Soad-3: Goan singers Akash and Queenie become Rai and Rani Koghul

Mangalore Today News Network

Doha, May 26, 2012: Akash Telgu and Queenie Fernandes of Goa emerged as the champions of the grand finale of SOAD 3 International, a talent hunt reality TV show, held on May 25, Friday. They were crowned Rai Koghul and Rani Koghul, respectively.

Initially, the competition for the title of Rani Koghul ended in a tie, with Voice of Goa Queenie Fernandes and Voice of Mangalore Carol Monteiro scoring 162 marks each. The judges therefore decided on a tie-breaker, challenging the two to sing a song selected on the spot. Queenie sang Chris Perry’s Lisbova and Carol Monteiro sang Alwyn Bajpe’s Fondar Tujea. Ultimately, it was Queenie who won the title although Carol did an excellent job.

 

 

 

Santhosh Rodrigues and Rita Andrade delivered the welcome address. The chief guests of the occasion were Ronald Culaco, the NRI entrepreneur; Francisco Sardinha, former chief minister and South Goa MP; Walter Nandalike, editor-in-chief of daijiworld.com; Stany Alvares, president of Mandd Sobhann. The judges were Guru Kiran, Sandalwood music director; Rony D’Cunha, the renowned Konkani singer; and Tomazhino Cardozo, the noted Konkani activist.

Six contestants reached the grand finale of SOAD 3 International. They were a male and a female singer each from Mangalore, Goa, and Qatar. The Goan finalists were Queenie Fernandes and Akash Telgu, the Mangalorean finalists were Carol Monteiro and Robin Sequeira, and the Qatar finaliss were Sana Britto and Naveen Pinto. The finalists were first felicitated and presented mementos. Walter Nandalike honored Queenie and Akash, Richard D’Souza, president of Mangalore Cricket Club, honored Sana Britto and Naveen Pinto, and Stany Alvares, president of Mandd Sobhann, felicitated Carol and Robin. Each finalist received a cash prize of Rs. 15,000 each.

Akash and Queenie also bagged the best duet title with a cash prize of Rs. 20,000.

The finalists were accompanied by Damodar Kumble on tabla, Sachin on drums, Roshan D’Souza on base guitar, Richard Monteiro on keyboard, Umesh Idya on saxophone, and Alwyn Pinto on lead guitar. Eric Ozerio, gurkar of Mandd Sobhann, was the music director.

The organizers conferred the titles of Rai and Rani Koghul during a short stage program held after the grand finale. The chief guests were Ronald Culaco, NRI entrepreneur; Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Indian ambassador to Qatar; Francisco Sardinha, chairman of the estimation committee; Walter Nandalike, managing director of Daijiworld Media Pvt. Ltd.; Eric Ozerio, gurkar of Mandd Sobhann; Jerry D’Mello, MCC founder member and advisory committee member; and Ronald Pinto Abhu Dhabi.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Colaco lauded MCC Qatar and Mandd Sobhann for organizing the show and also announced a special prize of Rs. 1 lakh each to the finalists.

MCC Qatar also celebrated its 20th anniversary on the occasion. Richard D’Souza, MCC president; Jerry D’Mello, founder member; Sunil D’Silva, vice president; Riana Pinto, general secretary; and Ronald Colaco cut the cake.

The three judges, the six finalists, all contestants from Qatar, musicians, and the team of reporters from Namma TV and Daijiworld, were presented mementos on the occasion. Tomazhino Cardozo, Rony D’Cunha, and Guru Kiran also sang songs for the audience on this occasion.