Report: Shodhan Prasad

Dubai, Apr 18: Rhythm Events organized the 11th year celebration of Amchi Family 2017 on Friday April 14 at Emirates English Speaking School, Al Safa, Dubai with a full house audience enjoying the day-long programme of dance, music and lots of fun.

The programme started at around 10 am with the traditional lighting of the lamp by Ramdas Kini, Subhash Shanbhogue, Venkatesh Prabhu, Ramchandra Hegde, Sudarshan Hegde and Santosh Prabhu, while the ladies of the Samaj rendered prayer, thus inaugurating the anniversary celebrations.

Welcome dance was performed by budding artistes of Klassical Rhythms, Adya Nayak, Avani Kamath, Shruthi Shenoy, Shikha Shenoy,Vidhiktha, Adhya Kadri, Vindya Pai, Prerana Pai, Aditi Kamath, Smruthi Shenoy, the students of Rohini Ananth.

Soon, all the four MCs Sudharshan, Harish, Sabitha and Veena came on to the stage and introduced themselves to the audience in their own imitable style.

The welcome speech was rendered by Ramdas Kini, the president who briefed on the event, the values of the Samaj and how the programme was planned after a long gap.

Later a group dance was performed by Soumya Nadkarni, Anisha Prabhu and Anagha Kamath which was very well applauded.

Children from the community who excelled in their academic studies were felicitated and honoured during the programme. Also, those children who were honoured with Sheik Khalifa Award recently were also felicitated during the programme for their achievement. The proceedings were ably handled by Rekha Nayak and Uday Mallya.

The programme continued with various filmy and folk dances presented by children, from tiny tots to teens of the Samaj beautifully choreographed, evoking applause from the audience throughout. Unnati Nayak, Vibha Kamath, Stuthi Kamath, Krithi Kamath, Vidhi Kamath, Niharika Shanbhag, Adya Nayak, Avni Kamath, Shruthi Shenoy, Shikha Shenoy, Vidhiktha, Adhya Kadri, Vindya Pai, Prerana Pai, Aditi Kamath, Smruthi Shenoy, Shashank Shenoy, Vighnesh Kini, Riya Shenoy, Sidhi Shenoy, Sanika Pai, Amogh Kamath, Anvita Pai, Sidhansh K, Sakshi Shenoy, Sidharth Pai, Tanvee Kamath, Anika Shenoy and Tejas Kamath were among those who participated.

Instrumental performance with drums by Saurav Prabhu and Sathwik Prabhu was another wonderful presentation which received a huge round of applause from the audience.

A fusion dance by Veena Pai, Divya Pai, Deepa Shenoy and Poornima Shenoy had the audience cheering and applauding.

Sumptuous vegetarian lunch was served which was savored by the gathering.

Beautifully choreographed fashion parade was presented by the Abu Dhabi Samaj members portraying communal harmony and integrity. It was ably choreographed by Veena Mallya and presented by Rahul Mallya, Avani Kamath, Neha Pai, Kripa Prabhu, Shilpa Hegde, Vidya Prabhu, Shilpa Shenoy, Bharati Pai, Shakunthala Kini, Veena Mallya, Divyalaxmi Prabhu, Sudha Nayak and Archana Kamath.

Tiny tots of Ocean Kids Dance Academy, dressed in glittering costumes, beautifully presented various dances amid cheering from the audience.

Well-known young saxophonist prodigy, Anjali Shanbhogue who has made a household name back home in India started her maiden Dubai performance with various devotional bhajans along with accompanists Deepak on keyboard, Rajesh Bhagwath on tabla and percussion, and Vaman on drums and rhythm board. Their surprise presentation took the audience into the devotional world, and they were seen humming the sacred chants in line with the tune of Anjali’s magical saxophone.

During the break was a comedy skit by Sudharshan Hegde, Harish Shenoy, Anjana Kamath and Veena Pai which was written and directed by Keshav Mallya. It was beautifully presented as a mythological satire in comic form.

Throughout the day-long programme the MCs conducted various funny spot games with prizes for the winners.

Special guest artistes Anjali Shanbhogue, Deepak, Vaman and Rajesh Bhagwat were felicitated on the stage with shawls, bouquets, dry fruits, mementos and honour certificates for their participation. All the sponsors of the event were also honoured with bouquets, mementos and shawls.

The programme continued with non-stop saxophone presentation by Anjali Shanbhogue with numbers ranging from yesteryear to current hits, with melodious tunes which compelled the audience, from young to old, to get up from their seats and dance. The audience craved for more and were totally transported into musical world, swinging, dancing, singing, and requesting for their favorite numbers which Anjali played without any hesitation. Anjali took the audience to a new world of saxophone music never heard live in this part of the world for quite long. Though the audience craved for more, the time constraints prevented it as it was already 8 pm.

There was a raffle draw at the end with various attractive prizes won by many lucky winners.

Vote of thanks was presented by Ramdas Kini.

On the whole, the full-day event by Amchi Family was a programme which left a mark of remembrance, artistically and traditionally.