Doha: 'Smiling Beauty' Teena Williams Wins GWA Annual May Queen 2012
Gladson D'Almeida
Pics: Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, May 5: The full-house Giwana Hall in Ramada Plaza here went berserk in applause and burst into celebration as sizzling beauty Teena Williams was crowned 12th May Ball Queen by none other than Bollywood actor Samir Soni in the company of popular actress Neelam Kothari, former chief minister of Goa Luizinho Feleirho, Khader T of Capitol One and Goan Welfare Associaton president Simon D’Silva.
Teena who also walked away with the ‘Best Smile’ of the evening award, was perhaps the best choice to be the 12th May Queen as her wisdom matched her beauty and sizzling smile. While bold and beautiful Tejaswini was crowned as the first Runners-up, elegant Pranel was chosen as the second Runners-up Tanushree Salani. The winner Teena walked away with bunch of stunning prizes including gold necklace, pendant given by Prakath Jewelers, a Doha-Europe return ticket by KLM etc.
The evening was set to be memorable one and it did live up to its reputation. In the last 11 years if anything has been synonymous with Goa and Goans in Qatar, then it has to be the annual May Queen Ball. The event being organized by the Goan Welfare Association led by dynamic and Social activist well known figure Simon D’Silva has always been known for quality with melodious music, prizes, gifts, surprises and more.
It was Goa’s top-most live band ‘Forefront’ that set the tone for a fabulous evening with the evergreen number ‘Dancing Queen’. As ‘Forefront’ belted out some of the everlasting numbers the dance floor within the Giwana Hall of Ramada Plaza obliged with glee. There was hardly anyone who could resist the temptation from storming to the dance floor and celebrating the evening.
Just like the ‘Forefront’ Updesh Swar doesn’t need an introduction. He’s just not the mood-setter but a trend-setter too. Over the last 15 years he has carved a niche for himself with his eloquent and witty compering. He has been one of the best hosts of our times and on Friday May 3, he lived up to his top billing. He has the unique ability to hold sway over the audience and the event that invariably set the mood for the event.
As the evening wore on with the memorable dances and fantastic music, the guests of the evening evergreen actress, sizzling performer Neelam Kothari, handsome Samir Soni and Luizinho Feleiro, the ex-chief minister of Goa made their way into the jam-packed Giwana Hall amidst the thunderous applause from the cheering gathering.
Samir Soni is an Indian film and television actor and a former model. Soni was born to a Punjabi Hindu family in London, United Kingdom. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in Economics. Prior to his Bollywood career, Samir was an investment banker with one of the bulge bracket firms on Wall Street in New York, before coming back to India to start modeling. He has attended acting courses in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003, Samir shot to fame by appearing in the film Baghban opposite legendary artists Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. As of 2011, Samir is portraying the lead role of a lawyer Kunal Chopra in Balaji Telefilms' TV serial Parichay that airs on Colors TV.
Neelam Kothari, after her early childhood in Hong Kong moved with her family to Bangkok. Neelam was holidaying in Mumbai when she was approached by director Ramesh Behl. She decided to give acting a shot and performed in the film Jawaani in 1984 alongside Karan Shah. She soldiered on ahead and became famous in 1986 for her role in the film Ilzaam opposite another debutante Govinda. She went on to make a regular pair with Govinda in movies such as Love 86, Khudgarz, Hatya, Taaqatwar and Do Qaidi. She also starred in the 1987 Hit film, Aag Hi Aag opposite Dharmendra and Chunkey Pandey and directed by Shibu Mitra. Then she starred in many other movies in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her roles, including the one in Ek Ladka Ek Ladki opposite Salman Khan, met with mixed success. She was also noticed for her appearance in the 1998 film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where she played herself as a VJ. In 1999, she appeared in the multi-starrer family film Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United.
While the Forefront led by incomparable Seby Pinto along with Melvin Rosario, Savio Fernandes, Agnelo Mascarenhas and lead female vocalist Estella Pinto kept the gathering busy on the dance floor, Dubai’s numero uno DJ Glorio had the audience asking for more as he played some of the most groovy and peppy numbers. As DJ Glorio made it a point to play fantastic music to cater exclusively to the taste and choice of all, the dance floor had the couples flooding in large numbers.
The glittering full-house evening had lot in store in the form of surprises and prizes as the organizers showered in number of attractive prizes to the people on the dancing floor. The first dancers, the best dancers, the young dancers all were caught in surprise as valuable prizes came their way.
But the icing on the cake for the evening came in the form of the crowning of the 12th May Queen who was chosen among 15 beautiful contestants. The beauty pageant was judged by Famous bollywood director Glen Baretto, Former Miss Singapore Kelly Kaur Adams and Archie D’Mello of Qatar Airways
The Goan Welfare Association has been the face and voice of Goans living in the tiny oil-rich country of Qatar for the last 11 years without any doubts. Ably led by inimitable, social activist and multi-talented Simon D’Silva, the association has often joined hands with charitable groups such as CRY and CARITAS and has rendered yeoman’s service in nurturing Goan culture and spirit among the large number of Goan expatriates. On a larger note the association has always been in the forefront of reaching out to various causes back home, thus setting a shining example to all. It is therefore not astonishing to see them host events with great aplomb and success over the last decade. The association is known not only for meticulous planning but also perfect execution and the annual May Queen Ball has been the true example for this.
The official airline for the 12th May Queen Ball was Qatar Airways, official Bank Doha Bank, official Hotel Ramda Plaza Doha, official media partner Gulf Times and official web-partner was www.daijiworld.com.
At the end of the day it was a wonderful and successful May Queen Ball by Goan Welfare Association. The organizers ably led by Simon D’Silva and well assisted by the GWA managing committee members presented another flawless and perfectly planned event adding one more feather into the already glittering cap of Goan Welfare Association.