Last week I attended a Konkani tiatr written and directed by Salu Faleiro. Let me congratulate him for staging this well written tiatr with a strong story line.
Although the songs were too many on varied subjects, it is interesting to note that the director has given a chance not only to the regulars like Rosary Ferns, Laurente Pereira, Sylvester Vaz, Marcus Vaz, Micheal D'Silva, etc. but also to the upcoming budding singers and actors like Ignatius de Xelvon, Jacinto Noronha, Alex & Micheal, M. Luis, etc. It was a bold step of the director who not only took a big risk, but felt that the upcoming artistes and newcomers are also to be given an opportunity unlike the tiny organizations promoting Konkani in various set-up and production brand names who fail to make way for the youngsters. No doubt, the visiting artistes - some regulars as well as some first timers do make up their presence felt at every tiatr/drama in Kuwait. It is true that Goans support them by making time to attend with their family and friends inspite of other commitments. But alas we have observed in the recent past that several of the visiting artistes do not do justice to their roles/singing/acting. The audience feels that they are being taken for a ride. Firstly the comedy and/or the songs are often not to mark and regretably not convincing at all. Like one could hear when a drama was held a while ago......... with atleast three dialogues often repeated which showed the bankruptcy of the writer/director! One actor comes with a 'Jamiya' bag to carry his tools! Well after the tiatr/drama/show one usually reads litany-like postings giving a hint at one's selfish opinions and self glorification that too of himself/herself who usually shows up with a complimentary pass! One of the song which was well appreciated by the audience last week was titled 'Goenche Tiatrist'. The singer, Jacinto Noronha, needs to be complimented on his boldness on the lyrics as well as his song rendition... "Goem thaun etat zanttim toxim tornnim Thoddim ghevun etat kantaranchi bornni Choddxim kantaram astat tanchi pornnim Pornni addunk kosli tanchi kornni.... Well in the past there has been instances where the visiting actors/singers have done damage to their reputation as well as to their fellow artistes and the following verse of song spoke volumes on it..... Modganv jardinant bosun thoddea vodtat vid'deo Aum Kuwait voicho asa mhunnon martat udiyeo Kuwait evun Goenkarancheo kortat chadiyeo Ani audience and sangatankui martat galleio.... And then, one highlights that there were not many in the audience to have a full-house! Even if the troupe flown in are from the established lot.... it is on record that there were less than 200 at one show including the cast which was organized by a Konkani promoting outfit ! I am positive that the last stanza of the song will reverberate on the ear-drums of all visiting tiatrists which goes thus: "Tumchim pak'kam katrunk podot chodui udonaka Despez korun adtat tumcho respet tumi raka...." The same should also be borne in mind by the so-called 'local' artistes too. I would like to further add that those who jump on every occasion to claim that they are too much deep in promoting 'tiatros' and 'tiatrists' for the sake of complimentary passes and criticising all and sundry in the name of Konkani and Tiatrist should also take heed of the words ...... "Tumchim pakam katrunk podot chodui udonaka". Lastly my suggestion: If each Konkani and Tiatr promoting outfits support the new directors/ singers/actors, there will be no need to be 'beggars' to sell gate passes for their own shows! Francisco X. Fernandes _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
