The poster resembles that from an old Indian film — a couple looking fondly at each other. Romantic as it is, the picture inspired a song, about how they met, and how they lived a fulfilling life together.
The song was written by Tatum D’Souza, who wrote it about her parents, two late Goan artistes Ophelia and Bab Peter. It also became the title of the album, which consists of 12 tracks, supposed to be a tribute to them — Omor Mogachi Kanni.
“My mom passed away in 2016 — on February 19 — and my dad had passed away 11 years ago, on the same day. I thought I should continue the good work they started,” mulls Tatum, talking about her album.
While Tatum’s mother was more into acting, her father was a bit of an all-rounder, she laughs. He wrote, sang and acted.
The singer-composer found some of her father’s songs, which were never released, as she shuffled through some old albums and papers. While she knew some of her dad’s songs, these unreleased ones were completely new to her.
And so, Tatum brought on board renowned composer Ronnie Monsorate, who was in Mumbai, to give new tunes to Bab’s unreleased songs. She also added some of her father’s revised classics and two of her own songs to the album. “There are no records of these (unreleased) songs,” reveals Tatum. “He just performed them on stage. And I can’t remember all the tunes, so we composed new ones for his lyrics.”
Bab began composing very early in life. One of the tracks in the album, Sangonk Zata Zobar, was composed in 1963, when he was barely 10 years old. He later released albums like Goan, Tourist Centre and My Rose. His last album was named after his wife, Ophelia.
Tatum believes that her father had always been young at heart. And for the tribute album, she roped in a lot of young artistes from various choral groups. “My father was young at heart and so I wanted to include younger talents on the album,” she says. Interestingly, her nine-year-old daughter Nia too is part of the album, singing Dolleanchi Vatt on it. “It was originally sung by my parents. Nia is singing it with my husband, Sameer, and me,” Tatum smiles.
Having grown up in an artistic family, Tatum’s own stage with the stage began at the age of two, with her father’s play, Konn Nhoi Konnacho. “He must have composed some 15-20 plays,” Tatum says.
Back then, Bab would hold her in his arms so she could reach the microphone. Fans at Tiatr — a popular musical theatre in Goa — called her Babli. She grew up to be a singer, crooning in Konkani and Marathi, winning many prestigious awards.
Two tracks on the album she wrote include the title track about her parents’ life and another one called Maim, which is a tribute to her mother. Her dad’s songs include Fulwali Nistewali, Calendar, Vhodlem Duens, Bodyguard and Khuris Modlo. “The last one he wrote in 1983, when holy crosses were broken down by municipal authorities. His songs are relevant even today,” Tatum adds.
The songs are in multiple genres, from Goan folk, to jazz, blues, reggae, pop and even traditional ballads. Consisting of live instruments, Omor Mogachi Kanni is also one of the first Goan albums to be available on digital platforms.
