27-yr-old gives Konkani new expression through qawwali

Panaji: Konkani has been the language of Goan music through dhalo, mando, kantar, and found devotional expression in hymns and Bhakti geet. There are ghazals and rap songs too. Now, a 27-year-old from Vasco has given a completely new musical expression to Konkani words.

Nawab Gaffar Shaikh, a singer with a BSc degree in geography, has adapted Konkani lyrics to the tune of a qawwali, his performance recently taking famous Indian fadista Sonia Shirsat by surprise.

It was All Goa Catholic Association president Cyril Fernandes who first pitched the idea of using Konkani lyrics in a Sufi song.

Nawab’s singing talent was first discovered by a school teacher when he was just 10 years old. Based on this teacher’s advice, his parents began Nawab’s training with his guru Sharad Mathkar in Indian classical music.

“I have been part of the Marathi band Nishad Creation and I also sing for Kutumb, a band with whom I sing Bollywood and Konkani songs. I have sung many Konkani songs before at different events. But when Cyril sir suggested I create a Konkani Sufi song, I asked him for time, went back and thought about it,” said Nawab.

After much thought, Nawab picked words from M Boyer’s song, which he felt resonated the most today with Goa.

“The lyrics say that ‘Goa pokrun bhitorlean ritem, magir goemkarancho fudar amcho kitem’ (if Goa is dug hollow today what does the future hold for Goans). I set these lyrics to the tune of Adnan Sami’s qawwali “Bhar Do Jholi”. I first sang it for Cyril sir and after some brainstorming, made some changes and performed it at the Catholic Association event ‘Goem ani Goemkarponn’,” said Nawab.

With a base in Indian classical music and familiarity with the roots of qawwali, he said, this helped create this new musical expression in Konkani.

“The message was that as Goans we should stand together and work together for our future,” said Nawab. “Cyril sir wanted something different, so I worked on it. But the original song from which I took the lyrics is very fast paced and I was sceptical how people will receive it. But I was taken by surprise by how it was appreciated by the audience at the event.”