Joe Andrade

Bahrain, Oct 14: “Osmitay”, the epic film set against the backdrop on a quest for Konkani “identity” and woven around a unique love story, was premiered in Bahrain on October 12, captivating the audience at full capacity at Our Lady of Arabia Auditorium, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manama premises organized by the Konkani Community led by its convenor, Nelson Menezes. It was exhilarating for the community basking on Konkani identity for its roots, brief history, culture and tradition that touched the essence of the length and breadth of the film in a synchronized manner – and there was more to it than what the eyes could behold. There were two shows, one began at 7.30 pm and the other at 10.30 pm.

The highlight of screening the premier, was the visit and presence among the audience of the movie hero and main Actor, Ashwin D’Costa to the shores of Bahrain. His presence added the right nostalgia to the premiere of the movie.

A brief felicitation program for Ashwin was the prelude to the premiere of the movie with the Master of Ceremonies, Bertie Rego, welcoming the audience at sharp 7.30 pm. Fr Darel Fernandes, the assistant parish priest, Sacred Heart Church Bahrain and the Spiritual Director of the Konkani Community in Bahrain welcomed the gathering who attended the premiere along with visiting Priest Fr Joy Mathias thanking the organisers of the Konkani Community Core Committee for organizing the eventful and historical premiere. Fr Antony and Fr Nelson were also present on stage along with the core members of the Konkani Community for the brief felicitation program.

Ashwin D’Costa was invited on stage and felicitated with a floral bouquet offered by Francis Correa, past convenor of the Konkani Community on behalf of the organisers. Fr Darel Fernandes then presented a memento to Ashwin D’Costa to mark the occasion

Jennifer Braganza proposed a vote of thanks remembering all the actors of the movie and those involved in bringing the movie to Bahrain for the premiere and making it an eventful day in Bahrain’s Konkani-speaking community’s history. The brief felicitation program for Ashwin concluded with MC Bertie Rego announcing the screening of the movie and a few other key announcements. Mangalorean delicacies dinner packs were available, freshly prepared by Mysore Bhavan, Bahrain, for those who wanted to quench their hunger.

All those who attended the premiere were given a wee memento badge “Konkani Mhoji Osmitay” from Mandd Sobhann Mangaluru, under whose banner the film was produced, to be pinned on their chest for the day during the show. The two-and-half hour movie first show concluded at 10.20 pm to make way for the second premiere day show with a ten minute breather inbetween.

The movie is depicted in brief narrative style by the story writer Eric Ozario himself, explaining the roots and history of Konkani speaking people in the Indian sub-continent and how the Konkani speaking belt moved from Goa to Mangaluru with its historical rivers and the upheavels of life. Each moment of the movie beautifully captivates in colour the topography and vividity of the Konkani coastal belt, complete with its culture, tradition and secularism in a simple and characteristic manner and highlighting and uplifting the Konkani aspirations blending comfortably with others in secularism. This is the unique essence of the Konkani speaking people, who blend and bend in fluency compromising comfortably with the local language and traditions down the ages.

The story written by Eric Ozario and screeplay by Joel Pereira, is more than just a love story between Vivek Albuquerque Pai (Ashwin D’Costa) and Sushma (Wencita Dias) and explores the migration of Konkani Speakers from Goa. The American born Vivek, studying world culture in Arizona USA, is on a quest to the movie spares no effort and does all to preserve the Konkani language, tradition and cultural heritage. Full marks to its finesse in this respect.

The love story blends and basks beautifully with many traditional songs and dances in all its colour and etiquette impressive to behold being informative, educative and indeed entertaining!

Konkani Community lauded the producer Louis Pinto, Eric Ozario the story writer, Joel Pereira the music composer, director Vilas Ratnakar Kshatriya, cinematographer Balaraj Gowda and the actors who made it all a reality.

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