Classic Goa: Hits of the Millenium - CD REVIEW
By Ben Antao

Not since 1953 when I saw and heard C. Alvares romancing Goan film star Mohana on the Konkani stage in Margao have I heard love songs as moving as those written and produced by Silviano Barbosa in his first Konkani CD Classic Goa released recently in Toronto. His lyrics evoke the classical tension between lovers and his poetry in Konkani celebrates the vintage Goan anguish for love and its undying memories.

Love is celebrated universally, of course, in song and dance and literature, but for Goans whose destiny continues to be to live and work outside the borders of the state, the images harken back to unrequited love, wistful goodbye and divine forgiveness. And the enduring fabric of this image is woven by the sky, the stars, the sun, the sea and the rivers. And the poignancy of this image touches not only those who are outside but also those in Goa and thinking of those gone away. I don’t pretend to be an expert in divining the Goan soul but I’ll bet my Goanness and say that a Goan will relate to the sentiments expressed in this CD.

Now, Silviano rises to poetic heights in articulating the emotions of love. His Konkani is free of the newly imported corruption that appears to have beset the language. I have been away from the Goan soil for over 30 years, but I can understand and appreciate the nuances of his Konkani. Part of the reason for this, of course, is that he was born in Cuncolim 50 years ago, where he grew up, and studied and lived in Margao and Panjim until the early seventies.

As is common on the Konkani stage, songwriters compose their lyrics to the popular tunes of English and Hindi songs. However, this style does not depreciate the appeal of their songs or their relevance. In producing his CD, Silviano hired popular teatrists Lorna, Anthony San, Young Chico, Sumeeta and Platilda to sing his songs and the result is both agreeable and admirable. For music, he engaged Josinho, his favorite composer.

The album contains 12 songs, including a potpourri of Hindi, Konkani and English for comic relief. One song Mogacho Divo (Lamp of Love) is sung by Lorna to the haunting tune of Somewhere My Love from the movie Dr. Zhivago. Here’s a verse from that song in classic romantic tradition.

Gueloi soddun kalliz tutoun mhojem
Ghevun bhountam, dukachem hem vorem
Modhur kalliz dharunn zalem tujem Itlean kabar sukhi jivit mhojem.
Mogan pettoilolo divo, nishttur vharean to paloilo.

Now try to sing that in that tune and cry! (I won’t spoil it by rendering it in English!)
Although Lorna sings four songs in her usual resonant and captivating voice, I was much impressed by the richness of tone and phrasing of Anthony San (from Sanvordem) who does a couple of duets and a solo. If his name was not mentioned on the cover, I would have said it was Alfred Rose singing Goa Tuka Noman. I make this point by way of compliment, for no two singers, however gifted, can sing alike.
Some of you may have heard the late C. Alvares song Mollbailo Dou (Dew from the Sky), sung by Molly in the Konkani movie Amchem Noxib (Our Luck). This song, whose theme is that life is beautiful when two people are in love, also captures romanticism. Here’s a verse to stir the lovebirds:

Boria mogacho fou, Amcam ditolo Dev
Fullam zatat mou, Poddon mollbailo dou.

Silviano, married with three children, lives in Woodbridge, about 40 km northwest of Toronto, and works as a computer systems analyst for the Toronto police. A science graduate, he has written a novel in English called The Sixth Night (Sottvi Raat) which he is currently revising for publication.

The CDs, priced $15 (+$3 shipping+handling) in Canada and US$15 outside Canada (shipping+handling included), are available from Silviano Barbosa, 132 Roselawn Drive, Woodbridge, Ont. L4H 1A5, Canada.

Phone: 905-856-7220. Email:goaraj@idirect.com

(Ben Antao is a Toronto author ("Images of Goa" ), writer, journalist, retired teacher and a financial consultant.)