Hema's new album "Goa Zaai"
released
NT Staff Reporter
www.navhindtimes.com
Panjim, Jan 7, 2005:
The Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar said that the Goan singers
should get opportunities of being marketed to the rest of the
world, adding that a provision in the forthcoming budget would
help to promote Goan artistes in a big way.
Mr Parrikar, who
earlier launched Goa Zaai, an album of Konkani songs by the
noted Goan singer, Hema Sardesai, aboard the vessel Spirit of
Allison maintained that it is always a pleasure to listen to the
music of the soil, pointing out that an average Goan is
introduced to the music at an early age, either in temples
through Bhajans or in churches through hymns and choir songs.
The Leader of the
Opposition, Pratapsingh Rane, speaking on the occasion said that
Goa is not only the birthplace of talented artistes but art
itself.
"Music, in
particular brings together people from all strata, irrespective
of their individual status," he observed, adding that Goa has
provided many reputed artistes to the world. Hema Sardesai, in
her speech said that her success has come through hard struggle
sans any compromises. "In Goa, there is no discrimination of
artistes," she noted.
Fr Peter Cardozo of
the Pilar Music Academy, a mentor of the singer and Dr Ajoy
Estibeiro also spoke on the occasion. The Transport Minister,
Pandurang Madkaikar was also present. The function also saw
felicitation of senior Goan artistes, well-known music director,
Dattaram Wadkar and ace violinist, Jerry Fernandes, besides
Sudhakar Karandikar and Lorna, in absentia. Mr Fernandes also
felicitated the Chief Minister on behalf of the Goan artistes.
A one-minute silence
was observed during the programme in memory of the tsunami
victims. Hema Sardesai also donated a sum of Rs 50,000 towards
the Chief Minister's Tsunami Relief Fund. Suresh Sinari of M/s
V P Sinari and Sons, which has brought out the music album,
proposed a vote of thanks, while Mr Keshav Nadkarni compered.
The member-secretary
of Kala Academy, Dr Pandurang Phaldesai, the president of Goa
Konkani Akademi, Pundalik Naik, film-maker, Rajendra Talak and
ace percussionist, Bondo were also present for the function.
Later, Hema Sardesai enthralled the audience with her songs from
the album.
For Indian pop icon,
Hema Sardessai, sky is the limit. Not one to sit on her
laurels, Sardessai now has her eyes set on a Grammy and if she
does make it to that elite bracket, not just she, but India
will be proud of her. ``The Grammy has to come,'' she says. I
can do it and it will be God's gift to me,''she says oozing with
confidence. ``If I could do it despite all barriers in Germany
winning the Grand Prix there, why can't I go higher? I dared
to be different and it worked.
I know there could be a few problem to face and I am ready to
break these barriers. I have faced such problems earlier and am
trying to fight them. At Germany I was not expected to win.But I
did,'' she said.
A versatile singer, Sardessai has performed in many
languages. That, she feels, could make it more easier for her
to achieve her goal. ``I could probably win the Grammy with
a Hindi song. It could be a song that the whole word would love
and that they will remember,''she says. Recently in Dubai(UAE)to
perform at the Bollywood Express Show, the bubbly lady
showed just why she was a household name in India. Sardessai
who has created a niche for herself in the pop world, has
performed all around the world for a range of audiences,leaving
an impression wherever she went.
But the most memorable event for her is undoubted-ly winning
the "German Grand Prix" at the 16th
International Pop Song Festival in 1989 with her song 'Against
You Against Me' sung with another Indian pop star Remo
Fernandes. It was here that she earned the sobriquet Indian
Nightingale. Representing India, she was the youngest of all the
participants hailing from different countries. ``Here I was
loved and accepted by the German audience at a very young
age.This was the turning point of my career,'' she said.
In the same year, she represented India again at the
International UNICEF Concert in Belgrade with other
international acclaimed artists. On the threshold of
releasing her new album, Sardessai is all excited. `The album
should be released in June. But we are still working on the
title of the album. All the songs are so good, that finding
the right title has become difficult,' she says.
``In the earlier album, Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain, Hema was a
playback singer. Here you hear her real voice. My image is of
a bubbly, chirpy and fun loving person and here is Hema singing
for herself and not someone else's voice,'' she says.
The album is going to be different from the other albums she has
released. ``The album features pop
songs.It is all original variety trying to exploit every
angle of Hema's voice,'' she describes the album.
'Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain' was the highest selling Female Pop
selling Album of 1999 and the highest selling in Dubai while 'Janam
Samjha Karo' was the highest selling song in the Indian film
industry.
About her music, she describes it as something which has a
heart. `I won't describe it as Godly music as it will be
misunderstood, but my voice is basically a gift from God, so
I call it his Music. I am not very religious but God believing,'
she said. Sardessai, began her foray into singing from early
childhood. ``I used to sing aloud in the verandhas, a typical
feature of Goan houses, where I would disturb the neighbours.
They would complain to my parents about the disturbance but yet
they appreciated my voice,'' she recollects. That was a small
beginning. The rest as they say is history.
She can sing folk music,rhythm and blues,hip hop, fusion along
with Indian classical & western pop with equal elan. So it is no
surprise that a lot of newcomers now try to imitate her voice.
``It takes years for people to settle down in this field But
for me I get the most pleasure when new singers begin
imitating Hema Sardessai. God has made his mark,'' she says.
(Courtesy: The Gulf Today)