Milena

-Brian Mendonça

Milena, Milena sobit tujea nav
Milena Milena tujench istimasanv
Kalliz hem tauronam, mon mhojem dhoronam
Kalliz hem tukach ravta begin marun yeo danv.

The tune of ‘Milena’ with lyrics by Joe Rose continues to play on YouTube. An evergreen favourite, the Konkani song tells of the obsession of the singer with Milena, the girl of his dreams.

‘Milena’ is one song that is synonymous with Young Chico from Guirim, on the road to Mapusa. The panache with which Chico sings it is evident with his voice alternating from the dashing, to the imploring to the wistful.  Who has not been smitten by a lady love?

In a beautiful memorial to the singer, AIR FM Rainbow, Goa featured a tribute by playing Chico’s songs interspersed with condolence messages from prominent tiatrists and Konkani singers who knew Chico. Helmed skilfully by announcer Shakuntala Bharne, the programme enclasped the listeners in Chico’s musical universe.

Fr. Anand Pais of St. Diogo’s church, Guirim reminded those gathered for the funeral of Chico that Chico was a very obliging person. He would happily sing a song, maybe two, maybe three for an avid listener. As the mourners gathered for the final farewell the huge star still stood in front of the church. The Magi were yet to arrive.

Listening to ‘Milena’ one is immediately aware of why (and how) Konkani songs captured the imagination of the Goan populace. The besotted lover describes the beauty of Milena akin to the Song of Songs in the Bible. This makes her alluring not only to the singer but also to the listener. She is compared in glowing terms to the beauty of nature.

As the song warms up, Chico sounds like Alfred Rose. The long interludes played by the orchestra between the verses and the chorus, give you the feeling that you are sitting in the auditorium watching a tiatr. A racy in-between song before the curtain rises for the next act, is just what the audience needs to keep them glued to their seats.

By christening her ‘Milena’ the song retains an aura of mystery and distance. It also suggests how, all efforts are directed by the singer to ‘mill lena’ i.e. ‘meet someone’ (Hindi). The very first line states that the name sounds beautiful.

In ‘Nouro’ the young bridegroom receives tips from Young Chico to quell his nerves.  ‘Love is enough’ Chico seems to say, ‘All will follow.’

In ‘Moron,’ Young Chico sings to a dead man describing the events after he dies. He dwells on the pathos of an abbreviated departure and counsels that one must do all the good one can whilst one is living. Interestingly the same song was used as background music for a photo montage after his own death.

By rendering songs of love, marriage and death, Young Chico (1952-2019) brought his own spin to central experiences of men and women. Couched in Konkani, the songs were a rage when sung by him.

In passing, one recalls Millena Raiane who plays the guitar and sings plaintively in Portuguese. Also enjoy Millena Biniam and her Ethiopian hit ‘Yeken Kidus’ -- both, courtesy YouTube. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published in Gomantak Times Weekender, Panaji, Goa on 13 January 2019. Pic of Young Chico felicitated by Vishnu Wagh,  in the presence of Avertano Furtado, tiatrist Prince Jacob and others in April 2013. Pic courtesy JoeGoaUk. 'Milena' lyrics courtesy edskantaram.blogspot(dot)com