Konkani singer Helen D’Cruz, whose duet ‘Ye Ye Katrina’, sung by her in the 1970s, is one of the most popular songs in the language, passed away in Mumbai last week. She was was 91
D’Cruz was from Mangalore where the Konkani is distinct from the language spoken in Goa, but her songs were popular in both regions as well as in Mumbai which has a large Konkani speaking population.
“The accent is different and the two versions are written in different scripts – Goan Konkani in Roman alphabet and Mangalore Konkani in Kannada script. But songs become a leveller,” said Colaba resident Margaret D’Costa who added that the ‘Katrina’ song, which was a duet with another popular singer, Henry D’Souza, is still played at gatherings.
The song is Konkani but the lyrics are about two lovers from Mumbai planning a tryst in the jungles of Bandra, with Mahim and Byculla as stops in their journey.
According to reports, D’Cruz released her first LP record in the 1970s. She lived in Mangalore, Kuwait, and Mumbai. Apart from pursuing her passion for music, she had careers in journalism and banking.
D’Cruz passed away on February 14 and the funeral service was held the next day at the Christian Cemetery, Teachers Colony, Bandra (East).
