TIATRO: KAL AIZ ANI FALEAM by Mario Menezes.

KAL – AIZ ani FALEAM.

During my last two month of vacation in Goa I saw number of Konkani Tiatros and among them what I saw on Sunday 24th May 2009 at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, “KAL AIZ ani FALEAM written and directed by Mario Menezes tops my list of appreciation. A very good family story contents of which I am not disclosing here at this stage since the show has to go a long way. I feel daughters and daughters-in-law of current generation must make a point to see this Tiatro. It is very educative.

Mario Menezes as known to everyone is a good writer, director and composer and as such he deserves lot of accolades.

This show was attended by the capacity crowd and those who could not get seats were seen standing at the back of the last row.

The story makes exciting drama with some suspense incidents where the audience keeps gasping for breath especially when Baby Rioma put everyone on surprise mood in a very interesting incident where she was made to suffer for what she never did. Her acting was excellent and at this very youg age she showed what great future artiste she will be. Child is the father of a man, said William Wordswoth.

Lawry Travasso, Rosy Alvares and veteran Sabina played their respective roles well and comedy queen Janet again stole the show and proved to everyone that she is still going strong in her area.

The side show songs though lacked variety of items as required in the traditional Tiatro yet all the three Kuwait returnee Tiatrists, namely Xavier Gomes, Marcus Vaz and Francis de Tuem rendered very good songs. So far what I have seen I can rightly say that these three Tiatrists are the best among all the singers in Goa. Their trio on Kid - Young - Rod brings out nostalgic feelings of yesteryears Tiatrists. Marcus Vaz the son of senior most Tiatrist Master Vaz deserves compliments for preparing this song. Though lacked in originality yet they did some justice for what they sang and within their capacity they remembered the great oldies well. Xavier Gomes should have wore “Castor” – Chimneypot Hat - to give genuine picture of legendary Minguel Rod though he did well by wearing Tailcoat to imitate Minguel Rod. The legendary Minguel Rod whom I am sure Xavier Gomes must have never seen on the stage was more known for wearing “Castor” which was his trade mark just as P-Cap was the trade mark of another great Tiatrist Kid Boxer.

Though nobody in Konkani stage can imitate jet speed singer Young Menezes yet Francis de Tuem did some justice in singing a part of one fast song of Young Menezes. Marcus Vaz made a mention in this trio of 500 worded song yet I must add something more. This 500 worded song was composed and rendered by Young Menezes in Kid Boxer’s Tiatro and Kid Boxer himself came on to the stage and offered a reward of Rs. 500/- for anyone who proved that this song was less worded than 500. Singing this song at that speedy pace was not an easy task for Young Menezes and at the later part of the song while singing Young was so tired that he had to catch hold of his own stomach due to sudden pain developed but completed the song and received tremendous applauding from the audience.

Xavier Gomes’ solo on “Vath” was very meaningful and philosophical. His style of singing and timing were very attractive and his topics are simple but magnified giving philosophical touch though lack high literary and intellectual essence. Lawry Travasso’s solo on foreigners nuisance in Goa makes interesting listening. Francis de Tuem’s solo on serial killer Mohannad was excellent and he has beautifully composed it. It was a big kick on the back of Goa Police and its leadership. Those who burnt the house of Mohannad as a revenge against these killings should have burnt the houses of those policemen responsible for releasing Mohannad when he was first time arrested and released for the first murder. Goa Police department is in the hands of stupid policemen. Just because Rickshaw drivers organised morcha in support of Mohannad that does not mean Mohannad is innocent. Is this to say that “morchawallas” render justice? Then why do we have Police force and Judiciary? Our Police Department is in the hands of idiots.

Rosy Alvares’ solo with her melodious voice was well accepted by the audience. She is become the torch bearer of Alvares Clan namely C. Alvares, F. Alvares and Champion Alvares once gigantic tiatrists not only from Sangolda and Bardez but of the entire Goan world.

THE best song of the entire side show was the duo rendered by Lawry Travasso and Mario Menezes. In this song the composer Lawry Travasso brings out on fore greatness of our traditional and cultural items which we seniors saw but regretfully our youngsters missed. Both the singers sang it beautifully but Mario Menezes lent a beautiful “Segundo” for this song and made it more attractive yet at certain point Menezes goofed by forgetting the words thereby putting Lawry Travasso out of gear.

Well done Mario Menezes and his troupe.


A.VERONICA FERNANDES.

Dempo go down fighting in Kuwait: AFC Cup

By Gasper Crasto, Kuwait

Kuwait: Dempo played their hearts out till the end but could not overcome the Arabs in the AFC Cup pre-quarter one-off knockout at Keifan Stadium here on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.

The ‘physically strong’ Kuwait Sporting Club won the match 3-1.

The Goan team was undone by 2 penalties awarded justly by the referee either half of the match. Dempo defenders John Dias and Valerian hacked down the Kuwaiti strikers in both instances while the other goal was scored off a corner kick lapse.

Dempo striker Ranty Martins received marching orders after a second booking at the fag end of the match for arguing with the referee.

The Kuwaitis struck in the 20th minute of the first half. That lead held until the 60th minute of the second half when the Arabs scored another unimpressive of their goals off a corner. However, when Brazilian Beto scored a goal for Dempo (2-1) in the 70th minute, things seemed interesting for Dempo coach Armando Colaco.

Dempo looked superior to Kuwait at times in the second half with Sameer, captain Climax Lawrence, Anthony Pereira, Ranty and Beto combining superbly, but overall, the Kuwaitis had several near misses in the match. While the Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal was kept busy at work throughout, Dempo’s efforts to penetrate past Kuwait were bottled by 2 giant stopper backs and one of the tallest goalkeepers seen in football.

Contrary to low key spectator expectations to the first match by a Goan outfit, the game was marked by a large number of expatriate (almost all-Goan) spectator response with some fans sporting the Dempo colors, and booing the ref with the famous Goan ‘uushh’. There were fans with drums, banners and the stand allocated for Dempo was over filled. It was an international match (if fellows in Indian organizations in Kuwait know the meaning) between one of the top Indian clubs and the Kuwaitis.

The match was able to catch the imagination of many die-hard Indian football fans especially the number of Goans residing in Kuwait who are denied watching ‘quality football’ in recent years. Thanks to the worthless administrators and promoters involved around, half the people playing are unaware of their own standings in local competitions, leave alone the chances of others.

When Brazil played Kuwait at Keifan stadium in 2006, the stadium was jam packed. Dempo are no Brazil but given the popularity and fan following of the Goan team, the support received by Dempo was tremendous. One can imagine the difference in the spectator response; there were hardly any expatriate flies for the Kuwait match against Mohun Bagan a few weeks ago.

In temperatures as high as 44°C, the best of players find it difficult to retain their balance or run at full speed and control the ball in a country like Kuwait at this time of the year. Cheers to Dempo for giving the Kuwaitis a run for the money.

Also check: Gulf Goans E-Newsletter & http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=126520

About the Writer

Gasper Crasto is a former National level player.

Played for Salgaocar from 1990-91 to 1998-99. Played in the National League and 2 Federation Cup Finals – one against Mohun Bagan (Goa - 1993-94), other against East Bengal (Salt Lake, Culcutta - 1995-96), besides representing Goa at Santosh Trophy and playing in various tournaments.

Awarded ‘Athlete of the Year’ in Kuwait in 2003

Current player/coach of League Champions Navelim Youth Centre.

Website: http://gaspersworld.tripod.com/