“CALANGUTE” - NEW VCD BY JERRY CALThe recently released Konkani Album in the form of Audio VCD reached to my hand for review. Dedicated to his late loving mother Carmelina Fernandes from Phorba Vaddo, Calangute who herself was a great lover of Konkani songs and Tiatros, this Album was produced by Jerry Fernandes from Calangute, popularly known as Jerry Cal working in Abu Dhabi since a long time now. This Album comprising 12 songs was released in Abu Dhabi last month in an especially organized function there attended by among others Rosary Ferns and his wife Cassilda. Musical score for this Album was beautifully provided by Maestro Josinho and all the songs were composed by Jerry Cal except one in the form of a Mando by Rosary Ferns. It is marketed thru Music House, Mapusa and recorded at Magic Touch Studio, Margao. According to the information, Kuwait based songster and renowned Tiatrist Rosary Ferns gave a strong helping hand to Jerry Cal to produce this Album. Besides, Pascoal de Calangute and Mathias Mascharenhas too assisted Jerry Cal in his endeavours to finalise the enormous task of producing this wonderful Album “CALANGUTE” in a short period of one week.
All the top Konkani artistes and singers lent their beautiful voices for this Album, namely Rosary Ferns, Rita Rose, Jessy Dias, Lawry Travasso, Bab Andrew, Pascoal de Calangute, Mathias Mascharenhas and Jerry Cal himself who is known to be a very good singer and composer. The introductory announcement “Funfare” in her sweet voice with perfect clarity was lent by Jerry Cal’s wife Theresa Fernandes. Jerry Cal has been acting in Tiatros and singing songs especially solos since his schooling days at Arpora. Because of his likeable songs, even the then Principal of Arpora School Fr. Mendonca patted Jerry Cal during one of the annual School Dramas staged at School Hall for public and for students too. During his long innings in the Gulf and also in the UK, Holland and Germany where he went for specialized studies and training, Jerry Cal served Konkani Mae thru his beautiful songs. He acted in many of the Tiatros of many of the top Tiatrists namely Remmie J. Colaco, M. Boyer, Prem Kumar, Rosary Ferns and others and that too not only in the Gulf but also in Goa and Bombay. He helped Fr. Rego of Calangute Dom Bosco School in organising Drama shows to raise funds for that school and acted in these shows along with once renowned singer Souza Giao.
Besides songs and Tiatros, Jerry was a very good sportsman during his schooling days at Arpora being Champion Table Tennis player, a long distance runner, a footballer and Cycle Racer including Cross Country Races in Cycle and in running.
From Abu Dhabi, he helped many of the Goan causes including Konkani and raising funds for Konkani Martyrs. He helped many Goans in getting employment there even getting them directly recruited from Goa. For Tiatro cause, he has done immensely well, for this reason many of the Goa based Tiatrists are grateful to him.
Regarding the new and his first Album ‘CALANGUTE” comprising 12 songs, the title song rendered by Jerry Cal is worth listening for the genuine Calangutkars. It gives history of great Calangutkars and what their contribution for the cause, name and fame of Calangute. I hope “Congottkar” will awaken now by listening to this song. The other solo of Jerry Cal which gives strong impetus to this Album is “Address” in which the singer advises us of the importance of carrying our addresses in our pockets for any eventualities. It is very interesting and beautifully rendered by Jerry Cal. Pascoal de Calangute in his beautifully rendered solo on “Divorce” advises us not to fall prey to Divorce by citing ill effects of it. Thru this solo Pascoal de Calangute shows his caliber of singing songs with excellent clarity. Another solo which deserves highest compliments is of Rosary Ferns’ “Bhau Bhau”. It is so beautifully rendered by Rosary with his mellifluent and attractive voice. Another song of Rosary Ferns “Noxiban Nirmunkna” has got all the attributes of a Mando and it is very romantic and as such worth listening. Bab Andrew renders two solos, one “Rinn” and the other “Gulfantlo Dadlo” both are interesting. So also of Lawry Travasso’s “Maincho Mog”. Rosary Ferns renders a duet with Jessie Dias and Jerry Cal with Rita Rose. She also renders a solo “Xevott Bhurgeancho” which depicted the miserable end of our children when they are patted too much and Mathias Mascharenhas sings a solo “Bheos Tornatteancho”.
In Kuwait, this Album from today Friday 7th August went into distribution while in UAE and Goa its sale has already been started a month back.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
