Goa's Innovative, Creative Gift To India's Multicultural Ethos

Goa's Innovative, Creative Gift To India's Multicultural Ethos
by NANDKUMAR KAMAT




TIATR � to offer a simple definition, is the self censored, liberal and progressive, democratic and dynamic theatre of the fun loving Konkani speaking masses. It is a polychromatic kaleidoscopic celebration of the travails and triumphs of life - life as seen from an ordinary Goan�s perspective. It is absolutely different from modern Marathi or Konkani theatre.Tiatr is Goa�s cultural, social and political window.
Tiatr is a non-violent medium of mass catharsis. The audience of Tiatr establishes a communion with the stage. The members laugh, cry, weep, sing-along, cheer, despair, celebrate, applaud, taunt, ridicule and at the end of the show seem excited but relaxed. Good tiatrs have become household cultural icons. Many artists who actually lead a simple private, non-glamorous life also achieve instant celebrity status.
Although it is not admitted sincerely - Tiatr is undoubtedly Goa�s innovative and creative gift to the vast spectrum of India�s mind boggling multicultural ethos.
Tiatr was Goa�s rediscovery of forgotten Indo-European traditions. The residual folk elements of Tiatr are still traceable in �jagor,� �lokam khel� and �intruz.� The Italian opera was possibly born out of ancient Indian musical theatre (sangitikas). It bears a typical Indo-European cultural stamp. Goan artists in Bombay were inspired by the Italian opera. Originally they performed crude imitations. But later original scripts were written - many with progressive social themes. After many innovations and modifications � the Goan tiatr achieved its� present identity, probably before the beginning of the Second World War.
Tiatr remained neglected till the newly established Goa Kala Akademy in 1974 decided to organise Tiatr competitions at the state level. These competitions caused an explosion of young talent. The beauty of this competition was its� simple organization and consistency. Today Konkani Tiatr has become a secular stage. What was originally seen as a theatre dominated by Roman Catholic artists has proved today as an accommodative form which welcomes any talented Konkani speaking artist irrespective of religion, caste, gender. The tiatrists have also moulded themselves as messengers of peace, social harmony, justice and upholders of secular spirit of India. Tiatrists, who present powerful social themes, have volunteered to act as conscience keepers of the society.
Let us contrast their undeclared mission with the self styled fascist moral police who have recently erupted in cities like Mangalore. As long as Tiatr is flourishing and thriving, the society would never tolerate the fascist virus of moral policing in Goa.
Modern Tiatr has undergone vast transformation in the past 30 years. More than 2000 shows of tiatr are performed every year. With an average audience of 700, it is estimated that more than a million people patronise tiatr. Globalisation and economic recession have not affected the popularity of tiatr because people relate to this form intimately. Tiatr fully deserves the status of �cultural industry� because it is a source of direct and indirect employment of more than ten thousand Goans who do not depend on any subsidy from the state government. Tiatr producers work with meager capital and are often stretched beyond their financial capacity to support a good production. Therefore by officially according the status of �cultural industry� to Goa�s Tiatr, the government would be offering employment security to ten thousand Goans. This makes sound economic, cultural and political sense.
February 16 is a red-letter day in the post liberation cultural history of Goa. Consistent with the objectives of UNESCO and commitments made in the cultural policy of Goa, 2007, Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat took concrete, positive and determined steps to establish the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG). TAG would be formally launched by the legendary tiatrist, Master Vaz (Jose Francisco Vaz), at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on February 16. All the efforts of the tiatrists to get state recognition which was denied to them for past 117 years have not been wasted. TAG would be an all-purpose vehicle to preserve, conserve and promote Tiatr and all the issues - economic, cultural, social, administrative associated with this theatre and the industry. Formation of TAG is a signal to the global cultural community that as promised in it�s cultural policy, the government of Goa is committed to usher in a cultural democracy.
There is also broad political support for TAG, which indicates that our politicians have also understood the power and potential of this theatre. The government may liberally support TAG in future but ultimately success of its� mission would depend on team spirit, team work and action plan of Goa�s small community of tiatrists. They need to sink their differences, if any, work together and lay down a strong foundation of TAG. TAG need to also work closely with Konkani Akademy, Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Konkani Sahitya Parishad, Asmitai Pratisthan, Dalgado Akademy, TSKK and XCHR, Kala Academy, Goa University, institutions of Government of India, Goan organisations abroad and the institutions promoting indigenous theatres in Europe and Asia. TAG need to aim for the status of UNESCO accredited national Academy in future. That would promote international collaborations and exchange of research scholars.



The centenary (1910-2010) of recorded Konkani music begins from this year. This is a historic occasion because Konkani singers and musicians have enriched India�s musical traditions. Frank Fernand, Chris Perry, Alfred and Rita Rose, Micael Martins, Jacint Vaz, Anthony Gonsalves, Sebastian De souza, Dattaram, N Datta, Emiliano Da Cruz, Padmashree Remo Fernandes and the Mageshkars (Lata, Asha, Hridaynath) are a few illustrative legendary names. People would love to know more about India�s most popular trumpeter, Antonio Xavier Vaz - fondly known as �Chic Chocolate.� Who can forget his music in �Albela�? TAG needs to celebrate the centenary of recorded Konkani music. An international archives of Konkani songs and music albums need to be established. A global biobibliographic, musico and filmographic database of all Konkani artists needs to be created. TAG could also publish an annual directory of Tiatr artists and yearbook on the tiatr industry. Formation of TAG adds a feather in cap of CM Mr Digambar Kamat. He would be remembered as a politician who understood the importance of Tiatr as a powerful creative cultural form and extended a hand of patronage to take a significant step towards making Goa a vibrant and flourishing cultural democracy. Let there be an all round applause for success of TAG.

www.navhindtimes.com

Wake up call

Wake up Call


The Margao police pressurized tiatrist Menino De Bandar to apologize for a song sung by a child artiste in his latest play criticizing the Chief Minister over some burning issues concerning Goa. These bullying tactics will not work to stifle the voice of the people. The tiatrists have greater accessibility to rural as well as urban masses.
They have the capacity to change the political scenario of Goa. Stalwarts of the Konkani stage like Roseferns, John D’Silva, comedian Agostinho et al deserve accolades for infusing awareness through their plays among the people of Goa.
The tiatrists have rightly swung into action. Just as it is the moral duty of the Diocesan Authority to mobilize the flock and protest evil designs so also it is the moral duty of the tiatrists and every concerned blue blooded Goan to stand and raise their voices.
We cannot remain silent, stand aloof and say mhaka kiteak poddlam ( why should I be bothered) when there is a danger of Goa being destroyed for good. Igor Stravinsky said “Silence will save me from being wrong but it will also deprive me of the possibility of being right”.
People of Goa have realised that unless they come out en masse nothing will happen. People have realized that time has come for serious introspection before they become second citizens in their own land.
Goans are peace loving but that doesn’t mean we’ll shut our eyes while Goa is being raped. Even Mahatma Gandhi, the great prophet of non-violence said “It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence.” Time is running out. Although the Congress-led government is stable at the moment, nothing could be predicted about the future, they are all opportunistic politicians, after all. Goa belongs to the peace loving people.
All like minded people, various NGOs who time and again acted as Goa’s custodians should rally around the concept of floating our own People’s Party to take concrete shape.
As of now the small parties who raise their heads only during election time are too weak and immature to be called as independent political entities.
These parties are not for the sake of a revolution or for the benefit of the people they serve. They are more interested in playing the role of king-makers in coalition governments and extract the share of their pie. PEOPLE’S PARTY will be the only alternative to pay heed to the cries of the common man to save Goa.

Irineu Gonsalves, Verna
http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=8057&cid=13
www.oheraldo.in

Roseferns’ duality

13,Aug 2008

Roseferns’ duality

- Peter Falcao, Taligao

I am a Konkani lover and regularly watch each and every Tiatr held in Panaji at Kala Academy. Through this letter I wish to draw the attention of the Goans to the message conveyed by Roseferns’ Tiatrs. He has been writing and directing the Tiatrs based on the Identity of the Goans. ‘Goaenkara Tu Ragar Zai Naka’ is his latest work. In this Tiatr he awakens the Goans about the sale of drugs and the issue of Mega Housing Projects. He appeals to the masses to oppose the Mega Housing Projects as it will, create water, electricity and garbage problems.
As is the present scenario most of these housing projects will be occupied by Non-Goans and the day is not far when these outsiders will contest elections and rule our beautiful State. However I was really surprised to see the tickets bearing the advertisements of the same mega projects which Roseferns opposed in the Tiatr. It smells of double speak from this writer cum director. This clearly shows that he is not interested in protecting the identity of Goans, but is busy making money at the cost of the sentiments of the people of this State. By this act Roseferns has set a bad example for the upcoming tiatrists. This will certainly bring a bad name for the Konkani Stage for which he has to appologise. Roseferns’ please practice what you preach.

www.oheraldo.in

_____________________________________________________________________________________


Confused writer
Bertha Dias, Margao
This has reference to Peter Falcao’s letter “Roseferns’ duality” (Herald, August 13). I am a Tiatr lover and also watch Roseferns’ tiatrs. I feel that Peter’s statement is unjustified because I want to clarify that Queeny Realty Pvt. Ltd. are not into Mega Housing Projects. However, I do agree that they are into Housing Projects.
Hence before making a statement like this Peter should have done his homework and found out the definition of Mega Housing Projects or he should have found out whether Queeny Realty are into Mega Housing Projects.
It reflects that this writer is either confused about the definition Mega Housing Projects or is not aware of what business Queeny Realty is into. This clearly indicates that Peter only wants to tarnish the image of Goa’s best tiatrist, or trying to settle his personal score with Queeny Realty.
As far as making money at the cost of sentiments is concerned; artistes, story tellers etc. make use of emotion to entertain people. I am sure Peter definitely does not expect every artist in the world, who is different in real life as compared to what he is in reel life, to apologize to him.
Roseferns and other Tiatrists such as these, do a great job in educating the masses in the best way they can. Another comparison is the destruction people like Peter cause to the people around by creating resentment. Roseferns’, continue to spread the fragrance through your Tiatrs the way you always have. Because for every rose there will be thorns like Peter Falcao, to make the rose tough to hold. Yet you’ll always be the favorite flower throughout the world.

www.oheraldo.in

Tiatr needs improvement

Tiatr needs improvement

I’m really happy to know that we Goans finally have a Tiatr Academy of Goa, which is also a means by which our Goan culture and language can be kept alive and kicking.

I myself am a great fan of tiatr and would like to see this popular form of entertainment develop into industry status, but at present there are several problems like lack of proper production, original tunes, graphics, sound, direction, and lighting.
Many of the comedy roles are either childish, overacted or lack a sense of reality.

I think Tomazinho Cardozo, the president of this Academy should, along with his council, review the script, etc. of every tiatr before it is released either on stage or VCD, so that the outcome will be a good production.

Augustus Alphonso,
Vasco

http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=17939&cid=13

Goa Tiatr Academy becomes a reality

MARGAO - The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Monday said that the government would seriously consider the idea of granting industry status to tiatr and added that he would not hesitate to go ahead if the proposal is indeed feasible. He was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Goa Tiatr Academy at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
The CM said tiatrists should feel proud of the Tiatr Academy and added that the Pai Tiatrist Auditorium at the Ravindra Bhavan was dedicated to the Pai Tiatrist Joao Agustin Fernandes.
Mr Kamat said that he received feedback from the president of the Academy, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, that around 2,000 tiatrs are staged every year in the state besides holding shows in various other parts of the country. In Goa itself, around 8 lakh people watch tiatrs and this response is quite huge when compared to the population of the state, the Chief Minister said.
Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, speaking on the occasion, said that there are many challenges before the Academy and added that the Academy could be taken to a national level. He stated that this is the only Academy where the government has given an initial grant of Rs 15 lakh adding that an amount of Rs 1.50 crore has been earmarked by the government which will be used for the office of the Academy and for maintaining books and records, documentation of tiatrs and songs, and in grooming of young boys and girls in tiatrs. He also said efforts would be made to have a museum of tiatrs and include songs of patriotism and national integration.
Master Vaz, a reputed tiatrist, earlier inaugurated the Academy. The Art and Culture director, Mr Prasad Lolyekar also spoke on the occasion. He said that the government would fully support the Academy. Fifteen artists, including tiatrists were felicitated on the occasion for their contribution towards tiatr. The executive council and the general council of the Academy was announced on the occasion. A short entertainment programme was also staged. The Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik and the NRI Commissioner, Mr Eduardo Faleiro also graced the occasion. The vice president of the Academy, Mr Roseferns proposed the vote of thanks.

(The Navhind Times / 17-02-2009)

http://ishare.rediff.com/video/travel/tiatr-academy-show/575320

TIATR’S LATEST TALENT - KENNETH LOBO

TIATR’S LATEST TALENT - KENNETH LOBO
Jan 17th, 2009 | Category: Tiatr
BY DANIEL F. DE SOUZA
THE GOAN OBSERVER

IN RECENT years, we have seen many talented child artistes on the professional Konkani tiatr stage. Child artistes have been winning the hearts of the audience with their captivating performances. A couple of them are doing a delicate balancing act, devoting their time between school and stage performances. There are some who are selective and concentrate more on their studies. The young and talented Kenneth Lobo of Vasco da Gama belongs to the latter group.

Coming from the musically inclined Lobo family of Vasco da Gama, young Kenneth has been showing exceptional talent for his young age. His father, Assiz Lobo, is a professional musician and Kenneth has received the basic fundamentals in singing from his father. Kenneth’s foray into music and singing began at the age of nine in 2005 when he first sang two Konkani songs for a musical programme in Vasco. He was also part of a cultural troupe called ‘Swarashri’ from Vasco, which performed under the cultural exchange programme in New Delhi and Udaipur in Rajasthan in 2006. While performing with the group, as the only child artiste in the group, Kenneth was the cynosure of all eyes and won the hearts of the audience with his singing.

PRIORITIES

HIS singing prowess was noticed by playwright Maxcy Pereira and young Kenneth was offered an opening to sing in professional tiatrs. He sang a solo in Pereira’s tiatr ‘Tumkam Ugdass etolo’ and received a good response from the audience. Kenneth, however, has not stopped at that. His enthusiasm for singing keeps him in the limelight at regular intervals. He is not the type, though, who jumps at offers. He has his priorities cut out well. He says studies come first, other things follow. He has his parents’ support too.

Recently, Kenneth was in the news for his participation in the All Goa Singing contest ‘Adlim Kantaram’, organised by Mil-Mel-Nel at the Kala Academy, Panjim. For this competition, young Kenneth Lobo selected the all time hit ‘Dotik Lagon’, originally composed and sung by the late Miguel Rod. Displaying exceptional skill, young Kenneth was declared the first prize winner in this competition which had a large number of participants in his junior category group. Thereafter, Kenneth performed this song with Mil-Mel-Nel wherever the ‘Adlim Kantaram’ musical show has performed in Goa. On December 29, 2008, Kenneth performed for the musical show on his home turf of Vasco and won the hearts of Vascokars, bringing alive the memories of late Miguel Rod with ‘Dotik Lagon’.

Those who have seen this young lad perform will agree that he is gifted. With the backing of his musically inclined father, there is no doubt that Kenneth will surely display better singing talent in the future and enrich the Konkani stage with his voice.

INTRODUCING KONKANI MUSIC TO GERMAN MUSIC LOVERS!

INTRODUCING KONKANI MUSIC TO GERMAN MUSIC LOVERS!
Jan 31st, 2009 | Category: Personality
BY TARA PATEL/THE GOAN OBSERVER


FOR THE first time ever Konkani songs and music will be introduced to German music-lovers and the credit for this goes to a music-loving German woman, Sigrid Pfeffer, The slender, delicate looking Sigrid, has made it her mission in life to collect or rather painstakingly put together as musical treasures to be introduced over her two-hour radio programme - “Music of the World” - for Hessischer Rundfunk radio station based in Frankfurt, Germany. She’s a sound technician, she confides, and she gets time to travel a lot looking for special music! She first came to Goa in the September of 2001, after a tour of Rajasthan.


SIGRID PFEFFER OF ‘MUSIC OF THE WORLD’ FAME: All set for the release of ‘Konkani Songs’ for German and European music lovers.
In Goa, in the evening, she remembers there were only these Western tourists at the bar of the hotel where she was enjoying a drink after a hot Goan curry and fortunately, they were spared the “standard tourism music” as the bar staff preferred to listen to their favourite radio programme! Suddenly, she was listening to a kind of music she’d never heard before - Goan Konkani songs and music which reminded her of Spanish music or music from Jamaica… “It didn’t sound like what is perceived to be Indian music to me!” The folk at the bar were only to happy to introduce her to the who’s who of Konkani music and Konkani tiatr and so began her love affair with Goa’s Konkani melodies and the songs of yesteryear, including those made famous by the evergreen musician Chris Perry and singer Lorna ….these two certainly made some unforgettable music together, even Sigrid thinks so along with her Goan friends.


ARDUOUS TASK
AND so began her long and arduous task to understand and put together a collection of Goa’s Konkani songs and music into a CD for German music buffs. She met Goa’s noted personalities in music. These included Remo Fernandes who needs no introduction to Goans or music lovers abroad; and Shakuntala Bharne, a veteran of Al India Radio in Panaji who in turn played for her from recorded archives so that she got a more comprehensive understanding of Konkani folk songs and she muses, “One song in Cantara style reminded me of Italian folk songs to the accompaniment of mandolins, guitars and especially violins…instruments not rooted in Indian musical tradition.” She also met the Director of the Kala Academy, Dr. Pandurank Phaldesai, who was of invaluable help to her in making the difference between Hindu and Christian types of music. It was Dr. Phaldesai who clued her up about how Konkani was suppressed during the 450 years of colonial Portuguese rule and how it impacted the people’s music and tiatr… and well-known writer-poet-editor Uday Bhembre enlightened her about Goa’s lost Hindu past vis-à-vis Konkani music.

Krishna Kamat of All India Radio’s Konkani programme introduced her to Oslando D’Souza who told her about dekhnni music rooted in temple music which Sigrid finds fascinating in its pulsating rhythm… she listened to Lata Mangeshkar’s “Bobby song” and also met Tomazinho Cardozo for further light on Goa’s tiatr tradition. In more modern times, Goa’s music has influenced Hindi cinema music and vice versa. Sigrid then listened to songs from early Goan films like Nirmonn. Goa’s music history has adapted to changing times over the years as Portuguese and European music and Western music instruments came into Goa’s life and times. There’s Goa’s “Melody King” or “The Man with the Golden Voice”, Alfred Rose who, to this day, is a household name in Goan homes. He was born in Goa but lived with his family in Bombay writing tiatr and film scripts for Konkani films. He kept Konkani alive in the living rooms of Goan homes. Indeed, the heroic struggle to keep Konkani alive and thriving is worth recounting…the Christian missionaries from abroad learned it to convert Goans to Christianity and later it became the language in which the converted spoke to their servants, while they themselves spoke fluent Portuguese!

All this is reflected in what is a historic CD - Konkani Songs - of 22 original songs put together by Sigrid Pfeffer. The CD, which has been brought out by the Trikong music company, is due for release on February 27, 2009, for the German and European market. No, no, she corrected to a query, the songs are all in Konkani for she dare not even attempt to translate lyrics, that’s far too risky a thing to do to translate from the Konkani into English and then into German! And yes, even without understanding lyrics there are music lovers who will love the music and the songs in Konkani; in Germany at least there’s a great love for music from all over the world. The world is so full of musical traditions that the search for any one tradition is challenging. She herself grew up with music and she thinks she must have imbibed it in the womb of her mother itself… “We always listened to the classics and my brother plays the piano and so did I for a while…I love music, all kinds of music, it my great passion… and during my travelling I’ve come across so many styles…” It’s not just the classics she loves, “There’s was a German pop band called Blumfeld, it’s split up now…but it one of my favourite bands… they play rock pp but not the usual easy going mainstream kind, their style was called alternative or independent rock.” People still like to listen to it.

In recent years, Sigrid has taken a shine to music traditions in India. She visited India for the first time in 1997, when she went to Kerala, and after that she’s been visiting regularly. This time she’s in Goa to do a fortnight’s yoga retreat in Assagao and after that she’s going to Calcutta for week before returning to home in Frankfurt on February 19, 2009. She is coming back to India again and again for she still has to discover Hindustani music more intimately! Look out for her CD next month, Sigrid Pfeffer thinks that Goans settled in Germany and abroad will be interested in it, as well as Goans in Goa she hopes. She wants to say a real thank-you to all the people she met in Goa while researching her CD and while seeking copyright permissions, for helping her so patiently with information, history and translation of lyrics for her benefit… thank-you Uday Bhembre, Tomazinho Cardozo, Remo Fernandes, Shakuntale Bharne, Rita Rose and many others who eased the challenge of making a discerning music collection in Konkani for German and international listeners of music.

___________________________

Tiatrist be original
Alfred Almeida, Vasco
Recently, I was reading about a story on Herald about the title borrowed by our Goan Tiatrists; Melody King, Tragedy King, Junior Shakespeare, Prince of Centuries, etc. To my knowledge only Jacint Vaz, Rose Ferns or Prince Jacob were officially given the titles of Charlie Chaplin, King of centuries and Prince respectively.
Alfred Rose was considered the King of melody. Today he’s no more and now Lawry Travasso has been crowned as melody king by his collegue Mario Fernandes. I sincerely do not have any grudge against Lawry or Alfred Rose, bur talking about melody, they are just good composers and good singers. Both have composed songs by borrowing tunes. They can be called good composers. As per my view they cannot be called King of melody as they never composed their own tunes or any melody. They kept on borrowing tunes from old English songs and popular Hindi movie songs and then added lyrics to them. I will accept Lawry as melody king the day he composes his own tunes. It is a shame that so many Goan singers come out with so many Konkani albums but all borrowed tunes. They are not artists but copy cats. In Goa we say that music runs in our veins, then why is it difficult to compose our own tunes? If the west can do it, why can’t We Goans?

www.oheraldo.in

TIATR OF YORE

TIATR OF YORE
Mar 6th, 2009 | Category: Tiatr

BY DANIEL F. DE SOUZA THE LENT season is the time most professional tiatr groups take a break from staging regular shows. The 40-day Lenten period is spent preparing the grounds for the launch of their new shows on Easter day. Devotional tiatrs — or tiatrs with a religious theme — are generally staged during this period. This is one reason most of the big directors have wound up their shows for a brief spell of time.

Recently I had the opportunity to see Star of Curtorim’s much spoken about Maim Dukhi Sasumai Sukhi. The show has a multi star cast and is attracting a steady audience at theatres. The plot appears to have been picked from any average Goan household and revolves around the family. It is a story of an ungrateful son (Anil Pednekar) who, after getting married, listens to his wife, ill treats his old parents and finally takes shelter with the in-laws. He is totally under the spell of his wife (Annie Quadros) and mother-in-law (Antonette de Calangute) and can see nothing beyond their scheming. While his mother longs to see her grandchild and share her love, it is the daughter-in-law who does not allow this and conveniently keeps the little child away from her. Adding to all this discord in the family is another heartless sister who plays a selfish and destructive role to divide the family.

But then one fine day, as it normally happens, sense begins to dawn and the son finds himself in an embarrassing position, regretting his hurtful behaviour towards his own blood. He returns home to his parents. But is there someone to welcome him back? Watch the show for answers!



TRADITIONAL


ONE thing good about this show is, it has maintained the traditional style of tiatr and one is reminded of the good old days of tiatrs in the seventies and eighties. Every scene has something to say and takes the viewer back in time, especially the well-timed and well-composed ‘kantos’ so beautifully rendered by versatile Jessie Dias in her inimitable tragic style. It is this that makes a big difference to the overall presentation of the play. One can literally hear a satisfied audience giving positive comments on the play as they walk out of the auditorium.

The presence of just one main comedy artist, ‘Comedy Supremo’ Humbert, is yet another aspect that needs to be highlighted. This is how traditional tiatrs balanced their act in olden times. Humbert is the mainstay of the play as far as the comedy is concerned and does full justice to the role, taking the audience on a satisfying laughter trip. He is natural and creative. His escapades are well supplemented by Diana who is cast in a different role. Together, they bring the house down with laughter.

Annie Quadros, Antonette de Calangute, Dolla, Jessie Dias, Olga, Bernard, Anil, Bonny — all who shoulder the main roles in the play — have given a great account of themselves in their respective roles, taking the play to a good finish. One does not always come across top and leading ladies of the Konkani stage coming together in one tiatr, playing roles opposite each other.


The songs in the play, which cover a wide and interesting range of subjects, are worth listening to. Xavier Gomes, Connie M, Wilmix, Sharon, Sucorro de St. Cruz, Lawry Travasso, Bushka, Antonette de Calangute, Annie Quadros, Olga, regale the audience with their songs.

Maestro Domnic de Arambol, who is a regular musician for Prince Jacob, has scored the music with John handling the lights very effectively. The show has a touching as well as educative storyline, a plot that many will identify with. I understand it will have a regular run this Lenten season in the major towns and villages too. No harm in giving it a dekho.

COURTESY: THE GOAN OBSERVER

Tiatr Academy is born!

Tiatr Academy is born!
Feb 21st, 2009 | Category: Tiatr
BY DANIEL F DE SOUZA

WHEN THE history of tiatrs is re-written, February 16, 2009 will be written in letters of gold since, on this day, a long cherished dream of the tiatrist fraternity finally became a reality with the formal inauguration of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) at the hands of senior dramatist 82-year-old Jose Lourenco Vaz, known in tiatr circles as Master Vaz. A packed audience, overflowing in the precincts of the Pai Tiatirst Joao Agostinho Auditorium at Margao, extended their full support and appreciation to the Chief Minister, Digamber Kamat, for keeping his word and giving a place of pride to Goa’s oldest and popular performing art, the tiatr.
The Chief Minister, who has a genuine love for art and culture, was himself overwhelmed with the accolades showered on him by successive speakers at the function that he spontaneously burst into a verse of a Konkani song at the end of his speech. The verse was composed by his classmate, one Joao Baptist. The packed audience, in turn, reciprocated with a thunderous applause and shouted ‘once more’. This was in fact the climax of the evening and, by his friendly gesture, one could gauge the sincere love the Chief Minister has for tiatrs and the tiatrist fraternity at large.

INDUSTRY STATUS

RESPONDING to the speech of Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG, the Chief Minister assured the gathering that he would look into the just demand of granting industry status to tiatrs since nearly 2000 tiatrs are being staged in Goa annually. Stating that he has always supported performing arts, he reminded those present of fulfilling the demands of the tiatrist fraternity by naming the Ravindra Bhavan auditorium after Pai tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes and now also establishing the TAG.

Taking a trip down memory lane, Master Vaz recalled the sacrifices of senior tiatrists as well as their contribution to the art. The male actors enacted female roles during his time he said, since there were no females on stage till Mohana was introduced on the Konkani stage later by the late C. Alvares. He was all praise for the Chief Minister for establishing the Tiatr Academy and further went onto to make a passionate appeal to the CM to grant acceptance to Konkani in the Roman script.

Cardozo briefly outlined the aims of the Academy and assured the audience that he would ensure total transparency and accountability in the working of the Academy with help from all members. He said there was an urgent need to document the tiatr scripts in book form as well as to have a library where all material concerning tiatrs would be readily available. He added that the academy will work to fulfil all these shortfalls and cautioned those who spread false rumours of disunity and cracks in the newly formed Academy.

REPRESENTATION

HE also reminded the audience that care had been taken in the formation of the Academy by giving due representation to various individuals and artists associated with the Konkani stage in various departments. He envisaged the hope to take the Academy to the national level and also expressed his desire to see tiatrs produced with a focus on national integration and patriotism in the near future.

Prasad Lolyekar, Director, Department of Art & Culture, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the purpose behind setting up the Tiatr Academy. He also said that the government, in addition to the initial grant of Rs. 15 lakhs sanctioned to the Academy at the beginning, a onetime grant of Rs. 1.5 crores has also been approved for acquiring office premises, etc.

The fifteen senior stage artists who were felicitated on the occasion were Ophelia Cabral D Souza, Antonette Mendes, Titta Pretto, Anita Pereira Fernandes, Lidvinda A Clara Dias, Lucas Fernandes, Alegro Roque T Antao - Star of Arrossim, Antonio Moraes, Pedro Caetano D Silva (C D Silva), Thomas Domingo Rosario Antao, Remmie Colaco, (Padmashree) Manuel Santano Aguiar (M Boyer), John Claro Fernandes, Jose Lourenco Vaz (Master Vaz) and Philomena Braz Crasto.

A lively musical show comprising of songs and comedy was put up by tiatrists, to the satisfaction of the packed audience, with the music being provided by Maestro Josinho D’Souza along with Carlito (Trumpet) Sammy (Trombone), Mariano (Bass Guitar), John (Drums) and Noel on the keyboards. A brass band performing at the entrance of the auditorium welcoming the guests gave the venue a true festive look.

Besides the members of the Tiatr Academy, the officers and staff of the Department of Art and Culture were seen working hard behind the scenes to see that everything goes smooth at the inaugural function. One tiatr lover speaking at the venue to me on condition of anonymity stated, "The formation of the Tiatr Academy is a step in the right direction. Government support is a must to take this art to great heights in the future. The members should not bother about the prophets of doom. Their outburst is more out of frustration than genuine concern". After much thought, I realised he was correct. Such negative voices are bound to surface for a while. The wise thing would be to ignore it and march ahead, brushing aside these utterances.



COURTESY: THE GOAN OBSERVER

http://ishare.rediff.com/video/travel/tiatr-academy-show/575320

TIATR ACADEMY - NEEED OF THE HOUR

TIATR ACADEMY – NEED OF THE HOUR
Jan 10th, 2009 | Category: Tiatr
BY DANIEL F. DE SOUZA

NOW THAT the Tiatr Academy has been constituted, much has to be done and achieved and Tomazinho Cardozo, has a well-defined task ahead on him. With a firm commitment, vast experience coupled with sound knowledge of the subject, I have no doubt he will shoulder the responsibility well, with ‘unstinted’ support and co-operation of the other members on the panel. Cardozo’s progressive ideas will take the professional Konkani stage towards a better future from now on.

While the general aims, objectives and scope of this Academy are still not very clear, its important that it provides maximum benefit to the Konkani stage, its artistes and its overall progress and growth with professionalism. Therefore the first step Cardozo will have to take is to bring the two factions of the artistes together in unity. Presently, there are cracks within the tiatrist fraternity which is a major stumbling block in the path of progress among the Konkani stage artistes. If this obstacle is removed then half the battle would be won Cardozo’s tenure could be hassle free.

The establishment of the Academy, tiatr being a unique performing art, this art form will receive a major boost and tiatr will attain its full potential and will be taken to great heights with the concerted efforts of like-minded and focused persons. It is not only the responsibility of the president and the members on the panel, but a collective responsibility of all professional tiatrists to work for the success of the Academy, to fine tune Goan tiatr and making it more enjoyable for the masses - especially the youth - who are not really inclined towards Konkani theatre as much as they are drawn to the Bollywood/Hollywood films and English theatre. I know this not a simple task. But a beginning has to be made and Cardozo and his enlightened team will have to seriously consider several aspects of the tiatr such as script writing, direction, production, stage settings, lighting, music, other technical aspects such as the use of modern technology for better presentation, etc., in order to raise the standard of tiatrs to a higher level. More professionals in various departments of the art have to enter the domain in order to improve the overall image of present day tiatr.

ENCOURAGE PLAYWRIGHTS

PLAYWRIGHTS who are successful in their ventures and have staged 50-plus performances of their shows should be encouraged and made liable to publish the tiatr script in book form for the benefit of youngsters who wish to follow in their footsteps. There is a general complaint from several playwrights that nowadays tiatrs are no longer profitable in terms of financial returns considering the expenditure involved. Apart from a few established playwrights, many have to walk the tight rope to survive. Giving them the benefit of doubt, the Academy should genuinely study these grievances and provide solutions to artistes’ grievances. One immediate step could be in enhancing the entrance ticket presently priced at Rs.60 which in this inflationary times appears to be on the lower side.

The tiatr fraternity has been - for a long time now - demanding that the Government should accord it industry status, and the new Academy will do well to study this demand in depth and if found genuine, prepare a feasibility report and submit it to the Government for necessary action. After all tiatr is so typical of our culture having an ardent fan following not only in Goa but wherever Goans have settled to earn their bread and butter. More power to Konkani tiatr in the future!

courtesy: THE GOAN OBSERVER