125TH BIRTHDAY OF TIATRO CELEBRATED.

On 17^th April, 2017, at Kala  Academy Panjim, I attended the especial programme organised jointly by Kala Academy and TAG (Tiatro Academy of Goa) to mark the 125^th anniversary of the Tiatro.  The first Tiatro “ITALIAN BURGO” was scripted and staged by Lucazinho Ribeiro in Bombay 125 years ago, i.e. 17.04.1892.   I am sure, he must have never realized this baby known as Tiatro conceived by him would reach to this length and height. But the facts are facts for us to see the greatness of Tiatro since its birth.  It is the most powerful weapon in Goa now to shake the most arrogant authority and most powerful persons in Goa. The worst arrogance of Bhattkars was destroyed by Tiatrists and the worst caste discrimination was hammered by the Tiatrists only.  The mighty Salazar’s regime even got afraid of the mighty power of the Tiatro and precisely because of this during the Portuguese time in Goa Censorship was ruthlessly introduced for Tiatro and Tiatrists. Some of the Tiatrists were even barred from entering Goa from Bombay. Thru Tiatros we release our sentiments, hardships and feelings.  Tiatros became the voice of the rejected and those who were hurt by the top. Thru Tiatro we got justice in society because it became a very powerful method of obtaining justice from any authority taking interest in Goa.

Anthony San & Rita Rose

Moreover, Tiatro is become a big industry now engaging innumerable persons directly and indirectly earning good amount of money.  Did Lucazinho Ribeiro realized this commercial factor of his baby?  I am sure, not but when he started it, for him it must have been just to pass his time but destiny had its own route and this has what happened. 

Fatima - Antonette Mendes - Betty Naz

During the first decade the standard of Tiatro was high and some of the directors were educated who even translated Plays from foreign languages into Konkani. Only after a quarter of a century "Rostad" type of Tiatrists got involved in this field and brought its image low. Most of these Rostad Tiatrists were drunkards and womenisers who lacked basic discipline at home and  good family tradition and culture.  It is during this period that good people stopped patronizing our Tiatros. However, during this period the genius Minguel Rod appeared on the Stage and through his God given skill he totally revolutionised Konkani Satage by writing and staging extraordinary Tiatros of which type nobody is capable to write. 

Jose Rose

Then came on the Stage another genius J.P. Souzalin who by staging religious Tiatros brought name and fame  for Konkani Tiatros. Then came the golden voiced singer Alfred Rose who westernized the Tatro  thus attracting the youth and romantic audience.  In late fifties, the golden voice of Alfred Rose enhanced the rating of the Tiatro very much. Just before him came into the picture C.Alvares, Alexinho de Candolim, Kid Boxer, M. Boyer, Prem Kumar and many more.  All these Tiatrists were very much responsible to keep the flag of Tiatros flyiing higher and higher from where it will never fall down.  That is the base of Tiatro. Even those who do not understand Konkani among Goans they will learn Konkani to understand Tiatros because Tiatros have become very attractive especially of those great writers and directors. It is Tiatros that is responsible to promote and spread Konkani language and Goan culture and tradition. Nobody can forget the entry of Lorna on Konkani Stage that totally changed the face of Konkani Tiatro.

Eugeno Cardoso

Coming back to the function oranised on 17^th of this month, there were two ministers, one Francis D’Souza and the other Govind Gauvde as main guests, one director of Art & Culture Loliencar, one Secretary of Art and Culture Daulat Hawaldar and one MLA from Panjim Mr. Kuncalliencar. All these honourable VIP guests praised Tatros and assured their assistance and cooperation in promoting Tiatros and even building one more new Auditorium for Tiatro in Panjim. They, especially the elected representatives praised Konkani but will these people in the Goa Legislative Assembly at an appropriate time vote in favour of Konkani? I doubt. I will rather rely on Judas knowing his Kiss will betray me but never on those traitors who falsely profess their support for Konkani.   

Jessy Dias - Ben Evangelisto

The highlight of the celebration was the cultural programme “Goychea Tiatracho Ithias” in which rich tributes were paid to some of the yesteryears Tiatrists by introducing their songs and scenes of their famous Tiatros.  Joe Rose imitated Minguel Rod by singing his solo “Tarvotti” which was very well rendered with perfect imitation with the exception of not going Nasal as Minguel Rod.  The duet of C.Alvares rendered by Jessie Dias and Benevangelisto “Figur Haddlam Putan” was excellently rendered by both the singers. The character of C.Alvares played by Ben was perfect especially with respect to vocals.  But instead if they had to render the most beautiful duet of C.Alvares “Aum Tarvar Vetam” would be a majestic gesture because such a duet was never rendered on Konkani Stage.  The current generation would have also know the greatness of C.Alvares and why he was called the “Pai Duettancho”. The scene of Jesus Carrying the cross from J.P.Souzalin’s Tiatro “Saibinnicheo Sat Dukhi” would be still better if one great Motet in Latin was payed during that particular time.  I remember when Souzalin staged this Tiatro in Mapusa, the Music Director of Johnson and His Jolly Boys, Mr. Johnson (Joazinho) came to see this Tiatro twice, only to listen to the beautiful music of this Motet named “Filius Est Jerusalem” the most sorrowful Motet.  The current generation would also come to know the greatness of Motets in Latin which our elders played and sang till 45 years back.  Today these Motets are dying and some are already dead because we don’t have Solfist Mestiri in our Churches to keep them alive.  Our Churches have money to spend for anything and everything except to employ Mistiri with good knowledge of Solfas.    

A scene from Tiatro

The song "Kottecho Bikari" of Alexinho de Candolim rendered by Eugeno Cardoso an exfootballer of Dempo/Goa, was acclaimed as the best.  Though Eugeno Cardoso tried to imitate Alexinho de Candolim but still he remained far because Alexinho de Candolim was the born genius who while singing this song then, the overwhelming majority of the audience was crying in the "Mattou". Secondly, some of the original words were replaced and missed.   

The  duet of Alfred Rose “Goa – Zolmancho Ghaum Goa” rendered by Anthony San and original singer Rita Rose was excellent showing lot of originality while the beautiful Canto from M. Boyer’s Tiatr “Sounsar Sudhorlo” rendered by the original singer Antonette Mendes with her still mellifluent voice captured the hearts of the audience. Though she is ageing as seen from her physical features yet her attractive voice is still the same, i.e. what it was 50 years back.  She has served the Konkani Stage for over 60 years now and for which we are grateful to her, I pray to God to keep her in good health to serve the Konkani audience occasionally at least.

A.Veronica Fernandes.