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Harry Fernandes, Barkur, getting ready to launch his Fourth Konkani Movie – ‘Benddkar – The Musician’.

On Saturday, 16th February, 2019 the ‘Muhurttam’ of yet another Konkani feature film will be held at Barkur. After the back to back success stories, of three films,  Noshibacho Khell, Sophia and Zanvoy No. 1….veteran film maker and director, Harry Fernandes penned a heart touching illustration of a brass band musician family, familiar in our native coastal districts.

There were no celebrations like weddings / roce / Church feasts etc. without their live performance as well as participation and rightly enhancing the joy and happiness. There were at least a band in every parish and few had even more sets….In our surrounding, Malpe Blue Ribbon, Uppinakote, Brahmmavar, Koteshwar, Perampalli teams etc.  even now surviving, facing tough competition and challenge from DJ etc. There were good number of such units at and around Mangalore too, some were more than 100 years old like Harry’s Konkan Band of the Century. In these days, Honnavar Mother Theresa Band is in high demand, seen performing even in Bangalore, Mumbai during weddings etc……No doubt this talent being a Benddkar has been passed through many generations, probably first influenced by European Military brass band comprising clarinets, trumpet, different drums, saxophones, flute etc. usually a team of 10 to 12 people in attractive Uniforms, in a group. Special thanks to Roce and on the other hand during funerals too Bendkar’s are in demand, even today. In comparison to 70’s and 80’s one can witness, slowly but surely, over the years, one by one, many teams disappeared from the scene….

By highlighting this unique talent, director Harry Fernandes wants to recognize, honor and preserve this skill by showcasing and presenting few melodious tunes for different occasions in this movie, as the storyline revolves around a Benddkar family, of two brothers, the eldest one, Prince Jacob, passionate with the gift he inherited from ancestors, with his professional singer wife Varsha….. and the younger one, Kevin, fed up with difficulties to survive and preference to Western culture….

While discussing on the subject matter, Harry didn’t elaborate further to keep the suspense intact, but the teams aim to get the National Award and get the recognition at the wider perspective, visibly evident in the exhaustive preparations they planned for….
The team is expecting support and encouragement from Konkani fraternity and in the event of sticking to the schedule, the major outdoor shooting of the movie will be over by the end of March in Udupi, Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai locations and the film will be ready for release in July / August, 2019.

Prominent roles will be played by Mangalorean, Goan and Mumbai artists, a balanced mix of popular, young and experienced, including Varsha Usgavnkar, Prince Jacob, Dolla Nandigudda, John D’Silva, Kevin, Naisa and others. Music by Patson Pereira, Lyrics – Wilson Kateel, Camera – Shafeeq Shaikh etc.