WILFY REBEMBUS IMMORTALISED FOR HIS MUSIC TRIBUTE OF LOVE TO MUSIC MAESTRO OF KONKANI MUSIC
Perhaps music is in our veins of all these Coastal People. Such superior brew of music that ebbs; caresses & titilIates the fans, you get a feeling that you are soothed in the process. WILFY REBEMBUS is one such icon who proved that he could do the Impossible Possible. His life is a saga of triumph, tribulations ; joys and sorrows of a Middle Class life in a Christian family. His music had a rare meter, a tempo, a deep meaning that is endearble for all times to come. Wilfy held sway over the heart of the people both in India and outside.
WILFY REBEMBUS, the music maestro of the South (Konkni Kogul) succumbed to an unexpected deadly disease called Cancer. Oh God, how cruel are you to do such wrongs to the right people on this earth ?
This very fact that he is no longer with us is difficult to digest. But one thing is certain as Raj Kapoor the Film Maker had said : Kal Khel Men, Hum Ho na Ho – Gardish me Sitare Rahenge Sada. Bhoologe Tum, Bhoolenge Woh, Per Hum Rahenge Tumhare Sada. But he is is with us through his art of music and composition propelling us, pepping our mundane lives for many generations to come.
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE THROUGH WILFY’S LILTING MUSIC
WILFY REBEMBUS was a simple- hearted man having no airs of superiority in him throughout the times that he lived amidst us in this Karaval Coast. He was non-controversial, a household name here. We were inspired by his music right from the time that we were in shorts in schools. We memorized his lines in his songs as though it is a poem in school to be by-hearted. Not only that we sang them and earned
accolades without knowing then, the tribute goes to Wilfy himself ! But we derived immense pleasure doing it, of course ! Wilfy was seated in our hearts. He had found a seat in our hearts without our knowing it. Such was his power of poetry, his composition, music. His poetry was indispensable, the effect was curative and ecstatic. In a word, Wilfy was indispensable for all of us !
Making a career, living depending over the power of his pen, his compositional skills, singing a life time for his entire family’s livelihood is no joke, or is it ? Such was the motivating force that
Wilfy was… But Wilfy had that flowers desire to leave some seed behind. He smiles somewhere in the eye of a child or in the freshness of a flower that has bloomed in season reaching for the sky..
WILFY REBEMBUS endeared to every person, every home and heart. His diction, views, compositional skills were marvellous and inimitable. His thoughts were original and well accepted and there was no fuss about it from any quarter. Wilfy could write on any subject under the sun at his will. His songs had that magic casting spell over simple people casting spell over a common man’s every day mundane life. Wilfy was a real Kogul (cuckoo). “Kavlo evun bosla moje pakyari, sangtha kithen kalna maka khabari “? This cuckoo sang such songs a life time to his Konkani audience which were all well understood and well accepted here.
WILFY REBEMBUS was no scholar of any University such as this Mangalore University is. He was a scholar by himself like our Dr. Shivaram Karanth who left such indelible marks on the sands of time that they can propel anyone with a mere thought of these personalities. Such was their persona and their indelible presence.
Wilfy was a great writer of songs. You give him a subject, his composition would be ready with his ready thoughts. Hats off to his compositional skill. If he were not to become a singer, he would perhaps become a writer of great merit and appreciation perhaps. Wilfy had no whimsicalities, no prejudices. He was all for love and love was a dominating factor found in all his compositions permeating the bard’s life.
Who can forget the lilting music of “Mog Ani Maipas” ? Who can forget the composition: “Naman Tukan Ei Thje Avaiponan” the song that made Motherhood immortal amongst us. His song on Indira Gandi, song on “Chandneche Savleri Mogar Tuje Podli, Udas Tujo Kadun Ghalghalyani Awn Radlin”, ” Molbar Udcha Thya Parvya – Khai ser thuji Dhavni” ? “Ami Dogi Sejarak Vethanw Kajarak”, “Maria Tu Poise(2) Tu Pavlein – Maka Eksuryak Sodun” and so many more … all are echoing in my ears when I compose this essay on this great occasion paying some tribute of love through my friend’s newspaper on the very special day, March 10 observed remembering the bard who contributed so much to our community at large.
Wilfy was a family man who preached family beliefs & values in all his songs. It’s heartening that his son, wife and the entire family is trying hard to keep the music maestros compositions alive throu
their purposeful pursuit of singing his songs to the new generation now. The purpose is commendable and hats off for the efforts !
I remember what Yash Chopra, the great Film Maker once said in an interview : ” Mai Tho Akela chaltha raha – aur chalthe chalthe Caravan Bantha Raha”.
I am sure Wilfy also did the same. Long live the master’s spirit !
