Dolcy D’Cruz
Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Kahlil Gibran said, “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” The same was experienced by Goan band Black Sapphire as they were the very first band to perform at the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) stage in the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) 2026 in Mumbai. The IPRS Stage represents a deliberate effort to create sustained opportunities for original, folk, and regional music to be experienced, understood, and appreciated by diverse audiences. The IPRS Stage at KGAF 2026 featured two distinct performances, Goa’s Black Sapphire and Abhijit Pohankar’s Global Varkari Project as they took regional language music to a national cultural platform. Black Sapphire is a Goan band featuring Anthony (Jr. Chico) on drums, Cyrus Fernandes on bass, Cio Carvalho on keyboards, and Brendon Monteiro on lead guitar. The band’s vocal lineup includes Ancy Gonsalves as the female singer, with Alison Gonsalves serving as lead singer and songwriter. The group is managed by Fiona Gonsalves. “We played only original songs for 45 minutes. They asked us to include some folk songs, like old traditional folk numbers, so we did that with songs like ‘Ya Ya Maya Ya’, and a few others. That was it, a completely full Konkani set.,” says lead singer and songwriter Alison Gonsalves, who wrote and composed all the original songs for the performance. Black Sapphire were contacted in January, although discussions had been underway since December, as the band was initially scheduled to perform at another IPRS event in Delhi. However, the plan did not materialise due to the car explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort. Speaking about the audience, Alison says, “There were a few Konkani-speaking people in the audience, but the majority were Indians and foreigners. We were really surprised by the response, the way people were vibing and how appreciative they were. I spoke between songs, introducing each track and explaining what it was about, and they really connected with that. I also told them that if they were interested in learning Konkani, it’s a beautiful language to learn. I promoted Goa as well, asking them to visit. I taught them a few words and how to sing ‘Rosalina’ and ‘Mog Zala’, so they sang along. It was very interactive, with an upbeat crowd. People come especially for this festival because it’s not just music, it showcases all forms of art, from caricature and mime to drama and theatre.” Female singer Ancy Gonsalves has a special connection as she stepped onto the iconic Kala Ghoda stage in Mumbai. She visited the very same venue as part of a college team from Carmel College of Arts & Science, Nuvem, mesmerised by the vibrant arts festival. Her mentors, Roxanne and Glenis had enthusiasm that was infectious. “I remember thinking, ‘One day, I’ll be on that stage.’ Fast forward to this year, and I’m humbled to say that dream became a reality. I got the incredible opportunity to perform at Kala Ghoda on the IPRS stage with my band, Black Sapphire, representing our state. The rush of adrenaline, the energy of the crowd, and the sense of accomplishment are feelings I’ll cherish forever. It was indeed an unforgettable experience. I’m grateful to God for this journey, to my family, teachers and friends for nurturing my passion, and to my bandmates for being part of this incredible experience. This one’s for the books. And if you’re chasing a dream, let this be a reminder that with hard work and perseverance, the stage is yours to own,” says Ancy. Kaushik Gaikwad, PR & Events of IPRS says, “Black Sapphire was amazing and we believe in their music and original songs. That is the reason we wanted them to perform at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. That’s is what our motive at IPRS stage is to promote original songs, regional songs because our culture our roots is where these people are flourishing. I’m so glad that they came to Kala Ghoda and we loved the response as it was amazing.” Next, the band is working on a full album celebrating Goan music, culture, and food. It’s an eight-song album. “‘Rosalina’ is the first release, with seven more to come. We plan to release singles, as that feels like a better way for people to engage and connect than releasing the entire album at once,” concludes Alison.
