Condolence & Prayer Meet held for Late Prem Kumar in Kuwait Goa's fêted writer, playwright, director and Konkani film producer, Peter D'Costa alais Prem Kumar breathed his last in Mumbai on 12th October 2007, leaving behind enormous admirers - the Konkani stage artistes as well as the Konkani tiatr lovers the worldover - in grief.
A condolence and prayer meeting was held on Monday, 16th October 2007 by members of Kuwait-Goa Tiatristanchi Sonvstha (KGTS) at the Royal Terrace, Salmiya. On this occasion, Francis de Verna, seniormost tiatrist in Kuwait (and ex-KGTS President) and Cajetan Pereira, KGTS President, spoke on Prem Kumar highlighting his vast contribution for the Konkani stage. Late Prem Kumar was famed for his unique stage artwork and recognized for his ever innovative style and outstanding service in the Konkani tiatr stage. All through his life, Prem Kumar endeavored to reform the Konkani stage through his writings and stage craft. He was awarded several awards. In a very special way, KGTS had honoured PREM KUMAR among other seniormost retired stars of the Konkani Stage in 2004. The condolence meeting was largely attended by KGTS members and winded off with a prayer for the departed soul. May God Almighty grant him eternal peace in His Heavenly Abode and give courage to the bereaved family and the tiatrists' fraternity to bear this colossal loss. KGTS Managing Committee ______________ Related News: Topnotch Tiatrist Prem Kumar no more MUMBAI, Oct 12: Playwright-actor-director Prem Kumar, who gave a new turn to Konkani tiatr, breathed his last in Mumbai at around 8.25 pm this evening. He succumbed to malaria falciparum, while being shifted to Bhatia Hospital at Grant Road from his residence. In fact, he was suffering from diabetes. Prem Kumar (75), born in the historic village of Chandor on September 8, and whose Christian name is Peter DCosta, can be rightly called the reformer of the Konkani stage. As a member of the Cine Artistes Association, a Hindi films outfit in Mumbai, Peter was bold enough to ask producer-director Dhirubhai Desai, the doyen of Hindi films, for a role. Dhirubhais Manager Pralhad realising Peters talent, offered him a role of a blind man which Peter acted to everyones satisfaction, thus gaining his foothold in the Hindi film industry. Prem went on to enact several small roles in Hindi films like Mera Salam, Bandish, Shaukeen, Hum Bhi Insan Hai, Sakhi and Bahadur, outstanding among which was his performance in Hamara Hax as a Muslim moulvi (priest) which won him accolades for reciting the dialogues in pure Arabic. Many spectators were bewildered to find a Goan Catholic doing this role to perfection. However, Prems love for Konkani made him bid adieu to Hindi films. He made his debut on the Konkani stage at the tender age of thirteen at P T Bhangwadi, in Mhozo Put written and directed by himself, and eventually had 54 dramas to his credit. His dramas exhibited worthwhile innovations in stage setting and visuals besides his knack at turning out extremely engrossing stories, embellished with expert direction and casting. Those who would turn their nose at Konkani dramas, eventually began to take note of it. He had fine-tuned stagecraft to perfection. Mortikar showed the fleeing of a murderer through a majestic back-stage projection of a road scene showing the criminal at his heels. Jivit Ek Sopon, Abdul Narayan DSouza and Fulam ani Kantte, Vavraddi, Piso (the only monologue of the Konkani tiatrs), Maria Magdalena, etc, will forever remain tiatr classics. His magnum opus was Rinn, an experiment on the moving stage. Although his dramas were big budgeted because of the props he uses, Dukh, Kakut, Peleache Vostuchi Axea Korum Naie notched a century of shows. He has over sixty trophies to his credit, including the Bandodkar Cup and Gold Medal for Vavraddi, I.G.P. Arun Bhagat Shield, Emanuel Printing Press Shield, Cine Times Awards, Natraj Award by Vasco citizens, Konkani Cultural Association Award, Konkani Sahitya Samiti Award, Prohibition Award of the Government of Maharashtra. Besides Konkani dramas, Prem has acted in the Konkani feature film "Boglantt" as the hero which has Goan and Mangalorean actors. Prem was always full of optimism and believed that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that Konkani tiatr like the proverbial phoenix would rise form the ashes to reach the pinnacle of glory. Prem is survived by his wife Ramona. [ISIDORE DANTAS, MUMBAI] http://www.goacom.com/joel/news/2007/oct/PremKumar.htm ____ Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear from forgetting where you heard it - Laurence J. Peter __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
