Being Goan - MAY ISSUE 2023

mr. kurkurit

Ruben Rodrigues, popularly known as ‘Mr. Kurkurit’, is one of Goa’s most popular food influencers

darshan naik

Influencer and Film-maker

DJ WISH

One of Goa’s most loved musical duos

xanicroy querida coutinho

A rising Goan influencer

One OF Goa's MOST popular DJ’s

blogs - Riya Narvekar, the founder of the food blog 'Hogglicious', and Akshaya Gad Kerkar, who runs a food blog called 'Oosheejaanni'.

This month's issue also features stories on Darshan Naik, a popular Goan filmmaker and content creator, and on Querida Coutinho, a medical student who doubles up during her free time as an influencer.

Editorial

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the May issue of our Being Goan Emagazine! This month, on the cover, we have featured Ruben Rodrigues, (popularly known as 'Mr Kurkurit'), who is one of Goa's most popular food influencers. Read the feature inside to know more about Ruben’s journey as an influencer, the struggles and challenges he faced, and much more.

We have also done a story on XaniCroy, a twoman band composed of Xanisha Fernandes and Croydon D'souza. Having started its journey in 2020 during the first wave of the Covid pandemic, XaniCroy has over the past 2 years gone on to become one of Goa’s most loved two-man bands and has enthralled audiences at various musical concerts and events.

This month’s issue also features an interview with DJ WISH, a disc jockey and music producer who moved to Goa in 2020. During the interview, DJ WISH shared brief insights into his life, the journey of his career as a DJ, the various struggles that he faced during his initial days as a DJ, and lots more.

We have also covered the stories of two young Goan women who have been making waves in the world of social media through their amazing food

The 17th edition of the Konkan Fruit Festival was organized last month at the F.L Gomes Garden at Campal in Panjim. The three-day event,  which was held from the 21st to the 23rd of April, was organised by the Botanical Society of Goa in collaboration with the Agricos Alumni Association and the Corporation of the City of Panaji. Organizations like the Directorate of Agriculture, Goa College of Agriculture, several NGOs and many other government agencies were also associated with the event.

Around the same time, another event, the 'Spirit of Goa' festival, organized by the Goa Tourism Department, took place in the south at Colva Beach. The festival was organized to allow visitors to get a true understanding of the food, culture, history, and heritage of Goa.

Well, that's all I have for you from my desk this month.

I hope you enjoy reading this month's issue of our e-magazine. Do share with your friends all across the globe.

Until next month, cheers!

Index

01 Mr. Kurkurit

02 Darshan Naik

03 Hogglicious

04 Querida Coutinho

05 dj wish

06 XaniCroy

07 Ooshejaanni Goa

Introduction

Goa, the tiniest state on the western coast of India, boasts golden pristine beaches, palmfringed avenues, flavourful food, delicious Portuguese-influenced sweets, and warm, hospitable people. Also known as the Ibiza of India for its partying. A tropical paradise of flora and fauna, from the very famous 'almi' (mushrooms) endemic to its forests, that grow only on the red mud anthills, to the solar prawns that are fished immediately after the monsoons, Goa is unique. Tourists are also attracted to Goa for its cultural heritage - from the famous old Portuguese churches like Se Cathedral in Old Goa, the 16th Century Safa Masjid in Ponda and Shree Mangesha Temple in Mardol, the legendary Arvalem or Pandava Caves where the Pandavas of the Mahabharat fame lived, to its two unique festivals - Carnival and Shigmo. Goa plays host to many festivals - the International Film Festival of India that promotes cinema, the Serendipity Art Festival, Sunburn Music Festival, to name a few. To showcase this varied heritage of culture, art, tradition, food, and people, in 2015 ItsGoa was born. The main aim was to make it the premier portal for all things Goa. We were able to showcase Goa like never before. Soon our blog-based website transcended the virtual space, with the ItsGoa magazine – a sought-after resource for visitors to Goa from countries like Norway, UK, USA, etc.

Editorial Team

Chief Editor

Jessyl Fernandez

Content Manager

Steve Antao

Sales & Marketing

Donald Fernandez

Graphics & Layout

Shashank Parab

Social Media Manager

Saviola Dias

For advertising queries:

9370502124 / 9209005127

Nordic

Website: itsgoa.com

Ruben Rodrigues, popularly known as ‘Mr Kurkurit’, is one of Goa’s most popular food influencers. Currently based at Margao, Ruben's journey as an influencer has been filled with a lot of struggles and trials.

His Childhood Ambitions

As a child, Ruben had ambitions which were very crazy. He never dreamt of small things. His ambitions were always on the next level. Once, he imagined becoming a king of a palace and fighting the next kingdom. That was his crazy imagination. Then, he also once dreamt of being an astronomer. He also considered the idea of becoming an army officer to fight terrorists. “I never dreamt of being a chef or an influencer but I always wanted to be famous from childhood", he says.

His Professional Career

Although he had taken up Science while in Higher Secondary School, Ruben ended up pursuing a BSc course in Hospitality Management and Hotel Administration from IHM Goa Porvorim. After he completed his course, he was confused about what to do next because there are four sections you get in hotel management - Housekeeping, Front Office, F&B and Production, which is cooking. Ruben chose cooking and joined Taj Exotica for 6 months. Over there, he found things to be very tough. So, he left Taj and joined Planet Hollywood. He managed to stick at Planet Hollywood for just 14 days. After that, he came home and cried saying that he can't do it and gave up on Hotel management as a career.

His Journey as an Influencer

After leaving his job, Ruben took up social media marketing for a short span of 3 months but did not enjoy it all. After that, he decided to focus on his journey as an influencer. He already had a page called 'Masterclass.de.r7' and he managed to gain around 2.5 K followers. But then, he was stuck because he could not see any growth. He was on the verge of giving up on his career as an influencer when he said to himself - why not try something new? So, he made a video on how to make a pineapple sheera with a Konkani voiceover. While preparing the sheera, instead of adding a yellow food colouring, Ruben added a pink food colouring and then said "pink zalo mare" in the video. This dialogue was loved by a lot of people who saw his video, and from there, Ruben realised that he needed to make his content RAW and for anyone who wants to try their hand at cooking. And from there, Ruben Ruben's career as an influencer took off.

Favourite Celebrities & Influencers

A few celebrities who Ruben would like to meet someday include people like Chef Gordon Ramsey as he enjoys watching his videos. He also wishes to meet people like The Rock and influencers like Nick Dizwani and The Golden Balance. When it comes to influencers from India, he would like to someday meet Zingy Zest as he is a big fan of hers and enjoys the content which she creates.

His Future Plans

Ruben currently creates content for Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Moj. As of now, he is more focused on Instagram and YouTube. In the future, he plans to be active full-time on all 4 platforms and create content so that he can monetize the content that he creates for these platforms. He also has some crazy content coming up on his YouTube channel. The content is something which no one has ever done in India so far. Apart from this, he may start his own merchandise store from where his fans can purchase 'Mr. Kurkurit' branded merchandise. He also plans to start his own brand under which he would be selling a particular dish and he hopes that all of this works out well.

His Message

Ruben's message to all Goan youngsters is that “If you have a dream or an ambition, do not sleep over it. Get up and start working towards achieving it. If I can do it, you can do it too. If a guy like me who was an introvert and was brought up in a village setting in Sanvordem can achieve something like this, then you can do it too. It's all about getting up and working towards achieving your dream.”

Darshan Naik, a resident of Goa-Velha Goa, completed his higher secondary education at Fr. Agnel Higher Secondary School. He initially pursued a college degree in Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, however, he discontinued his studies during his second year as he decided to pursue a career as a photographer. He believed that obtaining an arts degree was not necessary for his future goals and would not be beneficial in achieving his aspirations.

From a young age, Darshan had a strong ambition to become an advocate and an actor. Upon discontinuing his college studies, his focus became clear and he set his sights on photography. To support himself financially, he took up part-time work in the catering industry, as he did not want to rely on his parents for financial support and felt uncomfortable asking for money. Over time, he started his photography business, specializing in wedding photography. Today, he operates a successful photography firm, "The Wedding Katha Studios", in Porvorim.

Darshan has always possessed a strong passion for acting, which he demonstrated through his numerous appearances in commercial dramas and his active participation in college events. Recognizing the opportunities presented by the lockdown period, he seized the moment to launch a YouTube channel and commence the production of videos. As his reputation grew and his audience expanded, he astutely redirected his focus to Instagram, where he began regularly posting videos on the platform's Reels feature. These efforts were well received by his audience, who rapidly developed a strong appreciation for his content, resulting in the growth of his following.

Throughout his journey as a content creator, Darshan was privileged to receive the full support of his parents, who never wavered in their encouragement of his endeavors. His mother, in particular, demonstrated her pride and interest in his work by consistently inquiring about the number of views he received for each of his videos. In recognition of his mother's supportive role, Darshan made the deliberate choice to include her in his content, highlighting the close relationship they shared. Additionally, Darshan was grateful for the assistance and support provided by friends Raunak, Sugnesh, Sainath, Rajat, Tanvesh, Aprant and Saish, who helped him to achieve his goals.

Darshan has established partnerships with other comedic content creators from Goa, showcasing his talent for humor and creativity. Currently, his focus is on expanding his photography business, but he also continues to produce content for his Instagram channel. The primary challenge he faces is developing material that elicits both humor and positive engagement from his audience.

As an admirer of the work of "Just Neel Thing," Darshan aspires to emulate their success and grow his own channel. He recognizes similarities with "Just Neel Thing" in that they both go to the gym but only to make content and never to get in shape.

Darshan strives to cultivate the growth of his channel and achieve success as a content creator. To this end, he offers the following advice: it is important to pursue one's individual skills and interests without being overly concerned about the opinions of others. Additionally, it is imperative to seek the blessing and support of one's parents, as this can provide a valuable source of encouragement and motivation.

Riya Narvekar, better known as Hoggilicious, is a Goan food enthusiast and social media influencer with a growing following on various platforms. With her Instagram handle boasting over 10k followers, it is safe to say that she has made a significant mark in the food blogging community.

Born and raised in Merces, a quaint village in Goa, Riya completed her education in microbiology and medical lab technology before embarking on her career as a medical technician at Goa Medical College. However, her passion for food was not to be ignored, as it has been an integral part of her life since childhood.

Riya hails from the Narvekar family, which has been in the restaurant business for decades, running multiple bars and restaurants in and around Panjim. Having grown up in close proximity to the restaurant business, Riya gained valuable insights into the industry's workings, both positive and negative. Although she never saw herself working in the restaurant business, her love for food remained undiminished, and she continued to explore different types of dishes wherever she went.

Her journey as a food blogger and influencer began quite serendipitously when she joined social media around seven to eight years back. Not knowing what to post, she began sharing pictures of the food she consumed at different restaurants, and that's when her page took off.

The challenge she faced initially was not being able to stay consistent with her postings and not having enough time to devote to her page. However, she overcame these obstacles by devoting more time and staying updated on the latest trends to get more engagement to her page. Despite not considering this a full-time career, Riya has already achieved a substantial following and intends to keep growing her brand.

One of the most remarkable things about Riya is her humility and her dedication to her work. She attributes her success to her family's support, particularly her mother Vaishali, who is her biggest pillar of strength. Her father Vivek, too has been incredibly supportive of her endeavors, as has her sister Prachi along with her grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts.

She also credits her handful of supportive friends who have always encouraged and believed in her page right from the start. For her, they are always a call away!

Riya's mantra in life is to work hard and stay consistent in whatever you do. She believes that every person you meet in life will teach you something good or bad, so it is essential to stay kind, observe, and learn. Despite having met and interviewed several celebrities, her dream is to meet Hrithik Roshan someday.

In conclusion, Riya Narvekar, aka Hoggilicious, has proven that following your passion can lead to success, even if it's not in the traditional sense. Her love for food, combined with her orating skills, has given her a unique platform to share her experiences with fellow food enthusiasts worldwide. Her journey is a testament to the fact that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.

Querida Coutinho is an ambitious young woman who is currently pursuing medicine as a profession. Hailing from the beautiful village of Velim in South Goa, Querida is currently studying in Karnataka and is in her final year of med school. Querida's journey to becoming a doctor has not been an easy one, but she has persevered through the challenges because she believes in the importance of her work.

Growing up, Querida knew that she wanted to become a doctor. She was always the kind of person who chose the path of thorns in order to enjoy the bed of roses. She knew that the road to becoming a doctor would be tough, but she also knew that the journey would be worth it. For Querida, the thrill of saving a life is what makes all the hard work and sacrifices worthwhile.

Aside from her studies, Querida is also a budding influencer. She started her blog last year and got her first barter collaboration in June 2022. Her blog focuses on showcasing the beauty of Goa and all that it has to offer, from its breathtaking landscapes to its delicious food. Querida is a self-confessed foodie, and she loves nothing more than visiting new restaurants and trying out their mouth-watering dishes. She is also passionate about photography, and she takes pride in capturing the essence of the places she visits through her lens.

Despite the demands of her studies, Querida finds time to pursue her passion for blogging and photography. She admits that it can be challenging to juggle everything at once, but she remains committed to her goals. In fact, Querida sees herself as her own role model. She believes in herself the most because she knows that if she creates her own path, she can inspire herself to make the best of her situation and surroundings.

When asked about her fashion inspiration, Querida cites Gigi Hadid as her role model. She admires Gigi for her impeccable sense of style and her ability to pull off any look with confidence. Querida hopes to emulate Gigi's fashion sense as she continues to grow her influence on social media.

Looking to the future, Querida is optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. She hopes to become a successful doctor and to use her influence as a blogger and social media personality to inspire others. Querida believes that it is important to give back to society, and she sees herself using her platform to raise awareness about important social issues.

Querida's message to young people in Goa is to explore and appreciate the beauty of their state. She encourages them to travel beyond the beaches and parties and to discover the hidden gems that Goa has to offer. Querida believes that it is important to have a peaceful state of mind and to focus on what is truly important in life.

Querida with her parents

music

A well known disc jockey & music producer based in Goa

Article by: Team ItsGoa

Images by: DJ WISH

www.itsgoa.com itsgoa_ Itsgoa

Vishnu Babu, popularly known by his stage name DJ WISH, is a well known disc jockey and music producer based in Goa. A native of Pondicherry,  DJ WISH shifted base to Goa two years ago. Through the course of his career spanning more than 10 years, he has performed at several high-profile music events like Vh1 Supersonic, Oktoberfest, and the One People Festival.

In a brief tete-a-tete with ItsGoa, DJ WISH shared insights into his life, the journey of his career as a DJ, the various challenges and struggles that he faced during his journey and lots more.

Tell us a bit about yourself.  I was born and brought up in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. I grew up in a small town called Karaikal. I did my schooling over there. Then I moved to Thanjavur and pursued my degree in engineering over there. I started DJing while I was in my final year of college and eventually moved to Chennai.

How & when did your interest in DJ-ing begin?  I always had a thing for music, especially loud music. Back in those times, whenever I got to see good sound systems like Sony or Pioneer, I used to go crazy and get hyper. I always wanted to hear them at their loudest. So yes, that craziness for music was there in me from childhood.

Then it was in my third year of college. There was a cultural program happening in my college and they wanted someone to play music and I started acting cool, pretending to be a DJ.  From that moment, I developed an interest in learning DJing professionally. I wanted to be a DJ. I wanted to explore what is my opportunity here and what I can do in this field.

Take us through the journey of your career as a DJ.  I started DJing at a bar called Pulse in Chennai. I used to play there for around 4-5 hours, but didn't get paid for the work. The only thing I got to do there was practice my stuff for like 30-45 minutes max. After that, I had to play original music. I used to travel in local trains during those days. My sister supported me financially during that time because my parents were initially not supportive of what I wanted to do for a living. They were disappointed that I finished my engineering and got into the music industry.

After this, I eventually started getting into good places. I bagged residencies at some of the best clubs in Chennai. Then, in 2013, I decided to explore the market outside Chennai. I wanted to become a proper freelancing DJ. Go out, travel, explore other cities and other markets. That's how it all started.

Tell us about your first gig as a DJ The experience of my first gig as a DJ is something that I'll never forget. I was booked at this place called English Club in Coimbatore. I didn't have much knowledge about the place. It was a New Year gig in December 2008. I was not told about the type of music that I was supposed to play at the gig.

Back in those days, we had to carry CDs, so the music collection was limited. So, I took whatever music I had with me and went to perform at the club. Since the club was called ‘English Club’, I thought it was to be a retro rock kind of gig. But, it turned out to be a proper Bollywood membership club. I was abused left and right and it was a New Year gig. They did not even give me dinner or something in the night. I cried that night because I was young and I had no clue of what I was getting myself into. It was difficult.

Name a few DJs who are your favorites.

I would name three of my favorite DJs. The first one would be Skill X and second would be Eric Brits. Why these two? I've been very emotionally connected to these two artists. The very first time I saw them performing in India, I was just crying out of joy. People around me were trying to stop me, but I could not stop. Then third, I would say Don Diablo because of his production style. The way he controls the crowd is very unique.

Apart from DJ-ing, what are your other endeavours?  Apart from DJing, I am also into music production. I write and produce music. I also run a talent management and booking agency where I organize India tours for international artists. It's been four years since I've been doing that.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to release a lot of music. So I recently started another stage name where I am producing and performing different genres on that name. It's called ‘Not That Wish’. And also, I have huge expansion plans for my agency to make it one of the best in Asia.

xanicroy

Founded in 2020 by Xanisha Fernandes and Croydon Dsouza, ‘XaniCroy’ is a musical duo which has over the past 3 years gone on to become one of Goa’s most loved two-man band

Article by: Steve Antao

www.itsgoa.com itsgoa_ Itsgoa

Xanisha and Croydon: The Dynamic Duo Taking the Goan Music Scene by Storm  With nearly two decades of combined experience in the music industry, Xanisha and Croydon are two of the most talented and sought-after musicians in Goa. Known for their wide range of musical styles, from rock and pop to Bollywood and Konkani, this dynamic duo has captivated audiences around the world with their electrifying performances and infectious energy.

The Early Years

Xanisha and Croydon both come from humble beginnings, with a shared love of music that started at a young age. Xanisha, in particular, has been in the industry for nearly 12 years, starting her singing career at the age of 13 with the band Cascades, before joining the band Crimson Tide (present). Despite the challenges of balancing late-night shows with schoolwork, Xanisha persevered, honing her skills and eventually catching the attention of topperforming bands in Goa.

Croydon's journey on the other hand started as a guitar player in college, before transitioning to bass and eventually winning the ‘Battle of the Bands’ in 2003. With a deep love of rock music, Croydon played in various bands such as Karnage, Gravity, and Second Skin, covering classic songs in their very own style. Despite coming from different backgrounds, Xanisha and Croydon's shared passion for music eventually brought them together, leading to the formation of their two-man band.

The Birth of a Duo

In 2020, as the pandemic swept the world, Xanisha and Croydon found themselves with an abundance of free time and a desire to keep performing. They decided to try something new by performing online, and the response was overwhelming. What started as a casual meet-up with some friends turned into a full-fledged duo, as Xanisha and Croydon discovered their musical chemistry and infectious energy.

Today, the duo's creative process involves carefully selecting songs that showcase their wide range of musical styles. From rock anthems to Bollywood hits, Xanisha and Croydon cover it all, putting their own unique spin on each and every track. Their performances are carefully curated,

with a focus on engaging the audience and creating a memorable experience.

Musical Influences

Xanisha and Croydon's musical influences are wideranging, reflecting their eclectic tastes and diverse backgrounds. Xanisha cites Lorna, Adele, Shakira, and ABBA as some of her biggest inspirations, while Croydon draws inspiration from the likes of Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam, and John Mayer.

As musicians, Xanisha and Croydon approach the process of creating music in a very collaborative way. They both bring different ideas and styles to the table and work together to create something unique and special. Inspiration can come from anything - a personal experience, a movie, a book, or even a conversation. They keep their minds open and always try to find new and interesting ways to create music.

Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned

As with any industry, the music world is not without its challenges, and Xanisha and Croydon have faced their fair share of obstacles along the way. For instance, performing every day can be tiring both physically and mentally, especially when singing for long hours. In addition to that, there is also the constant pressure to keep creating new and original music that resonates with their audience. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Xanisha and Croydon's music career, just as it did for many other artists. They had to cancel many shows and events, which was disappointing, and the uncertainty of when things would return to normal was quite unsettling. However, they remained optimistic and continued to work on their music and connect with their audience online. They learned to find new ways to create music and remain true to themselves. Despite these challenges, Xanisha and Croydon have remained committed to their craft and have continued to evolve and grow as artists. Through their journey, they have learned some valuable lessons that they believe have helped them succeed in the industry.

One of the most significant lessons Xanisha and Croydon have learned throughout their music career is the importance of hard work and perseverance. The music industry can be tough, and it takes a lot of dedication and persistence to succeed. They have also learned the value of connecting with their audience and building relationships with them. Lastly, they have learned that it is important to remain true to themselves and their music, and to always strive to improve and grow as artists.

Future Plans

Looking forward, fans can expect some exciting new music from Xanisha and Croydon in the near future. They are currently working on some original music and hope to release it soon. They also have some upcoming shows and collaborations in the works. In the long term, they hope to continue to grow and evolve as artists, create music that connects with people on a deep and emotional level, and make a positive impact through their music. They hope to leave a lasting legacy in the music industry and be remembered as artists who made a difference.

food blogger

ooshejaani

A teacher by profession, Akshaya Kerkar has been making waves in the world of social media with her food blog ‘Ooshejaanni’

Article by: Prataya Sarkar

Images by: Akshaya Kerkar

www.itsgoa.com itsgoa_ Itsgoa

Akshaya D. Gad Kerkar is a young food influencer currently based in Porvorim. A native of Keri village in Ponda, Akshaya  has been making waves in the online world with her food blog "Oo Shejaanni Goa ''. Akshaya's passion for food and love for capturing its beauty through her camera have led her to create an online platform that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Goa.

Growing up, Akshaya always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in a creative field. She had a strong desire to become a facilitator and help people learn and grow. After completing her Bachelor's in Education, she became a facilitator, teaching at a school for the past 7 years.

During the lockdown, when everyone was stuck at home, Akshaya started cooking a lot and sharing pictures of the food she made on social media. As her pictures gained more and more attention, she decided to create a separate platform for them. She wanted to showcase the unique flavours and cultural significance of Goan cuisine. Thus, "Oo Shejaanni Goa" was born.

The name "Oo Shejaanni" is inspired by the way Goan women call out to their female neighbors. Akshaya wanted her blog to capture the essence of Goan cuisine and culture, bringing it to the forefront for everyone to appreciate. Her page features a range of Goan dishes from traditional fish curries to sweet dishes like Tilaanche Laadoo and Tavsali, a Goan style cucumber cake.

Akshaya's parents and friends have been a great source of support throughout her journey as a food influencer. While she hasn't collaborated with any famous influencers yet, she has big plans for her brand and sees it reaching great heights in the future.

However, being an influencer comes with its own set of challenges. Balancing her responsibilities as a facilitator while pursuing her passion for food can be a daunting task. Additionally, the fluctuations in the Instagram algorithm can make it hard for influencers to reach their audience, making the reliability of social media questionable.

Despite these challenges, Akshaya remains committed to her passion for food and showcasing the beauty of Goan cuisine and culture through her blog.

She draws inspiration from her parents, who have been her role models since day one, teaching her how to go about life and be a good individual and citizen.

Akshaya encourages all Goan youngsters to preserve their cultural heritage and focus on being good individuals and citizens of India rather than merely collecting degrees or materialistic properties. She believes that being self-reliant and self-equipped is another essential aspect that Goan youngsters should consider.

In conclusion, Akshaya D. Gad Kerkar's journey as a food influencer is a testament to the power of pursuing one's passion. Her love for food and her desire to showcase the unique flavours and cultural significance of Goan cuisine have made her a role model for many young Goans. Through her blog, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage while also pursuing their dreams.