Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 28: 'Ashellon', the debut Konkani musical album by Roshan Rodrigues of 'Voice of Arabia' fame will be released on Sunday November 30 at Sandesha Kala Kendra, Nanthoor here at 4 pm.
The release ceremony of the album will be hosted in association with Aangann Konknnechem Riyadh. MLA J R Lobo will be the chief guest, while Bendore parish priest Fr Antony Serrao, Dubai-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Fernandes, and renowned singer 'Yodelling King' Melwyn Peris will be the guests of honour. Karntaka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino will preside.
Director of Sandesha Kala Kendra Fr Vijay Victor Lobo will bless the occasion.
The event will include dance performance by Frictions Dance Crew, and by Band Charitra.
About Roshan Rodrigues
Roshan Philip Rodrigues, Madanthyar, now resides in Bendore. Son of Antony and Mary Rodrigues, he is married to Olinda Meera Rodrigues of Paladka, and blessed with three children - Anisha, Adel and Aldrina Rodrigues.
Roshan is a gifted singer who has won several competitions and awards right from standard first. It was his teacher Lucy Rodrigues of Guardian Angel School in fifth standard who encouraged him to join the church choir, and since then he has been part of several choirs.
He composed his first song in 7th standard for a school function. He was encouraged by the late Fr Fredric Pereira, Fr Pascal Menezes, Fr Bazil Vaz, Fr Ronald Cuthino, Fr Ronald Cuvelio, teachers, professors and friends.
When he started his career in Mumbai, he was known to the Konkani community there as the 'Rising Star - Udentichen Neketr - Roshan Madanthyar. In a short span in Mumbai, he performed in Konkani dramas, composed songs for dramas for which music was provided by Babush Gaonkar, and compered many Konkani programmes, specially Jerome Nites in Vasai.
He took a sabbatical from music after migrating to Saudi Arabia in December 1998. Until 2008, he was away from all musical activities, except for composing one song for a wedding. Thereafter, when the Mangalurean community in Jeddah was founded, musical activities started, and especially after the formation of Aangann Konknnechem Riyadh, he once again took up music from 2012. Now, his dream of launching his debut Konkani album is on the threshold of realization.
Says an elated Roshand, "My heart is filled with joy and I don’t have words to thank all the people who have supported me, specially my parents who supported me all the time and my elder brother Ajith Rodrigues who discovered my talent of singing and supported and encouraged me since childhood. My younger brothers Cyril and Naveen Rodrigues are my fans who were with me all the time."
Speaking on his debut album, he said, "My brother-in-law and my friend Roshan Castelino strongly backed this great project. My friend Loy Valentine Saldanha, a new talent in the music recording field worked day and night for this album."
"I thank all the album singers - Prajoth D’Sa, Kiran Rodrigues, Nelson Lewis, Arona ,Treza Coelho, Sayani Sanchia Fernandes, Jean Brags, Melwyn Antony D’Souza and Patson Pereira. My special thanks to Aangann Konknechem Riyadh president Arun Palimar and committee members, my well wishers and sponsors Anil Flossy Albuqurque and family, Kevin Nazareth and family, Arun and Jessy, and to Gulf Voice of Mangalore committee of Qatar and Oman," he said, also thanking the Indian community from Jeddah, his wife Olinda Meera and his children.
Loy Valentine Saldanha
Loy Saldanha, who given the music for the album, pursued his engineering in music production and sound design from Audio Media, Chennai.
He has been playing the keyboard since he was 10 years old, and has been the official composer/vocalist/music programmer/sound engineer at PMV ever since its formation. Loy is a bundle of talent, enthusiasm and creativity.
Loy has composed several popular Konkani albums. One of his first music direction was for a Konkani album called ‘Chinthanam’, and a recent one was for a Marathi album called 'Sparsh Tuza'.
Loy has also worked on mixing and mastering of several album projects.
Aangann Konknnechem Riyadh
Aangann Konknnechem is a non-profitable organization involved in promoting Konkani language and culture through exclusive programmes since its inception in 2007. The organization has been helping various young talents, besides promoting Konkani culture and helping poor for education.