Konkani Documentary ‘Hovyo: Echoes of the Past’ Makes International Debut at Almamoura Festival, Abu Dhabi

Goa Khabar: Goa’s Konkani documentary ‘Hovyo: Echoes of the Past’, directed by Guirim-based filmmaker Tanisha Pawar, has achieved its first major international selection at the Almamoura Festival in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to be held from October 12 to 16, 2026.

The documentary explores ‘Hovyo’, a traditional Goan folk-singing tradition, highlighting its cultural significance and its place in Goa’s heritage.

The film features several resource persons who provide insights into the tradition, including Dr Pandurang Phaldesai, Milind Mate, Vaishnavi Pritesh Raikar, Silvester Vaz, Dakshita Salgaonkar, Kranti Chari, Sushmita Gawas and Nayana Priolkar.

‘Hovyo: Echoes of the Past’ was produced as Tanisha Pawar’s final-year project at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa. Pawar worked on the documentary as its writer, researcher and director, besides contributing to its editing and cinematography.

Vaibhavi Joshi provided the voice-over for the documentary, while Loukik Avasare and Manoj Rathod contributed to videography and editing. Vibha Betkar and Tanisha Pawar worked on the translation.

The project was completed under the guidance of Nitin Volvoikar.

The selection at the Almamoura Festival marks an important international platform for the Konkani documentary, taking a traditional Goan folk-singing practice and its cultural story to audiences in Abu Dhabi.