Tiatrist and Pope.
We know many of the historical facts thru Konkani songs. Tiatrists especially of yesteryears were known to keep the reocrd of historical facts thru the nicely composed songs which they used to render from the stage. During those days there were no facilities of tape recorders to tape their songs but people who used to attend their shows used to memorise partly or certain pieces of these songs and pass on to others for posterity to know about this. I had the previlegge to read some of the songs of Alexinho de Candolim when I had an opportunity to read the copy book of his songs. Many of the historical incidents of our village and Goa I came to know by reading his songs, some of the facts I came to know thru listening to his songs either from the stage live or from the Emisorra de Goa and later on All India Radio Panjim.
After Alexinho de Candolim according to elders M. Dod de Verna was the most powerful somposer and singer. Though Dod was not having as beautiful voice as that of Alexinho de Candolim yet his composition was very good. On the stage and also outside stage he was well dressed. His position on the stage was such that even outside he used to attract attention from the people. He was later on proved to be a very fast composer. If I am not mistaken, in 1958 Pope Pius XII died and within 2 days in my village Dod was to stage his drama "Kallzacho Anvddo". Within two days Dod made preparation for rendering a new song on the demise of late Pope Pius XII. That time there was no TV and no newspapers as we have today. Vavraddeancho IXtt was coming out only once in a week and in Portuguese there were O Heraldo and A Vida but these Portuguese papers were not meant for the commoners. Dod collected the necessary materials and composed a nice song which he rendered in his tiatro after 48 hours of the death of the then Pope. It was very intersting but later on this same song he recorded at Emissora de Goa but with some changes, for what reason I dont know. Few lines of this song run like this:
Nou tarik Outubrachi dis vortoulo dhukest Berestar, Avchit khobro ek sadouli amchea kanar Ki Eugene Pacilli Pio baravo Pap Saib Zalo mhonn kobar etc.
Within a minute this song became instant hit with Dod's credibility soaring high. Today we have a tiatro in Kuwait, within the next few minutes it will start at Hawally A/C Hall. Will any of the actors either local or visiting sing a song on the late Pope John Paul II and keep an historic record of this Pope as M. Dod de Verna did? Or any of our artistes in Goa will compose a song on our Pope who died a few days back and whose funeral was already finished today a few minutes back?
In the song of M. Dod lot of information is available of the Pope and thru this song then we came to know so many things about Pope. Hope some tiatrists will compose a nice song on the Pope John Paul II to keep his memory alive as this Pope has done so much for the Drama by himself being a dramatist.
A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait.
_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
