Dear Sunith, The reality is different for each human being and therefore people think and feel things in different ways.
I am not sure if the idea behind the "Contacto Goa" programme was to give an accurate representation of the Goa of today. I very much doubt that. In my opinion, and having watched other Contacto programmes (Like Contacto Macau, for example), I think the idea of the programme is to show a Portuguese link or a Portuguese connection in the places where the Portuguese were in the past or where large Portuguese communities live today (the latter is addressed in other series like for example "Contacto America"). The problem is that some of our Goans refuse to understand this. They seem to think the programme was for Goa or for Goans all over the world to watch and, therefore, it should represent what Goa is today. Firstly, you have to understand for whom was the programme produced, ie, what was the target segment? I think you probably know that the target segment was obviously a very large Portuguese speaking audience spread throughout the world and not a Goan audience as some of us seem to believe. The series were broadcasted all over the world, but let us not forget that it was broadcasted through a Portuguese television channel which caters predominantly for a Portuguese speaking audience. This is the reason why in each one of the 13 episodes you found so many Portuguese links in our Goa. You call it "saudades" and quite well because that is what it was. In a way, the programme tried to address how much of Portuguese influence is still alive in Goa today (and also around Bombay and in Damao and Diu). The name of the programme "Contacto" seems to indicate exactly that - the fruit of the Portuguese contact and its current influence in the local culture. Personally, I think the producers (all Indians or of Indian origin) have done a great job but like Livia says very well, there will always be individuals amongst us Goans that live in denial and for whom this Portuguese influence in Goa is still and will always be a stone in their shoes that hurts them now and again and they try to kick it out by all means, unsuccessfully! Best regards Paulo Colaco Dias London - UK. > -----Original Message----- > From: Sunith Velho > Sent: 11 September 2006 21:42 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Goanet] Contacto Goa > > Dear Livia, > I know of many Goans who think that the programme was a completely > inaccurate representaion of the Goa of today and that Mario's appreciation > for the program was unwarranted. For me, it seemed more like "saudades" > captured on film > > Sunith Velho > _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
