Qatar: After successful show in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, the greatest Konkani entertainment movie, Ek Aslyar Ek Na, was screened houseful by Konkani Speaking Community (KSC) at Asian Town, here on Friday, June 24.
Before the screening of the movie, a brief stage program was held. The gathering observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to the school children who died recently in an accident near Kundapura.
Versatile Konkani master compere Reena Castelino took up the stage with anchoring and organizing committee members Aloysius D’Souza, Jerald D’Souza, Prakash Noronha, Clement Saldanha, Vincy Lobo and Simon D’Silva escorted the guests of honor – actors Pradeep Barboza and Alphonse D’Souza, renowned Goan comedian John D’Silva and Producer Frank Fernandes to the stage. All the guests were welcome with flower bouquets.
Konkani Community leaders Vivian D’Souza, Arthur Pais, Alexious Castelino, main sponsors Felix Lobo, MD of Qatar Meta Coats and William Aranha, MD of IFS Wll were present on the stage.
Fr Anand Castelino OFM, parish priest of Our Lady of Arabia Church-Qatar was the chief guest on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Anand said that it’s an immense pleasure to see a Mangalorean Konkani movie after a long gap and its screening in Qatar.
The movie producer and actor Frank expressed his gratitude towards Konkani lovers and urged to support Konkani language. Actor John D’Silva and Pradeep Barboza shared some sweet moments during the shooting and expressed extreme love towards mother tongue Konkani.
On behalf of ‘Ek Aslyar Ek Na’ team Pradeep Barboza presented mementos to the organizing committee.
The two-and-a-half hour movie was screened and rib tickling scenes from the movie kept the audience in laugher from first to last. The houseful audience was fully entertained with emotion, drama, action and a good moral story. ’Ek Aslyar Ek Na’ is the first Konkani big budget film produced by Frank Fernandes Thottam and directed by Pradeep Barboza Palladka. ‘Ek Aslyar Ek Na’ is a story of an ordinary young man and his friends which elaborate typical Mangalorean style of living.
Very promising and upcoming beautiful actress Priya Menezes played the lead female role in the movie, which was appreciated by the audience. Richard Sequeira, Jerald Moras, Melwyn D Almeida, John D’Silva, Deepak Paladka, Alwyn Danty, Lucy Aranha, Lavina Gomes, Godwin Castelino leads the comedy part, versatile actors Alphonse D’Souza Moodubelle, Claude D’Lima Shirva, Andrew Master Paladka, Gladys Hospet, Rons London, Joseph Mathias, Clara Rodrigues Abu Dhabi, Lu, Shawn Mangalore, Rohan, Prafulla, Pratap Menezes, Austin D’Souza and many others amateur aspiring actors are a part of the movie. On the whole ’Ek Aslyar Ek Na’ is a complete entertainment package for viewers, worth watching, the best ever made in Konkani so far.
The cast of ‘Ek Aslyar Ek Na’ also includes John D’Silva – the superstar of Goan Konkani Stage. One of the most notable actors from Goa and winner of several local and international awards, John was most recently presented with the best comedian award for his Tiatr ‘Munne’ at the 7th popular Tiatr Festival organized by Tiatr Academy of Goa. John is also widely known for his exceptional work in renowned Konkani films such as ‘Home Sweet Home,’ ‘Nirmonn’ and the Oscar nominated ‘Nachomia Kumpasar’. He is also the first dramatist from Goa to acquire the acclaimed ‘Limca Book of Records’ for staging 25 Tiatrs with double letter titles, which include ‘Vell,’ ‘Ekvott’ and ‘Pisollem’ among others. For John’s unparalleled contribution in promoting Goan and Konkani art and culture, this undisputed emperor of Goan Tiatr is now the ‘Face of Goa’ in the government of Goa’s tourism handbook.
