The Tiatr Academy of Goa was inaugurated today 16th February, 2009 at the hands of " Master Vaz" Jose Lourenco Vaz, a native of Aldona settled in Utorda in the presence of the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Digambar V Kamat , at the 1150 seater A/C – Joao Agostinho Fernandes “Pai Tiatrist” auditorium at Margao at exactly 1845 hrs (IST) amidst a thunderous applause from a hall packed audience who came on time to grace the ocassion on this "red letter day"thus fulfilling the long cherished dream of tiatrists. Speaking on the ocassion the octogenarian "Master Vaz" was overwehlemed at the opening of the Tiatr Academy of Goa, as he completes 75 years performance on stage today. Incidentally his entire family past and present (six sons and 3 daughters )have had their innings on tiatr stage. He said he earned the sobriquet of Master Vaz because while his father was addressed as Mr Vaz he was called Master Vaz but that name remained immortal and he is not known by his real name. He was full praise for the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who not only promised but also fullfilled his promise of a Tiatr Academy. In a repentent tone he however made a fervent appeal to do justice to Konkani (apparently in Roman script ) for " this is our mother and we cant forget her this was plea earned a thunderous applause from the audience. He invoked the blessings of St Cecilia and St Francis Xavier the Patron Saints revered by tiatrists for the success of the tiatr. Earlier Director of Art & Culture Mr Prasad Lolayekar impressed upon the audience that the Government was keen to promote tiatr. He mentioned that tiatr audience membership far excelled that of nataks in Maharashtra, Gujarat and even Bengal vis a vis ratio of population in those States. He further added that while the initial sum was a mere 15 lacs the Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of Art & Culture has made a budgetary provision of an one time grant of one crore and fifty lacs for the infrastructure et al. He also stated that Goa was the first state in the country to have a Cultural Policy unlike other states . This policy was formulated under the guidance of Dr Nandkumar Kamat. The Tiatr Academy is the result of this policy. “ Tiatr “ as a performing art -- it has become a symbol of Goan culture and despite odds censorship by the erstwhile Portuguese regime or it being relegated to the stature of entertainment for the lowly placed section of the society or financial constraints it has survived without Government support since the beginning of the 20th century. It centers around a story with around in parts of the order of six to seven and intermingled with “cants” and cantaram . Each tiatr costs around Rs.15,000 to 20,000 for high profile tiatrists numbering 10. There are 2000 tiatrs staged per annum and the audience member ship is a whopping seven lacs nearly two thirds of the population of Goa (14 lacs at 2001 census) including 4 lacs of migrants . Politicians in power or those aspiring to be one know too well the emotive appeal of the “ tiatr” as it acts as a barometer of their social standing or their performance as this form of performing arts vibes strongly with the masses. However all promised but none fulfilled . It provides not only entertainment invoking guffaws of laughter but it depicts social evils, provides moral education to society and above all reflects the pulse of the society from time to time. With almost 500 feasts being celebrated in Goa on any given day all 365/366 days of the year, no feast is complete without a “tiatr” -- a must see . There are two books written thus far by Fausto Da Costa and another by Wilmix Wilson Mazarello, another one remembering the deceased is on the way by “ Kokoy “ John Gomes. Tiatrist or Konkani playwrights can broadly be classified as those deceased, those performing until Liberation of Goa, those post Liberation and those since the beginning of the 21st century. Constancio Lucasinho Caridade Ribeiro alias Lucasinho Ribeiro hailing from Assagao in Bardez, Goa himself a composer, musician and singer Mr. Joao Agostinho Fernandes from Modsai Margao an employee in a pharmaceutical firm, Mr. Agostinho Mascarehnas from Mungul, Margao and a fourth whose name is unknown met at the residence of Ribeiro, at Round Bungalow Picket Road Bombay now Mumbai and formed a dramatic troupe of five named as “Goa Portuguese Dramatic Company”. He penned down his first Konkani tiatro a translation of an Italian Opera by Gonsalez Brothers and named it “Italian Bhurgo” Nearly 117 years ago on Easter Sunday 17th April 1892 they staged their first play at the New Alfred Theatre (Bombay) at a time when middle and upper class people witnessed operas in English or Portuguese by the group “Instituto Luso Indiano”in Gaitey Theatre (Capitol Cinema) and Cawsji Hallant Dhobi talao and it was well received by the audience and earned rave reviews. Later on 1st January, 1894 the first konkani tiatr was staged by Mr. Lucasinho Ribeiro in Assagao Goa. Joao Agostinho Fernandes also believed in good direction, good music, well rehearsed plays characterization of roles . He was the first Goan to publish his works in book form. At a time when women would dare not venture on Konkani stage owing to social stigma even in the Marathi “nataks “, Mr Fernandes set the trend of introducing woman on stage. His wife Ms. Regina Fernandes thus became the first woman to act on stage on 22/11/1904, in his play Bhatakar “Bhattkara de Panzare –I earning her the unique distinction of being a trend setter as at that time even the Marathi stage did not have a single woman who performed on stage owing to the social stigma It is only owing to these souls who have left for their heavenly abode --- trio Constancio Lucasinho Caridade Ribeiro alias Lucasinho Ribeiro, Joao Agostinho Fernandes – “ Pai Tiatrist “ his wife Ms. Regina Fernandes. Rich tributes were paid to the legendary trio by the President of the Tiatr Academy Mr Tomazinho Cardozo (appointed since 6.1.2009). He lavished special praise for the role of Regina Fernandes (apparently to make amends for her photograph being left out on the advertisements when she rightly deserved praise for her singular role in 1904) . Objectives of the Tiatr academy is to encourage and impart training to “tiatr” as a performing art he said with due attention being paid not only to script writing in Roman script its literary content song dance music but covering the entire gamut of acting direction stage setting light effect acoustics production and its promotion as well world over. It is also intended to compile collate and gather manuscript literary works of tiatrist and establish a museum for such purposes. It would also encourage dramatic troupes cultural exchanges hold tiatr festivals and encourage child artistes and women by holding workshops seminars and revive the tiatr at the village level. Me made a grim observation of the fact that there was a shortfall of musicians knowing wind blowing instruments and hence the Academy would endeveaour to train such persons. To set aside the oft repeated fears among some members of the Tiatr fraternity mr Tomazinho pleaded for time of atleast a year before one sits in judgement of the fate of the Academy. To impress upon this point he made special mention that the Executive Council and General Council consisted of members of all three dominant religious communities Hindu, Moslem and Christian, there were others musicians technicians, reviewers of tiatr etc hence every segment that is responsible for the tiatr is included to give it a good balance. He also made a mention that all Academies set up in Goa had even a small financial beginning some with even seven lacs, therefore not much needs to be read into the amount of 15 lacs. He also stated that the Dalgado Konknni Academy received 50 lacs for the promotion of Konkani in Roman script. Others that will steer the Academy to fruition are Roseferns Vice President, Sharon Mazarelo, Prince Jacob Premanand Sangodkar, Mario Pereira, Joe Rose, Jessie Dias, Mike Mehta (Adv) Osvy Viegas Fr. Nevel Gracias, Anil Kumar Mario Menezes Marcelino Noronha Sheikh Amir Joasinho D Souza Daniel F De Souza, Presidents of -- non stop Tiatristanchi Suanstha, Dalgado Konkani Academy, Britona Dramatic Academy, Alfi Art Production, Kala Niketan besides Prasad Lolayekar Director of Art & Culture and Victor D Sa as Member Secretary. On the ocassion 15 artisites male /female who have crossed the age of 60 and 70 years hailing from Mumbai and Goa were awarded on the inaugural day for their contribution to tiatr. Ophelia Cabral D Souza, Antonette Mendes, Teeta Pretto , Anita Pereira Fernandes, Lidvinda A Clara Dias , Lucas Fernandes, Alegro Roque T Antao - Star of Arrossim, Antonio Moraes, Pedro Caetano D Silva (C D Silva), Thomas Domingo, Rosario Antao, Remmie Colaco, ( Padmashree ) Manuel Santano Aguiar-M Boyer, John Claro Fernandes, Jose Lourenco Vaz (Master Vaz) Majorda and Philomena Braz Crasto. The Chief Minister is his speech spoke of his desire to examine the demand for giving industry status to tiatr. He regaled the audience when he sang unaccompanied by any musical instrument a song sung by his class mate in school Joao Baptista . He said he was surprised at the talent of Joao who would compose any song almost in a jiffy. He also stated that he fulfilled the desire of the tiatrist by naming the hall after Pai Tiatrist. This was followed by a cultural program by Roseferns Peter Rosahn Bab Mython Victor Mario Menezes Rosy Alvares Lawry Travasso, Comedian Joano Comedian Edilson Baby Roma Prince Jacob Supremo Hubert Comedians Agostinho Selvy Jesus and Hortencio Pereira Anil Kumar Fatima Rocky Dias Baby Ziyana Xavier Gomes Marcus Vaz Felcy C D Silva Shaikh Amir Marcelina de Betim and Ben Evangelisto with music provided by Maestr Sidelights of the event: a) the function started at 1750 hrs in the absence of CM because a Central Minister Mr Oscar Fernandes had come to attend the function of expansion of the ESIS hospital at Margao earlier. b) the CM attended the function at 1823, other surprise guests were Home Minister Mr Ravi Naik and ex Union Minister Shri Eduardo Faleiro c) notable absentees were Mike Mehta (Adv ) and Mr Osvy Viegas and some others when their names were called out to introduce the Tiatr Academy Committee members d) Ms Ophelia, Mr M Boyer and Mr Remi Colaco were unable to attend to receive the awards due to ill health. e) Ms Philomena Braz Crasto was brought on wheel chair to receive the award f) the family of " Pai tiatrist " was found seated in the audience instead of given a front row honour befitting the ocassion g) Ms Chari and Mr Daniel F De Souza compered the event. h) CM's extempore song was the best part of the evening. i) momentos shawl and flower bouquet were offerred to the 15 tiatrist in the age group of 60's 70's by the CM Mr Digamber Kamat Mr Ravi Naik and Mr Eduardo Faleiro. j) at interval there were hushed comments whether CM would grant recognition to Roman script Konkani others felt that atleast an injustice to tiatrist had been rectified seventeen years later. k) several MLAs were missing considering this day to be a red letter day for tiatrist and Goans at large.
from the Pai tiatrist Hall GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [email protected] Bollywood news, movie reviews, film trailers and more! Go to http://in.movies.yahoo.com/
