Sunday, May 16, 2010

Tiatr Personality: JESUS ANTAO


Tiatr Personality: JESUS ANTAO

- By J P Pereira


For 28 years, Jesus Antao has made the audience laugh while performing on the Konkani stage. This comedian hailing from Chinchinim is the son of the late Antonio Piedade and Natalina Antao, the youngest of ten children.

Jesus Antao loved acting from an early age. He would regularly perform in the village dramas and made his debut in ‘Dusman’ a ‘tiatr’ written and directed by George Fernandes from Raia. Since then, the actor has performed in more than 150 dramas. Asked if he ever did a serious role, Jesus claimed to have tried. But, the more serious the role, the harder the audience laughed, he said. Finally, he decided to continue only as a comedian.

Jesus has acted for most of the directors from the Konkani stage. Prominent among the plays he has acted in are ‘Fullam Ani Kolle’, ‘Mhoje Unniecho To’, ‘Dolle Ugddun Poi’, ‘Somaz Oso Cholta’ by the late Rosario Rodrigues, ‘Mai’, ‘Paizonna’ by Pascoal Rodrigues, ‘He Chukik Bhogsonnem Assa?’ by Mario Menezes, ‘Tin Fogotteanchem Marann’ by Patrick Dourado and ‘Tuttlele Dhage’ by Roseferns. He also acted in the play ‘Succorina’ by Menino de Bandar which completed 200 shows. Although he never wrote and directed any plays, the comedian has produced, written and directed four comedy films. ‘Axirvad’, ‘Budhvont JakInas’, ‘Hansot Rav’ and ‘Fottkiro Agent’. Besides these, he has produced five audio albums like ‘Hanv MP’, ‘Repeat Repeat’ and others.

Jesus has great love and respect for the late Rosario Rodrigues, an excellent writer who would allot roles perfectly suited the respective actor.
He loves his profession and has been awarded many prizes in Goa as well as in the Gulf, for comedy. At the first tiatr festival organised by the Tiatr Academy, Goa he was nominated for best comedian.

Jesus is grateful to the audience for their support and vows to keep our mother tongue Konkani alive through the medium of the stage. At present he will be seen in a new production from Menino de Bandar. Jesus is married to Luiza, has a son Sheldon, who has acted in his video films and works for the Mormugao Port Trust.
We wish you all the best Jesus and hope you always keep the audience of Konkani dramas in good spirits, with your humour.


http://aitaracheokaskuleo.blogspot.com/

Konkani Kogull award instituted - A right tribute to Wilfy Rebimbus

Konkani Kogull award instituted - A right tribute to Wilfy Rebimbus

By Team Mangalorean
Pics Rajesh Shetty


Mangalore May 9, 2010: It was the right step taken by a group of people who loved Wilfy’s immortal voice. They have instituted a prize. Thanks to Sandesha Cultural Foundation and Mangalore Konkans Dubai Wilfy who now have a prize named after him which will be given to a musician regularly once in a year. The award instituting ceremony was held in Sandesha School of fine arts in Bajjodi here today in a glittering function.
Philanthropist and member of the group Mr. Manohar Pais speaking on this occasion stated that late Wilfy was an adorable man and he hid nothing from his friends and family. Infact his life was an open book that anybody could read. Mr Pais said Wilfy was a thorough gentleman and honoured everybody and respected everybody. He was a celebrity in his own right in the Konkan Community he added. The congregation that assembled in Sandesha Foundation observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to Wilfy.






















According to James Mendonca, Former President, Mangalore Konkans Dubai, the Sandesha Award for Konkani Music for original music, songs which will carry the name of Wilfy Rebimbus and cash prize of Rs.5 Lakh. He said the Foundation will now accept applications. On the same occasion the group also announced a ‘Wilfy Rebimbus Memorial Scholarship’ of Rs 5 Lakh for the poor students studying in Sandesha School of Fine Arts.
On this occasion the family of Wilfy was present and his son Vishwas Rebimbus, thanked the Mangalore Konkans Dubai and Sandesha foundation for the love they have shown towards their father. He said this new initiative will take his father’s name much further.
Former director of Sandesha and presently the administrator of Fr. Mullers’ Charitable hospital Fr Dennis D’Sa, said that such acts of benevolence are great works towards sustaining the culture. He said not everybody who has money will spend for saving culture. Others who spoke on the occasion included Fr Valerian Mendonca, Director, Sandesha, Linus Moras, Vice-President, Mangalore Konkans Dubai, Valerian Peris, P M Castelinho, Trustee, Sandesha.

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=179643

New lease of life for English theatre in Goa

New lease of life for English theatre in Goa

PANAJI: English theatre in Goa, in an almost comatose state, could be resuscitated this March with the staging of "Fires of darkness", a play written and directed by nuclear chemist Savio Sequeira.

Nairobi born, Dublin-based Sequeira of Goan ancestry is a nuclear chemist, now retired from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, whose first love is films and music. "Nuclear chemistry paid the bills and gave me a job. Acting and directing does not always pay well," says Sequeira rather simply.

Nuclear chemistry and theatre direction are two diametrically opposite pursuits, but Sequeira's juggling of the two passions has brought him recognition in both. In Goa for a holiday, he penned "Fires of darkness", a play scheduled to be staged on March 3 and 4 at Panaji's Kala Academy.

Sequeira is not willing to part with details of the plot. All he says is that the play is a psychological thriller that has four characters who get "involved in a dark and murky scenario that affects their lives".

A frequent visitor to Goa, when he landed in the state in November, "Fires of darkness" did not form part of his holiday script. He actually began rehearsals for Neil Simon's "Star spangled girl", that to give it a desi twist was to be called the "Star spangled chokri". A little into the rehearsals he found that the actors just weren't prepared to enact the passionate kissing scene that is so crucial to the play and he had to drop the idea.

"That night I remained awake thinking and came up with the idea for this play," says Sequeira. It was already December when he wrote the play. Since then he has got Kala Academy involved and rehearsals for "Fires of darkness" are now chugging along "fantastically", as Sequeira says.

Says Kala Academy member secretary P R Phaldesai, "Sequeira worked with KA students in the past and directed a Hindi drama. It went well, people liked it, our students' involvement also was very good. He came forward with this proposal and we accepted it."

The Hindi play Sequeira directed two years back was called "Ek sapne ki maut", a Hindi version of Arthur Miller's "Death of a salesman". "Being from the colonial era, I speak only English, but I know 'Death of a salesman' so well that directing it in Hindi was not a difficult task," says Sequeira. That play too was staged in collaboration with Kala Academy.

Back in Ireland, Sequeira's science background and love for art led him to name his theatre group the "Da Vinci Theatre Company", after Leonardo da Vinci who was a scientist, artist, inventor. "We believe the time is ripe for the Renaissance man to return. I believe people are multifaceted and that society should encourage them," says Sequeira. In Dublin, Sequeira has directed quite a few Shakespeare plays including "Julius Ceasar", "The merchant of Venice", "Antony and Cleopatra", "As you like it", among others. Adhering to the script as written by Shakespeare, Sequeira gave the plays a modern setting. "Julius Ceasar" was set in an Iraq war-like situation, "Merchant of Venice" in Mussolini's Italy, and "As you like it" in the hippie era.

"I don't think Shakespeare would object to it. It is what makes him universal and timeless. The youth who have been taught Shakespeare in a mundane manner relate to his plays in these settings better," says Sequeira.

Sequeira has also directed a few films, including "Chains" that was commissioned by Gambia Television for the 1997 Roots Homecoming Festival. If "Fires of darkness" lights up the darkened English stage in Goa it will have succeeded in bringing English theatre a new lease of life.

"There is no English theatre in Goa. If somebody comes forward with such an idea, Kala Academy has to support it. This can continue in future also and it will give a new dimension to our theatre activity," says Phaldesai.

A ray of hope for Goan theatre aficionados.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/New-lease-of-life-for-English-theatre-in-Goa/articleshow/5582246.cms

Aiz Hanv Faleam Tum

Aiz Hanv Faleam Tum

Zantteamche upodre spoxtt korta



Xikop gheun, zannvayen ani duddvamni bhorla dekhun, tujea o-xikxit ani nennar aslolea avoi-bapaik kikont korun, tankam azilant ghalop sarkhem na. Az tuzo-avoi-bapui zantto toso, faleam tum-i teach bhesar pavtoloi mhonn Prince Jacob aplea 'Az Hanv, Faleam Tum' hea tiatrant dakholl korta.

Veg-veglle kuttumbache dekhave machier dakhoun, thoimsor ghoddtolea torekvar ghoddnitancher ani zantteamchea onnbhovacher uzvadd ghatlolo amkam mellta.
Ek tiatrist, Roy de Zuari (Jr Reagan) aplo novo tiatr borounk proitn kortana, taka vatter asromantli ek madr (Hazel Fernandes) taka bhett'ta. Ti taka 'Asro' hea asromant vhorta ani thoimsor asloleam zantteamchi ollokh korun dita.
Zantteam modhem Roy-ak Alu (Prince Jacob) ani Salu (comedian Humbert)-chi ollokh mellta. Toxench, Antonio de Pombasa (Cajetan de Curtorim) sodanch kuxal ani hatant gitar gheun, kantaram gaiit aslolo taka bhett'ta.

Punn tanche modhem Jose (Joe Rose) eka kodelir bosun, sogllo dukhest ani chintest aslolo Roy polleta. Aplea puta Kevin (Bernard Fernandes)-achem chintun, fuddlem xikop korunk taka Canada dhaddun, apnnem vhodd chuk keli mhonn Jose Roy-ak sangta. Ani tea tharavak lagon, apunn azilant koso pavlom, tem Jose tea tornatteak 'flashback'-a udexim spoxtt korta.

Anink eka kuttumbant apli sunek Melisa (Annie Quadros) bhurgem na dekhun, tichi sasumaim Maria (Diana Fernandes) tika kenddtta ani ghorkar Oswald (Simon Gonsalves)-a ani tiche modhem futt ghalunk proitn korta. Vangddach, logn zal'le aple dhuve Fiona (Rosy Travasso)-k aplea sangata dovrun, tika aplea ghova sorxil'lem pois dovrunk Maria soglle proitn korta. Sorv-xevttim apunnuch ghor soddun, azilant koxi pavli, tem sot Maria spoxtt korta. Dusrea eka ghorabeant Albert (Joe Rose) ani Celine (Annie Quadros) aplea lognacho bhangara utsov monoitana ani Mumboi aslolea aplea bhurgeanchi vatt polletana, okosmat kallzacho atak ieon, Albert thoinch sompta. Punn aplea bhurgeamcho novean ekvott zaunk, Celine aplea ghorkarachea mornnacho ghutt tanche koddlean lipoun dovorta.

Punn to ghutt, ghuttuch urta kai? Bhurgeank tem sot koxem ugddapem zata tem tiatrachea dusrea bhagant bhes bore toren dakhoilolem asa.
Komedi babtint, Prince Jacob, comedian Humbert ani Cajetan de Curtorim azilant eka-mekak boro sangat diun, lokak bhorpur hansoitat.

Kantaram babtint, Cajetan de Curtorim-achem 'Pinzreant Suknnim', Annie ani Hazel-anchem 'Ostorechem Gulamponn', Prince Jacob ani Humbert-anchem 'Infernachi Khobor', Jr Reagan-achem 'Suropai Cheddvachi', Joe Rose-achem 'Bhavart-Visvas' ani Humbert-Jr Reagan-Prince Jacob-anchem 'Tiatristancho Durupeog' aikopa sarkhim aslim ani boro sondex ditalim.

P Agekar
V-Ixtt.com

When the curtains rise... by Dr. André Rafael Fernandes

FOREWORD

THE TIATR ACADEMY OF GOA is pleased to publish this book, When the curtains rise... Understanding Goa’s vibrant Konkani theatre, written by Dr. André Rafael Fernandes.

In fact,this was the thesis written by Dr.Fernandes for his doctorate. For the TAG, it is a matter of pride that Dr.Fernandes obtained his Ph.D. on a subject –the Goan tiatr – which is the most popular dramatic form of Goa.

The Goan tiatr has progressed in all aspects during the last 118 years. Year after year,its popularity too has reached greater heights. Yet, up to now,there has been no authentic documentation on the tiatr. This vacuum is being filled with the publication of this book.

Dr.Fernandes goes deep into the roots of the origin of the tiatr. He analyses the tiatr,its song and its music and he makes a sincere attempt t o depict it in an authentic manner. While doing this, he also attempts to widen the vision of the reader by providing additional information about the drama of that time enacted in some vii
of the other languages in Goa and Bombay. While dealing with the Kantaram, the songs that form an essential part of the tiatr, he also enlightens the reader with details of numerous Konkani folk songs and folk music.

When the curtain srise... is definitely an important work of doc-umentation on the tiatr, its song and it smusic. The TAG thanks Dr. André Rafael Fernandesf or his superb presentation of the history of the tiatr and hopes that this book will go along way in preserving the authentic history of the Goan tiatr.

Tomazinho Cardozo
President Tiatr Academy of Goa,Panjim,
March 29,2010


A debt of gratitude

WITH A PROFOUND SENSE of gratitude,I acknowledge my indebtedness to Professor A.K. Joshi, former Head of the Department of English, Goa University. It was under his guidance that the thesis that went in to this book was begun and completed.

Without his scholarly supervision and perceptive criticism the work would surely not have gained in intensity.
Thanks are also due to the Goa University authorities —the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar,and other officers and staff. To all of them, a thanks for their help and cooperation.

I also thank Prof. A.V.Afonso, Dean, Faculty of Languages.

To all my colleagues in the Department of English —Dr. Sripad Bhat, Dr.Kiran Budkuley, Dr. Anita Vashishta and Dr.Nina Caldeira —a genuine thank you for their support. I am grateful to the late Doutora Selma de Vieira Velho for her encouragement and assistance in documenting and translating original sources in Portuguese.

My gratitude goes to all the Goa University library staff for
their co-operation,help and assistance intracing out reference material that went into the making of this work. I wish to thank the staff members of the University Office, as well as the Faculty Office.

I am indebted to João Agostinho’s son, TonyBab,his wife Ana Maria Carolina Quadros, daughter Sharmila and family members, for all the generous help and material they have been able to extend to me.

My thanks also go to all the tiatrists who have beenvery co-operative in discussing the topic and giving me invaluable inputs. Among them specially are John Claro(with whom I had several enlightening conversations over the years),Tomazinho Cardozo, John Gomes Kokoy, Fr. Dominic Alvares, Remmie Colaço, Master Vaz, Antonio Piedade Moraes, Luciano Dias, C. da Silva,the late Felício Cardoso, Anil Kumar and Bai Fatima,Sharon and Wilmix Mazarello, Freddy Barboza, Fr. Antonio Pereira and all others whom I might have missed thanking inadvertently.

I am indebted to writer-publisher Frederick Noronha of Goa 1556. Though the Ph.D. examiners had recommended early publication of the thesis,I was unable to start the task for a long time. Frederick’s persistence and editorial prowess were indispensable in ensuring this publication in Goa itself. Without the help and en-thusiasm of Tomazinho Cardozo,and the Tiatr Academy of Goa -formed after the thesis was completed - as well as Premanand Lotlikar and the Dalgado Konkani Academy,this publication would have not seen the light of day so quickly and with the minimum amount of hassles; my thanks are due to all those associated with these organisations and who made this publication possible. I must also record my gratitude to Prof. Paulo Meloe Castro,(Professor of Portuguese, University of Leeds) for his close reading and pointing out several corrections of Portuguese and French words.

My thanks to Pundalik Narayan Naik, Jayanti, Maria, Sabita, Phadte, Seby and all the staff at the Goa Konkani Akademi. I also thank the staff at Konkani Bhasha Mandal at Margao, Kala Academy and All India Radio and the late Andrew Greno Viegas —who in his unfortunately short life became wellknown for painstakingly documenting the history of Konkani film.

My sincere thanks to Santan and Elaine, Fr. Eufemiano Miranda, Fr. Mousinho Ataíde,Perpetua,Tony,Guilly and Peter.

Finally,I thank very sincerely my wife,Nirmala,and my sons Krish and Joshua for their tremendous forbearance,their loving concern and cooperation. Without them, this work would have been impossible. I thank my brothers John Piety, Antonio and Joaquim and sisters Rita, Mereciana, Shanti and Annie for their encouragement.
I thank all others who have helped me in some way or the other,and seek their understanding for not being able to mention each one by name.

Above all,this work was made possibleby God’s grace and strength, and particularly His faithfulness and comforting spirit in the toughest of times.

André Rafael Fernandes,
Panjim,Goa

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A big e-welcome to you. Tumcam Maie-mogacho ieukar. Enjoy Life - This is not a rehearsal! Konkani uloi, boroi, vach ani samball - sodankal. Hich Goenchi osmitai ani amchem khalxelponn. Goenchi amchi Konkani bhas! Ekvottachem saddon Goenkaranchem. This is Gaspar Almeida from Parra, Bardez, Goa, based in Kuwait and am connected with the www.goa-world.com website created by Ulysses Menezes, and as Moderator of the famous first of its kind Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter (since 1994) and The Goan Forum and several Goan and Indian associations and forums and e-forums in Goa, India, Kuwait, The Middle East and worldwide.