The Mind Jiya March 2014
will remember compositions like Creative Bekarar Hai, Saiyan Dil Mein Aana
Re, Jyoti Kalash Chalke, Aayega Aanewala, Ye Raat Ye Chaandni Phir
Kahan and Dharti Kahe Pukaar Ke; songs that were arranged by Gonsalves.
In Rane’s remarkable documentary, Anthony Gonsalves says “A song is
like a beautiful woman. All she needs is ornamentation and this is given
to the beauty through proper orchestration and music arrangement.”
Gonsalves has been described
by his contemporaries as a
musician who was “far ahead of
his time” and as the person who
truly
gave
Bollywood
the
international musical image that
the industry is known for today.
Unfortunately,
the
awards,
accolades and due recognition
passed him by, during his
working life. The first award (the
Karmaveer Puraskaar) came too
late. In later years he was also
felicitated by Swar Alaap - an
organisation dedicated to giving
credits to the likes of Anthony
Gonsalves. By then, Gonsalves
was 82 and struggling in a little
village in Goa.
True to its culture, the Bollywood
music industry had once again
turned its back on a legend.
Fending for himself, Anthony
Prabhu Gonsalves died on
19th January 2012 – secluded
from the world of music that he
Photographs courtesy of Daniel Garcia and Deanna Templeton
loved so dearly; a world that so
easily
forgets
the
very
foundations on which it stands.
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