The Fragility and Strength of Passionate Women
Iconic Konkani film "Nachom-ia Kumpasar" subtly unravels the forces that set a young, musical talent on a path of self-harm, and eventual resurrection.
A few weeks back I watched the blockbuster Konkani film Nachom-ia Kumpasar, which translates to “Let's Dance to the Rhythm”. The film is loosely based on the lives of two wildly successful Goan musical artists. It is also a powerful ode to the musical contribution of Goan musicians and singers, in general, to the golden era of Bollywood music and beyond, in the 1960s and 70s.
What also spoke to me, viscerally, in the film, is the story of the female protagonist, a young girl with a unique musical talent. Dona’s story explored many aspects of a young woman’s life – the family and external influences that shape her journey, and their long-term impact on her choices, decisions, and life experience.
SPOILER ALERT! My analysis gives away some of the plot. So, read no further if you plan to watch the film…
The film’s narrative kicks off when Dona is still in school. She’s a pretty Goan girl with a big, melodious voice, residing in Mumbai with her parents. Dona loves the thrill of a live performance. She has strong instincts about musical arrangements – their pace, rhythm, and vibe. Such a power combination in a musical talent, so young, is rare. She had all the potential to reach for the stars. Instead, her path is paved with sorrow and tragedy.
Dona’s parents are both very loving. She is the apple of their eyes. However, her mother wants to fashion Dona’s life on a familiar template – marriage, motherhood, and solid homemaking. She is gravely opposed to Dona pursuing a musical career. Dona’s father is a musical talent himself. But his passion was extinguished early on, in lieu of a secure port trust job. He ends up playing a more passive role in Dona’s life. He does support her in fits and starts, but he doesn’t take a firm stand in her journey. These parenting approaches have severe consequences.
Between the Fire and the Frying Pan
Dona’s mom’s deeply stifling, suffocating influence only serves to feed the beast. A rare musical talent like Dona is pulled into the glamourous, seductive world of music. She finds success despite familial opposition. Her mother’s concerns and fears are of course, thoroughly legitimate. A naïve school-going girl entering the tough-as-nails, predatory world of showbiz is a scary thought for any parent.
Yet, parental concern does not translate into actionable support and guidance for Dona who is ill-prepared to navigate the world she is now a part of.
She is unable to understand the legal aspects of her contract, and signs away her rights to perform with any artist except her married beau com band leader. When she attempts to course-correct, her beau makes it impossible for her to retrieve her missteps.
Triggering the Path of Self-Harm
Gradually, Dona feels trapped and her free-spirited, fiery nature takes a dark turn. The situation triggers a path of self-harm where she makes poor decisions. She further self-harms by relinquishing her singing passion for the next 20 years. The musical world loses an iconic artist. But now living alone, Dona experiences a loss of identity and gravitates to the bottle.
Dona’s decisions are motivated by grief, anger, and resentment, and not from a position of strength and knowledge. This is a more common tale than we can imagine, even today, when women find themselves in vulnerable positions.
Can such fates be avoided? If so, how?
Equipping Girls with Key Skills and Tools
The love of one’s parents may not be enough for girls to survive in the big, bad world of today. I believe women need to be better equipped with the right skills and tools to navigate their lives smartly. Here are some that come to mind.
Women need to feel emotionally secure, safe and celebrated in their own families. These qualities can help nurture emotional stability within themselves. They will be able to recognise manipulative, narcissistic behaviour in external people, faster.
They need to be made financially savvy. For instance, they must understand the basics of managing money, and be in a position to build financial security for their futures. Today, a number of books, online resources, and communities, are already supporting women and girls in these journeys.
Girls must know and understand their legal rights, so, they do not mistakenly sign away their agency without reading the fine print.
Rising from the Ashes
Coming back to the film, as a viewer I felt a sense of impending doom for Dona, whose life goes terribly wrong. But by some quirk of fate, Dona is able to resurrect her singing career; she rises like the phoenix after decades of exile! I’m happy to share that her reel story is based on the real-life story of singing legend Lorna Cordeiro, who continues to perform even today, at the ripe young age of 80.
PS: Below is the same song (as above) sung by the real-life Lorna. The energy and vibes are reminiscent of reel-life Dona.
Lorna is often addressed by epithets like “nightingale of Goa” and “voice of Goa”, because of her mass appeal. The film beautifully captures her musical greatness, while also perhaps, serving as a cautionary tale for others.