The story line goes back a few decades. Born in North Goa was a girl with a voice that could mesmerise and hold a note. At around the same time a boy was born in the south who was one of the few who could produce a fifth note from his trumpet.
East meets west in music, but in this story Lorna Cordeiro from the north and Chris Perry from the south, met at some point to create a partnership that still finds no challenge. Remember Bebdo? It was a tune from Chris and sung by Lorna.
Yet they could not find a meeting ground and the partnership broke. While the later enthralled with his trumpet till death, the former had to come out of a sabatical to give her voice another life.
Lorna Cordeiro became a singing sensation with Chris Perry; that was silenced by Chris Perry and that has now found its space after his death. That voice that still enthralls all who hear it may be honoured with a Padma Shri should the present dispensation take the proposal to nominate further.
Goa Chief Minsiter Pramod Sawant during a Doordarshan programme, promised to nominate Lorna for the award next year. If Lorna is bestowed the Padma Shri, she will be joining singer Remo Fernandes, tiatrist M Boyer, cartoonist Mario Miranda in the list of Goan artistes to be awarded a Padma Shri.
Nacho-ia Kumpasar - the film that portrays the undercurrents of love that passed through the beats of Lorna and Chris – the song that took the two to stardom in the world of music during the times when the rhythm of both could be felt does tell a story, though one sided.
“Never take her name,” Chris once had said after a practice session at house near old market. Talking about Lorna to Chris was a no-no because it awoke some emotions the late Chris did not share till his death.
Lorna emerged from the curtains she was hiding behind after his death, returning to the music scene with the aptly titled song, Aikat Mhozo Tallo, and today regales the world with her presence and her songs. The voice of Lorna, which at one stage could only be heard on All India Radio (AIR) or records and later cassettes, is today the musical voice of Goa.
Lorna began her musical career in Mumbai and got her vocals in action again in Goa after the passing away of Chris Perry and is now performing in countries around the world where the Goan diaspora is settled.
“I am very happy that the government has decided to nominate her for the Padma Shri next year because there will never be another Lorna. Lorna is not just a great singer but through her singing has made Konkani language famous all over the world,” stated Hortencio Pereira who has musical ties with Lorna.
Lorna, according to Hortencio, has sung three songs for his cassettes and he in turn has performed comedy roles for her plays in the past. “There are many girls who are trying to imitate her but none will come close to Lorna. There is only one Lorna,” concluded Hortencio.
A Padma Shri award could be a dream for Lorna. If she gets it, she could sing Sopon again, with some amendments to the lyrics, and Goa would join her.
