Mega Konkani Drama on May 11

 By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait: A Konkani Tiatr (drama) entitled Ghonvdho (Mason) will be staged in Kuwait  on Friday, 11th May 2012, 3.30pm, at the Kuwait Medical Association Auditorium, Jabriya (near the Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital).

   Presented by Kuwait’s famed Lopes Brothers, the drama is written and directed by Nazareth Felix Rodrigues, popularly known in tiatr circles as Nazy Rod.

    Hailing from Rivona, Goa,  Nazy has written and staged several plays namely Krim Kednanch Bogsona, Ekuch Rogot Pun Kon Guneavkari,  Voniek Lagon, Mhozo Fuddar Raklo, Xirap, Xevott, etc. Nazy has also penned folk plays (Konkani Khell) such as Xevott,  Leenakshi,  Hanv Guneavkari, etc, which were broadcast on All India Radio, Panjim.

    ‘Ghonvddho’ will consist a galaxy of eminent stars. Renowned artistes and celebrities of the Konkani stage will be flown in all the way from Goa to enact in the drama. The star cast includes Comedian Anita, Steffie Goes, Comedian Luis Bachchan, Marcus Vaz and Francis de Tuem.

Francis de Tuem, the admired Goan singer blessed with a clear and pleasant voice, has carved a niche for himself on Konkani stage. The top-most singer, best known for his political songs, is expected to sing 3 enchanting solos.

Among the popular Kuwait based artistes that will take part in the drama, Sylvester Vaz, the 'Hitman of Konkani Stage' one of the superstars of Kuwait is set to sweep the audience off their feet. Other Kuwait based stars in the show are Irene Vaz, Agnes, Cajetan de Sanvordem, Sylvester Vaz, Micheal D'Silva, Mario de Majorda, Salu Faleiro, Edward Estibeiro, Lopes Bros, Luis de Sanguem, Micky, Braz de Parra, Francis, Seby, Manuel, Bab Joshua and Nazy Rod.

There will be powerful and melodious duos, trios and quartets especially composed for Kuwait audience while the drama itself promises a captivating story loaded with rib-tickling comedy sequences by comedians Luis Bachan, Anita and Salu Faleiro.

The music for the show will be provided by Maestro Shahu and his troupe. Stage-sets and lights will be provided by Thomas while John Furtado will be in charge of the sound system.

To reserve gate-passes please contact: Salmiya - M&M Confectionery - Tel: 25619946 – 97521134 or Mac - 66185487, Manuel - 99923176, Cliff - 99301347, Luis - 97895742, Nazy – 99663252, Agnello – 66512602 and Alex - 67645893.

PRESIDENT OF INDIA WASTING MONEY.

PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL HAS BEEN TRAVELLING OVERBOARD



By Aires Rodrigues


Besides her foreign trips the President of India Pratibha Patil has been also recklessly traveling across the country too.

Last year President Patil was on a four day fiesta in Goa. It was first projected that it was a private visit but it was later revealed under the RTI Act that it was shown as an official one. Though President Patil was on a private holiday to Goa her visit was sought to be shown as official so that the expenditure could be charged to the State exchequer. If the trip was official the authorities should have explained the purpose of that four day trip.

A total expenditure of Rs 14, 18, 772 was incurred by the Goa Government on that President Pratibha Patil’s holiday in Goa. President Pratibha Patil was accompanied on that trip to Goa by her husband Dr. Devisingh Shekhawat, her daughter Jyoti Rathore, grand daughter Vedika Rathore and a total of 36 personal staff.

While President Pratibha Patil parked herself at Goa Raj Bhavan, a whopping Rs 3, 20,250 was spent on the lodging and boarding expenses at a five star resort Cidade de Goa for the members of the President’s entourage, and a further amount of Rs 1, 29,915 was spent on the lodging and boarding of some others in her troupe housed at the International centre at Dona Paula. A total of Rs 6, 23,188 was spent on vehicles hired by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation to be used for the President’s entourage. Rs 2, 01,220 was spent for the lunch on a day trip by the President Pratibha Patil at Taj Exotica in Benaulim. Another lunch hosted by the Chief Minister at Cidade de Goa in honour of President Patil cost the exchequer Rs 1, 19,999. While Rs 20,000 was spent on the boat ride, Para sailing and Jet Ski organized for President Patil at Benaulim beach, flowers presented to her cost the tax payer Rs 4,400

Such unnecessary trips and extravagant expenditure should stop. Besides being a very unjust burden on the State exchequer it is also an inconvenience to the public at large because of traffic jams caused by such visits. In a country where poverty is wide spread and the prevalence of child under nutrition is among the highest in the world, we cannot afford such wasteful expenditure. While Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister can be termed a political disaster, the 205 crores squandered on President Pratibha Patil’s foreign jaunts is a national disgrace.