Wilfy Rebimbus - The voice is still-but the legend lives on......
Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
A Tribute From bellevision
Moodubelle, 10 March 2010: On 9th March 2010 a legend passed into eternity and era of the ‘Golden Voice’ of the Konkani music entered into posterity and made home in the conscience of thousands of Konkani lovers and connoisseurs of melodious music that has been popularised by the ‘Nightingale of Konkani’, the versatile Wilfy Rebimbus, who was suddenly snatched away from the adoring fans both at home abroad. With the passing away of Wilfy Rebimbus, the Golden Era of Konkani music and singing has sadly come to an end. And it may take many more years for another great son of Konkani to take his place in the future and fill the void created by the untimely demise of this great legend in his own life time.
Wilfred Gerald "Wilfy" Rebimbus was born on 2nd April 1942 to late late Landeline Rebimbus and late Magdeline Mendonca.
Right from his childhood, Wilfy began to manifest the signs of becoming a great lyricist, composer and singer. It is said that he started composing and singing his own songs right from the tender age of 14. He was also keen in writing dramas and in 1957, while he was just 15 years old, Wilfy tried his hand at writing his first ever drama titles ‘Poishyancho Sansar’ (The World of Money) which was presented by St. Joseph’s Natak Sangh. Being encouraged by the positive response that he got to his very first play, Wilfy continued writing dramas intermittently and wrote additional play which was quite educative and successful. Some of his notable plays include: Dhot Maka Naka, Thisri Chit, Mai Maka Adainaka, Bebdyachi Dhuv, Beshto Dhubahv, Modern Novro and others.
In order to streamline his talents and encourage other youngsters to exhibit their dramatic and other abilities, in 1959, while he was seventeen years old, Wilfy launched a cultural group named “United Youngsters Cultural Association”, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee last year.
Young Wilfy had his mentors right from his young age, especially the Jesuit priests. Realising the potential of Wilfy for music and singing, the Manager of St. Joseph’s Workshop, Fr. Ambrose D’Mello S.J. persuaded Wilfy to join music classes. Another Jesuit Priest, Fr. Oswald Mascarenhas, who himself was a good musician gave lessons to both Wilfy and his wife Meena in musical notations. Fr. Walter Albuquerque S.J. who was impressed by the lyrics of Wilfy provided music to a number of songs that were sung by both Wilfy and Meena and rooted them in sound musical foundation. During a period of twelve years from 1958 to 1970 Wilfy composed around 1500 songs for 500 Konkani plays.
As Wilfy and Meena began to improve their art of composing and singing their own songs, they were given the first break by Late Mr.Gabriel D’Souza, popularly known as Shri Gabbu a prolific Konkani fiction writer, by organising the first ever ‘Wilfy Nite’ promoted by the association called ‘Roop Raag’ in 1970. Thereafter, Wilfy Rebimbus never looked back. During his signing career Wilfy Rebimbus had performed in Mangalore and many of the places in the West Coast region, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Delhi and even abroad in the Middle East cities and countries such as - Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha Qatar and in the American Continent in Canada.
On 15th August 2009, the United Youngsters as part of their Golden Jubilee Celebrations presented 247th Wilfy Nite. Prior to that on 2nd August 2009, the Fourth Wilfy Rebimbus Golden Sentimental Nite commemorating the 5o years of the United Youngsters founded by Wilfy proved to be emotional as a large number of fans of Wilfy had thronged the TMA Pai Auditorium in Mangalore. During this occasion, as if having a premonition of the fate that he would face, he poured his heart out to his fans in tearful voice after an apparent recovery from the dreaded disease. He thanked everyone for their support and prayers and all those who stood by him in good and bad times.
When the girl that had been rendering female voice to the duet songs discontinued her singing career joined the religious congregation, Wilfy was in search of an appropriate voice and found it in Mural Pinto from Jeppu, who was later renamed as Meena. Though there was initial resistance from her family, ultimately they relented and allowed Meena to be part of the group. After six years both Wilfy and Meena got married on 25th January 1970. Thereafter, the Wilfy-Meena couple became the toast of the audience by their melodious singing and excellent team work.
Wilfy and Meena were blessed with two wonderfully gifted children-Veena, born on 17th January 1971 who started singing right from the age of four and had been an integral part of the singing family during many of the Wilfy Nites and Music cassettes. The second child Vishwas was born on 20th February 1978 and started singing from the age of six. Both Veena and Vishwas have inherited the musical and singing talents of their parents and both of them have learnt Hindustani Classical Music from renowned music teacher-Kamalakar Shet. Both Veena and Vishwas worked hard and have brought out the entire collection of Wilfy-Meena’s over 3000 songs in CD format.
The contribution of Wilfy Rebimbus to the Konkani cultural heritage is phenomenal. Besides composing over 3000 songs, he had presented 247 ‘Wilfy Nites’, 500 stage shows, 40 volumes of Audio Cassettes, 6 volumes of devotional songs, 37 Compact Discs, 9 Volumes of selected songs and the monumental book ‘Kogul Gaitha’ that contains songs from his compositions. Wilfy Rebimbus had also written stories and composed songs for some of the Konkani films which include: Mog Ani Maipas (Story, lyrics, music)-1977; Kazara Upranth (lyrics and music)-1988; Bogsanne (lyrics and music)-1996, Padri (lyrics and music)-2005; Thisri chit (story).
Recognition, awards and honours came on the way of Wilfy who neither aspired nor lobbied for them. The grateful fans and associations including government came forward to bestow the titles and honours on Wilfy which he richly deserved. The first and foremost of the titles that was conferred on Wilfy by which he came to be recognised till the end was the title of ‘Konkan Kogul’ that was bestowed on him by the Bishop of Mangalore late Rt. Rev. Dr. Basil S. D’Souza in 1971. In 1991, the Karnataka State Government honoured Wilfy by conferring on his the ‘Rajyotsava Award’. Other awards include: ‘Sangeeth Chakravarthi’(1992)- by Konkani Talents Group, Abu Dhabi; Award for service in music presented by ‘Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy’ (1996); ‘Tulunada Kogile’ (1998) by ’Tuluver’ - Dubai, UAE; ‘Konkani Podancho Rai’ (1996) by Broadview Kala Sampath Lions Club, Illinois, USA; ‘Konakni Kalaratn’ (1999) by KCWA Kuwait;’Shatamanacho Vyakthi’(1999) by Chinthpyanchi Manchi Kuwait; Life Time Achievement Award (1999)by MCC Doha-Qatar; Millennium Konkani Artist Award (1999) by ’Indian Catholic Association of America’ represented by Mr. Austin D’Souza Prabhu during the 200th Wilfy Nite at St. Agnes Special School Grounds; Community and Leadership Award (2005) presented to Wilfy and Meena by Mr. Max Rasquinha on behalf of ’Toastmasters’ - Houston, USA during the historical "Wify Nite Canada -2005.
The passing away of this multi-talented son of Konkani on 9th march 2010 is a great loss that cannot be compensated so easily. Wilfy Rebimbus has left the footprints on the sand of Konkani cultural history that would be a reminder to all Konkani lovers in general and the music fans in particular that here was the person who rose from humble beginning to the greatest height in terms of accomplishment and contribution to his mother language that may not be paralleled by any other person for many more years. Long live Wilfy Rebimbus in the hearts and minds of Konkani lovers.
Bellevision extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of late Wilfy Rebimbus-Meena, Veena, Vishwas and their families.
’Konkan Kogul’ Wilfy Remimbus (67) - No More, Funeral on 11th March
Mangalore, 09 March 2010: The Legendry Konkani Singer- Father of Modern Konkani Music Wilfy Rebimbus passed away on March 9, 2010 at 11.15am, IST at Fr. Muller’s Hospital, MAngalore.
The news has come as a rude shock to the entire konkani speaking community. Wilfy was suffering from Lung Cancer. His health deteriorated last week and was then admitted to the hospital.
Wilfy had composed songs and written stories for Konkani movies as well.
He was showered with several awards including the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award, Karnataka Government’s prestigious Rajyotsava Award, Sandesha and DaijiDubai Puraskar Awards.
Bangalore’s FKCA Award was the last award conferred on him, which was bestowed on him on Jan 31, 2010.
Wilfy Remimbeus is survived by his wife - Meena Rebimbus, Son - Vishwas, Daughter - Veena and thier families.
Bellevision family offers a respectful tribute to this legendry singer. May God give strength to bear this irreparable loss to the entire Rebimbus family and May his Soul rest in Peace.
The Funeral ceremony of Wilfy Rebimbus will take place on Thursday 11, March 2010, Evening at St Joseph Curch, Jeppu.