the present, prevalent in the lives and habits of the people. In the culture of Goa and Goans, the Konkani language spoken by its people is its predominant facet. And the language thrives also in the literature, theatre and music of the land. Konkani songs, sung by popular singers from Goa and other Konkani speaking communities, are the quickest way in which Konkani people emotionally connect with each other. Only a couple of decades ago, these songs would be heard by people mainly over the radio. With the advance of technology, today multiple media such as CDs, I-pods and pen drives are in use and people also treat themselves to live musical shows in which high-tech equipment delivers high quality performances to discerning audiences.
The Parish of St. Michael, Taleigão has been putting up the Kor KantarTaleigao show for some years now. It began in 2013. The event brings on stage a vast array of contemporary Konkani singers and musicians with 90% new songs and 10% old classic songs. On the face of it, it is an evening in which parishioners and people from all around Goa delight in listening to their most loved songs. That is indeed so and the show draws several thousands of people. But the event has a deeper objective. The Church of St. Michael is 477 years old and one of Goa’s oldest. But the Church has a historical deficiency. It lacked a hall in which the Church and its parishioners can hold their meetings and social functions. More seriously, it was in need of classrooms for the teaching of Catechism to its children.
To fill in this gap, the idea of the St. Michael’s Parish Community Centre was conceived. The project has now been partly executed and commissioned. But one of its major phases remains to be completed. The present Parish Priest, Fr. Cipriano da Silva and his predecessor, late Fr. Conceicão da Silva along with the parishioners have made valiant efforts to raise funds towards this project. The Kor Kantar Taleigão show has been an important contributor in this respect.
St. Michael’s Parish along with Priority Sitara and Chris-Armand Presentation, the brothers dedicated to promoting Konkani and Goan cultureis staging the sixth edition of Kor Kantar Taleigao on Saturday, 30th April 2022 at 7.00 p.m. sharp on the ground opposite St. Michael’s Church, Taleigão. The show is conceptualized and supported by Robert Cabral, a lover of Konkani and a committed enthusiastic parishioner who has been the driving force behind it since inception. This edition of Kor KantarTaleigao will have a world-renowned artist in Hemaa Sardesai who has sung at the International UNICEF Concert in Europe and won the Grand Prix at the International Pop Song Festival, Germany. She was adjudged Industry’s No. 1 personality at the Global Business Symposium. Konkani stage super star Jose Rod will add to the glitter. The show will feature Konkani stage celebrities like Lawry Travasso, Mark Revlon, Sanio (Dubai), Velrose (Canada), Ageema, Avers, Elaine, Sheena, Neves Oliveira (Mumbai), Akki, Holly, Hendry & Clarissa Lobo and P. Agnelo.The event will present young artistes from Taleigão including Cassian (Alcatrazz), Shania Silveira, Ninoshka Menezes, Sarah Cabral and Kashvina Cardozo. Comedians Dominic, Sally and Mathew de Souza (Merces) will further pep up the evening with a dash of their humour. Music Directors Senon de Souza (trumpet) and Duarte Ferrao (keyboard) will lead a band of acclaimed musicians like Jack Rebello (drums), Sergei (bass), Sammy Braganza (trombone), Daniel D’Souza (saxophone), Tony Dias (keyboard), Rousseau (lead) and Nolvert Cotta (trumpet). Agnelo de Borim will be the host for the show.
The event has the support of Priority Sitara, Herald, Casant and Dias Events. The evening will undoubtedly recharge the spirits of all who attend it and satiate their thirst for Konkani music.
