Fr. Clement Honoured with Kalakar Puraskar; Premiere of ‘Mellyanche Upadrav’ Draws a Housefull Audience
Mangaluru: “Rev. Fr. Clement is my classmate, and I consider it a great privilege to honour him. Through his dedicated service and music, he has inspired many people. Honouring artists is a responsibility of society, one that the Carvalho Household and Mandd Sobhann have faithfully upheld for the past 22 years. If we all join hands, our language and culture will continue to shine brightly in the years to come,” said Ronald Pinto, Managing Director of Hyssna International LLC, Abu Dhabi, and an ardent supporter of the Konkani language.
He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the 22nd Kalakar Puraskar presentation ceremony held at Kalaangann on November 1, 2026, where he presented the prestigious award to renowned musician Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas.
The award comprised a traditional shawl, garland, fruits, a memento, a citation of honour, and a cheque for Rs. 50,000, presented by the dignitaries on the dais. Accepting the award, Fr. Clement shared his feelings and reflected on his extensive musical journey. He fondly remembered his late collaborator and fellow musician, Rev. Fr. Valerian Mendonca, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had supported his endeavours.
Representing the Carvalho Household, Rev. Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J., delivered the introductory address, highlighting the legacy of the Carvalho Household and the significance of the award. Mandd Sobhann President Luvi J. Pinto and Secretary Rony Crasta Kelarai were also present on the dais. Committee member Lavina Danty read the citation. Vitori Karkal compered the formal programme and proposed the vote of thanks.
Following the award ceremony, Dorothy Pinto of Abu Dhabi formally inaugurated the 299th Mho’ynyalli Manchi (Monthly Theatre) by ringing the traditional bell in the presence of Kalaangann Committee Chairman Ronald Mendonca.
The formal ceremony was followed by the premiere of a new Konkani comedy play, Mellyanche Upadrav (Trouble from the Dead), written and directed by Nellu Permannur and presented by the Comedy Company.
The premiere received an overwhelming response, with the Kalaangann amphitheatre packed to capacity. The huge turnout, which even forced several theatre enthusiasts to return due to a lack of seating, reflected the public’s tremendous support for local artists and Konkani theatre.