VOICES AND VERSES OF FAITH

VOICES AND VERSES OF FAITH

A review of Sidhanath Buyao’s Konknni album, Grateful to Jesus

By: Walter Menezes


A little bit of ash on your forehead, a subtle reminder that you are dust and unto dust one day you will return, and Christians from all over the world are enduring a forty-day period of prayer and penance. It is that time of the year to dust the cobwebs from the corners of your life, shift into ‘silent mode’ and recollect with a grateful heart the many gifts and blessings received from Jesus.

Two weeks ago, after more than a month of hectic activities which kept me away from contributing my regular comic strip to GT, just when I was trying to settle down to conduct a much needed spiritual exercise of ‘stock-taking’, I came across Sidhanath Buyao’s Konknni album, Grateful to Jesus.

Dedicated to a very close friend, Jose Rod (Kuwait), who recently underwent a major operation, Sidhanath gratefully acknowledges the gift of ‘a new life’ which Jesus gave to the famous tiatrist. ‘Dekhun kallzache kholayentlean Dhonia Jezuche upkar,’ he mentions on the jacket of the album released in December, 2009.

The album is a blend of two different backgrounds. Konknni poet John Aguiar’s inspiring lyrics which spring forth from a heart embedded in Christian faith and Sidhanath Buyao’s equally touching music which is a fusion of tabla, santoor, sitar and the western instruments. The result: a refreshingly different album of Christian devotional songs.

Grateful to Jesus sets off in earnest with Natalanchi Parab, the lines of the famous carol…Long time ago in Bethlehem / So the Holy Bible says…greeting you, in English, at the very beginning of the track. But like a train which slows down and gently changes tracks as it approaches a station, Sidhanath effortlessly changes gears and lets us on to the Konknni version of the Christmas story:
Aiz ami nachum-ia, aiz ami gavum-ia
Natalanchi Parab ami khuxalkayen monoum-ia.
(Let us dance today, let us sing today
Let us with joy, celebrate Christmas day)

Tum Mhojem Sharann-sthan (You Are My Refuge) is one song which I have been listening to practically every day ever since Sidhanath’s sister, Mandovi, a friend of my wife, gave the album to us. Like the waves of a calm ocean washing up on the shore, Aguiar’s lyrics, Buyao’s voice and the music score all combine to caress and soothe your soul. Listen to these lines from the song:

Tum mhoje dolle, Tum mhoje kan
Jezu Tum mhoji prernna, sharann-sthan
(You are my eyes, You are my ears
You are my inspiration Jesus, my refuge)

Likewise, in Povitr Otmea Yo (Come O Holy Spirit), the poet-musician duo cast a similar spell on the listener:
Povitr Otmea yo
Mhoje jinnent bhitor sor
Jezuchea paim-am lagim mhaka begin vhor
(Come O Holy Spirit
Enter into my life
And quickly lead me unto Jesus’ feet)

Jezucho Jai-Jaikar (Praising Jesus) brings about a fresh dimension at the way Christian devotional songs can be sung. Rendered in the bhajan style, this format could well be used by the Church to ensure the total participation of the entire congregation.

But the best of them all is the last track, Jezu Krista, originally written, composed and sung by ‘Goem Shahir’ Ulhas Buyao. Sidhanath breathes life into the lines and with his voice, which at times reminds us of his late father, captures the essence of the song:
Jezu Krista, Putra Devachea
Noman Rochnnara sorga-sonvsarachea
Zolm tuvem ghetloi gottheant gorvanchea
Upodre- koxtt sonsle angnnant Pilatachea
Sotak lagon prann soddloi dongrar Kalvarichea
(Jesus Christ, Son of God
O Creator of heaven and earth
Born in a manger
You suffered in the courtyard of Pilate
And died for truth on the Mount of Calvary)

There is no doubt that Sidhanath’s Buyao’s album of devotional songs, Grateful To Jesus will help us to come a little more closer to Jesus.



[John Aguiar, who wrote the lyrics]

(First appeared on Gomantak Times dated 22.03.2010)

Sidhanath Buyao can be contacted at:
Buyao Theatres Goem,
1761, Gogol, Fatorda,
Goa - 403 601, India.
email: subuyao@gmail.com
subuyao at gmail.com

As forwarded to www.goa-world.com.