Report and pics by Wilson & Priya Saldanha, Shirthady/ Kuwait [Daijiworld News Network]
Kuwait, Apr 1: Tulukoota - Kuwait, for the 6th year in succession, organized "Rasamanjari 2006" on Friday, March 31, 2006 in the Masrah Hawalli Hall- Kuwait.
This was the Tulu Koota`s first mega event of 2006 which was held under the presidentship of Chandrahasa Shetty. Tulu Koota successfully attracts larger and larger audiences year after year through their top-quality programmes every year. The hall was jam-packed with music-lovers despite the fact that they were various other programs like the India day, Kannada Koota Picnic and KWAK picnic coinciding with this event.
The programme commenced with a welcome by Swarna Shetty followed by a Kannada Welcome dance by Punitha, Nagaratna and Niveditha, and the lighting of the lamp by committee members. President Chandrahasa Shetty accorded a warm and meaningful welcome. He specially welcomed the visiting artists, Mohammed Haneef and his team, who had gracefully accepted the invitation and had been flown to Kuwait all the way from Tulunadu by Tulukoota Management Committee to be a part of the Rasamanjari 2006.
Mohammed Haneef, Well-known playback singer of Mohammed Rafi voice fame, and his Troupe from Mangalore comprising Ravindranath Kamath (compere, singer and mimicry artiste), Anuradha Bhat (versatile singer) and Rajesh (renowned drummer), along with distinguished local singers, with their sensational performances, kept the audience glued to their seats.
A large number of people witnessed the uninterrupted programme which was competently compered by Ravindra Srinivasa Prabhu/ Shalini Alva, programme co-ordinator David D' Souza and Swarna C Shetty/Suresh Salian being the announcers of the evening.
The first number 'Badi Dur Se aaye hain pyar ka taufa laye hain' from the film 'Samjhauta' was sung by Mohammed Haneef – The IEAS Stars – Deepti, Kruthi, Daphine, Tanya, Menal, Laila, and Niveda performed a Korean dance which was choreographed by Hemali Shringi.
The audience were well entertained with dances, with jokes being performed in between. The main attraction of the day was a string of Tulu, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Konkani songs sung by Mohammed Haneef along with his troupe and the local singers Shashiprabha Aithal, Dillon Noronha, Allan Pinto and Saritha D'Souza. When Ravindranath Kamath kept his hold over the audience with his compering, singing and mimicry, Anuradha Bhat entertained crowd with her variety of singing.
Some eye-pleasing dances were performed by IEAS Stars (Deepti, Kruthi, Daphine, Tanya, Menal, Laila, and Niveda), Tulukoota Group (Poonam, Sanjana, Suraksha, Neil, Nagaratna and Manjeeth), Sangam group, Kalabhavan (Isha, Darine, Tanasa, Paavni and Al-Anood). Rib-tickling jokes were enacted by Sanath, Raja, Loknath, Vineeth, Valerian, Kiran, Gladys, Vincent, V P D'Souza and others.
Very appropriate music that went well with the audience's tastes was provided by music maestro Adrian Gomes and his team.
Adding to the success of the programme was the superb stage lightings by well-known Anand D`Souza. with stage setting by David D`Souza, sound by Mathew and slides by Steven Misquith and Valerian Sanctis. Casper and Harish Kaup captured the whole program with their video and photography skills.
In between the entertainment the Tulu Koota management committee felicitated the sponsors – Jamal Khasap of Al Amal Kuwait Electrical Contracting Co. Felix D`souza of Al Rathath Est., Raghavendra Sherigar of UAE Exchange, John Paul Fernandes of Power Controls and the visiting artistes- Mohammed Haneef, Anuradha Rajesh, Ravindra Srinivas Prabhu and Rajesh with bouquets and mementos. General secretary Tharendra Shettigarproposed the vote of thanks.
The well-organized and successful show of four-and-a-half hours concluded with non-stop Baila followed by the national anthem of India.