‘Ghutt’ VCD a suspense mystery murder thriller

‘Ghutt’ VCD a suspense mystery murder thriller
Daniel F. de Souza, Goa

The memories of late C.Alvares the evergreen hero and doyen of the konkani stage are being kept alive by his daughter Capucina Alvares by producing his works on CDs and VCD. The latest offering of C. Alvares Films in association with Ashterwayne Productions is a video film ‘Ghutt’ which is directed by Capucina Alvares. The story of the film is incidentally adapted from the super hit drama ‘Axea’ of C. Alvares.

‘Ghutt’ is a story of an expatriate Goan family returning to their roots in Goa. Steve (Kevin D’Mello) , his handicapped sister Nikita (Jessica) and their mother Mrs. Leonor (Jessie Dias) make up this happy family together with their African maid servant Rosemarie. Steve is an adopted son but he is never discriminated in any manner and showered with all love and affection. But when it comes to Steve disclosing his desire to marry his lady love Sherijane (Anita), the mother is not in favour of his choice and brings a strong objection to this alliance. But, nevertheless in his sister Nikita, Steve has a strong supporter. Then there is a family friend Tanya (Shruti Naik) who secretly loves Steve for too long. Steve however is not aware of this. Steve defies his mother and marries Sherijane. On the wedding itself the newly wedded couple is engulfed in a serious tragedy with the suspicious death of Sherijane after she consumes a glass of cold drink.

‘Ghutt’ a murder mystery from the very beginning to the end is then brought to its logical conclusion with the arrival of private detective Inspector Braganza (Wilmix) and his team of able investigators. The murder mystery is solved after a very detailed and systematic investigation and the murderer is proved beyond any doubt by Inspector Braganza..

Comedy supreme Humbert brings a high degree of comedy and laughter in this film with his natural pranks as the cook Pedro. Brenda as Rosemaria supports him in his comic endeavours. The film has a couple of songs too. The Music is by Babush and the videography and editing is by Domnic Dias. While the film is captured at good outdoor locations as well as indoors, the ending of the story however appears to be a little too abrupt and makes one ponder whether the murder was really justified in the first place?

While all the actors play their respective roles well, Steve appears a little too raw in the role of the young lover opposite talented Anita who is very spontaneous, graceful and natural. While veteran actor Jessie wins your heart with her defining role as a strict mother, her role is comparatively small and the potential of this versatile and great State Award winning artist is under utilized in this film. Wilmix as Inspector Braganza is very convincing and natural and role fits him like a glove.

Do pick up an original copy today to add to your library, for ‘Ghutt’ is an interesting and watchable murder mystery thriller that will hold you in suspense from beginning till the end. With a little bit of more creativity and imagination as well as a little more attention to the direction and other minor details, this VCD could have still been taken to even greater heights.

Ben Evangelisto giving final touches to PEZ

Ben Evangelisto giving final touches to PEZ
Daniel F. de Souza, Goa

In June 2005 when Anil Kumar staged M. Boyer’s ‘Sonvsar Sudhorlo’ a masterpiece of the mid-seventies it was a real treat to the tiatr lovers. The show revived back sweet memories of the golden era of tiatr of the seventies and eighties. People flocked back to the theaters like never before. Director Anil Kumar no doubt was a satisfied man for having tasted sweet success with this experiment. But, one actor who stole the limelight in ‘Sonvsar Sudhorlo’ and won the hearts of the tiatr lovers was none other than character comedian Ben Evangelisto who played the key role of late Jacinto Vaz to the hilt. The popularity of Ben Evangelisto as a character comedian attained a new heights with his near imitation of late Jacinto Vaz.

But soon thereafter in early 2006 Ben Evangelisto migrated to the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures. While there in UK, somewhere in July 2006, he staged his much acclaimed drama ‘Chondrim’ for the expatriate Goans. He also took part in Konkani Musical shows in different parts of Europe and Canada with Lorna and other Goan artistes. But, Ben did not act for any other director in Goa or elsewhere in India since the time he did the role of late Jacinto Vaz in ‘Sonvsar Sudhorlo’.

As a director Ben has tasted sweet success with his intellectual tiatr ‘Devak Zai Zalear’ a contemporary tale that first time experimented with a unique subject of surrogate mother-ship on the Konkani stage. The show was an instant success. In September 2007 Manfa Music Margao released this talented character comedian’s video album of songs ‘Ben’s Top Hits’. Two songs in this album were picturised in London. ‘Londoncho Mog’ together with English actor Gabriela for instance was picturised below the famed Tower Bridge in London, this is perhaps the first Konkani song to be picturised at this picturesque location.

After almost a two and a half year stint in the United Kingdom Ben Evangelisto has returned back to his roots for a short holiday and his fans will soon see him back on stage with a bang with his new production entitled ‘PEZ”. This tiatr is slated for release on 21st June 2008 at 3.30 P.M. at Hanuman theatre, Mapusa. Ponda tiatr lovers get an opportunity in their town on 22nd June at 3.30 p.m. On 25th June at 3.30 P.M. at the Vidya Niketan, Margao, and the show comes to Panjim on 1st July 2008 at 3.30 p.m.

Speaking to this writer, the playwright was reluctant to spell out the storyline of his new tiatr. However, he did hint that the story is inspired by and based on some real facts that had a larger ramification on the social and moral fabric of Goa quite sometime back. He also disclosed that the show will have some appealing stage sets and visuals. As a director with progressive ideas who had the courage of experimenting with the intellectual subject of surrogate mother-ship on the konkani stage, one can surely expect yet another intelligent plot in his new venture ‘PEZ’.

‘PEZ’ is having a vast cast comprising of some top Konkani stage artistes. Mumbai based Antonette Mendes, Syvester Vaz, (Kuwait), singer Akki (London) Comedian Luis Bachchan, Aniceto, Dolla Mascarenhas, Ron, Fr. Neville Gracias, and Music director Theo Alvares of Chris Perry fame along with the other artistes are going to come together to make PEZ a tasty traditional presentation in every sense of the word. Do book your tickets in advance to avoid last minute disappointment and to discourage sale of tickets by unscrupulous black marketers.