A few
decades ago, tiatr lovers would get excited when they saw the couple Bab Peter and Ophelia, take the
stage and belt out their melodious songs. Soon they were joined by their
daughter, Tatum D’Souza who is fondly called as ‘Babli’ by the tiatr
fraternity. She started singing at the age of just two years old, as Bab Peter
would hold her up in his arms so that she could reach the mic.
Paying a musical tribute to the love story
of her parents, Babli is now releasing an album, ‘Bab Peter-Ophelia: Omor
Mogachi Kanni’. It features twelve songs with ten written by Bab Peter himself.
Babli has penned down two songs to show her emotional bond with her mother in
‘Maim’ and the title track of the album.
“When my mother passed away last year on
February 19, 2016, I was going through her papers and albums and I found songs
which were penned by my father, Bab Peter, who had passed away on February 19,
2005. These songs have never been released. A few songs had been sung on stage
only and I knew their tunes but the rest were completely new. I got in touch
with Ronnie Monserrate, the established music composer and music director who
is based in Mumbai, and added new tunes to the songs. He has done a fabulous
job with it by adding live instruments,” says Babli.
Bab Peter and Ophelia, dedicated their lives to each other and
their love for Konkani Tiatr and this was most evident in their songs. The
singers in this album include Babli, young artistes from popular choral groups
Like Victory Chorus Line and Vamm in Mumbai and it also introduces Bab Peter-Ophelia’s
grand-daughter Nia singing Bab Peter’s classic composition. “The album has five
solos, five trios and two duets in signature Bab Peter styles. Dad had a very
contemporary composing style with songs which are relevant even today. There
was a certain beauty to this lyrics with tunes which were upbeat and up-tempo.
One song which is featured in the album, ‘Sangonc zata zobor’ was composed and
performed by him in 1963 when he was just ten years old,” says Babli.
In his musical career, Bab Peter had released five albums,
‘Konkani Mottiam’, ‘Goan’, ‘My Rose’, ‘Tourist Centre’ and his last album,
‘Ophelia’, just a year before he passed away.
Speaking about the musical genes in the family, Babli’s 9 year
old daughter is singing a song in this album. “This song brings up so many
memories. ‘Dolleanchi Vatt’, was originally performed by my parents and for
this song, Nia is singing with my husband Sameer and me. I was the only child
and I used to sing a lot of songs written by him which I enjoyed the most. My mother
was a one of the most dedicated actors of her time and I am trying to get my
daughter into music so she follows the musical line of the family,” says Babli.
The songs have various genres like Goan folk, jazz, blues,
reggae, rock-a-roll, pop and traditional ballads and the album is produced with
an ensemble of live instruments bringing in the same Bab Peter vibe, nearly 12
years later. The album will be in stores in Mumbai and Goa from November 18,
2017 onwards as it combines the birthdays of Ophelia on November 8 and Bab
Peter on November 10. The CD will be available online too on
www.babpeterophelia.com.
(The
CD ‘Bab Peter-Ophelia: Omor Mogachi Kanni’ will be released by Bishop Allwyn
Barreto on November 19, 2017 at the ‘Kor Kantar’ musical show in Taleigao as
Babli will be performing the title track of the album.)
