NEW KONKANI FILM "PADRIK NAVN NA"? BY VALERIAN VAZ.

ON 16^th of this month at Panjim ESG theatre I saw the new Konkani Film “Padrik Navn Na?” . Though it was not a full house audience yet with the exception of few empty Chairs in the front segment, the rest of the Chairs were filled up. At an outset, the joint script writer and the director and also the main force behind producing this Cinema, Mr. Valerian Vaz from Agacaim Goa, along with the main artiste of this Film Pradeep Naik who played an sterling role of a Priest first and later on as an old and broken hearted man, the latter addressing the audience gave a brief history and background of this Cinema and requested the audience to speak good of this Cinema if they found it worthy of speaking good

                                                 Seen above are Vaz & Pradip

The script and direction is done jointly by Valerian Vaz and Viraj Salkar while the Line Producer is Gajanan Naik and co-producer is Andre Teixera. 

The two priests shown in this film namely Pradip Naik and Nitin Kavlekar surprisingly are both Hindus in their real life and yet they played their roles well.  However, they both failed to show to the audience their perfect “Padripon” by not walking  like genuine traditional “Padri”.  If this they had done well they would be still shining more. I am sure they  both missed to see the role of a Padri the renown and powerful artiste the late J.P. Souzalin was playing then.  I am sure even they have not seen Anthony D’Sa doing the role of a Padri so beautifully and their beauty of this role focused on the way they walk.  If nothing could they do then they should have approached Cyriaco Dias who is very much living now, he would have easily trained them.  The director of this Film carry the blame for not directing his artistes properly and even when they make the Sign of the Cross there is no genuineness in them and even the blessing they give is not full fledged genuine, it did not look like natural.  How many of us remember the controversy erupted when Shalini the main Actress of Nirmon Film committed the goof while doing the Sing of the Cross?  Then somebody asked “what is the knowledge of that director on Christianity?"

The story of the film is very good but I decline to elaborate it because I want this Film to be watched by more and more people so  that the producer and others who have invested so much in this Film will not be able to recover their investment.  So it is my request that all the Konkani lovers should make a point to see it when it is screened again.

It is very pathetic to see how the innocent “Padri” made to suffer innocently by the latest crop of Bastardised MLA’s who to fulfill  their ambition of getting elected  are ready to do anything.  The role here of the MLA Braganza played by Vinod Vernekar was wonderful, in this role he depicts himself exactly like the MLA’s from Bihar and other jungle like parts of India depicts.  To a certain extent in Goa also we see some glimpses of such nasty acts of our MLA’s. 

All said and done, the Film is worth seeing and I suggest everyone who has missed this time then they must go next time.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

WELCOME TO GOA - THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL.

With all my love and affection,  I, on my behalf as well as on behalf of all the like minded “nizache Goenkar”, welcome the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza to Goa today for a two day State visit to Goa.  During his two day visit to Goa he will sign an MoU on Water and Sewerage Management between Portugal and the Public Works Department, Goa. I am sure Goa will surely gain a lot in this joint venture where Portuguese know how is vastly superior because our so called experts are lacking in the proper expertise in many of the fields because they passed their exams in those subjects they are especialised with less marks as they are given preferential treatment being the members of Backward class/caste.  These are the same Engineers and Geologists who planned the first Mandovi Bridge which within a few years collapsed.  It was planned and approved by some of the experts who passed their final exam with less marks because they were given grace marks because they belonged to the Backward class/caste.

   

When the Portuguese government made its decision to build this Bridge during their last years in Goa, a team of top experts in Bridge building came to Goa from Portugal and first they discarded the very same spot the Indian donkeys selected and where they finally built the Bridge which ultimately collapsed within 15 years.  The Portuguese Engineers told that the spot where the Indian Engineers built  later on and the same known as Mandovi Bridge was collapsed, will not withstand the fury of lower current and finally what  the Portuguese experts predicted and analysed correctly that only happened.  Viva Portugal for their system and discipline.  

I am sure even the Atomic device India manufactured must be having some defects because of weak and defective methods used by our scientists who are among the most corrupt experts becauae many of them must be coming from Backward class/caste who got their Engineering and professional degrees with grace marks for belonging to the lower caste/class.  They don’t have patriotism and if they had they would not sell Atomic secrets some years back for a Whiskey Bottle and other such gifts.  

     

My connection and affiliation to Portugal will never die down even though we were denied our freedom and independence by the Portuguese government for which I totally hold Portugal under Salazarist dictatorial regine responsible and not the visiting Portuguese President nor the current government in Portugal.   All the governments that came to power after the end of Salazar and Zalazarist system were equally the victims of Salazarist brutalities, most of the members of these governments were also fighting to overthrow the Salazarists in Portugal because they were democrats and to introduce this system they were fighting against the dictatorial regime.  If the Salazarists had to fall  before 1961 instead of in 1974, I am sure without any hassle they would give not only the suppressed liberation for Goa as we have now  but full fledged independence for Goa as they  gave to Mocambique, Angola and other Portuguese colonies where many of our Freedom Fighters would be holding  the top positions as Premier – President and so on.  But with the so called fake liberation they had to eat “kuslelim ghottam”.

I am also grateful to Portugal for giving us some identity as Goans, good governance system and good discipline physical and moral. They did not develop us unwanted Ghantees.

Many of the Goan freedom fighters in the past during the visits of Portuguese government emissaries to Goa indicated their dislike for these visits of Portuguese VIP’s but they failed to accept the hard fact that all those visitors from Portugal have also suffered brutalities of Salazar because they were also fighting for the liberation of Portugaal from the clutches of Salazar.  After the fall of Salazarist regime, the  first anti-Salazar personality to visit Goa was the last Governador of Goa Vassalo e Silva.  The greatest friend, lover and saviour of Goa and Goans was he and precisely because of his love and deep affection for Goa and Goans he refused to implement the plan Salazar gave him to destroy Goa, burn it and turn into ashes. But he refused this brute order of Salazar and because of this refusal he was punished severely  by Salazar after he returned from invaded Goa to Portugal. I think it is his monument Goans must have built after the invasion of Goa. Do we have marbles to do this even now?  

The current President is the product of democratic mind set of Portugal and his love and affection for Goans as per my information is great indeed.  It is time for all Goans to welcome the Portugal 's President with open arms by saying VIVA PORTUGAL – VIVA PRESIDENT MARCELO REBELO DE SOUZA and VIVA GOA-PORTUGAL FRIENDSHIP.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

      

    

EX KUWAIT GOAN ROYAL AGNELO DIED

 It is with deep regret  and sorrow I write this piece to express my sorrow over the death  of one of my friends and colleagues, Agnelo Fernandes who also was a great lover  of Goa and popularly known as Royal Agnelo as  they were known in the name of ROYAL  in their  in his village Agacaim.  The death came on him on the 10^th of this monyh at 5.25 PM at Apollo Hospital, Margao,  he was undergoing Dialysis and during the last days he was almost in Coma from where he never recovered.

A father of 4 children – 2 boys and 2 girls, he was very popular in Kuwait among the expatriate Goans because of his social work and sporting activities he used to organized, so too the Goan cultural. He has helped many Goans who were afflicted with many difficulties financial being on the top where he helped so many.  Those who  we  were not having proper residence permit facilities he helped them in overcoming this difficulty even by keeping at his foown reaidential place.

His love for Goa and Konkani was infinite as it was proved by his patronage, involvement in Konkani promotion associations especially in Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Konkan Heritage and in the activities done for promotion Konkani cause.  He was one of the Agxikars who was instrumental in going ahead with the project of the erection of Konkani Martyrs headed by Florian Vaz and the remaining all from Agacaim and surrounding areas. He never felt shy to render financial assistance for the Konkani cause.

To help support and promote our Cultural items, he organised Tiatros in Kuwait by bringing especial troop of Tiatro fromGoa, eg. Felcy’s. His continued financial support to the Tiatros and Mando Festivals  was the right step in the promotion of our Cultural items. When Mangalorean Konkani promote Eric Ozario came to Kuwait with his Bosni which means Eric Ozario with his musical troop of musicians would occupy their seats on the ground while audience would also remain seated in front of him  and he would give speeches on variety of subjects pertaining to Konkani.  After finishing his speech on each he would render a cultural and tradional song with the accompaniment  of the Misical score provided by his own musical troop,

His biggest activity was the formation in Kuwait of his foot-ball team named as Royal  XI which had wonderful players that  created a very good team of Royal Agnelo that won number of Trophies in soccer, as winners as well as rnners-up. Thru this team Royal Agnelo gained lot of goodwill and prominence in Kuwait among Goans.  Because they were playing for his team, he  was helping some of his players in obtaining Residence Permits for them, jobs and many other amenities.

His worst misery was on 2^nd August 1990 when in the early morning while going to work driving his own car and wearing the Boiler Suit,  was caught by the Bastardised Iraqi Millitary personnel headed by the polluted Muslim leadership based in Baghdad, then they took him along with others to Bashra where they kept him for about a month and about this whereabout of him was not known to his family members who were in Kuwait and desperately waiting for his news whether he is alive or dead, then they lost all their hopes of seeing alive.  For one month in Iraqi Prison as Prisoner of War his life the Muslim soldiers made miserable, they did not allow him even to change his Boiler Suit which was smelling filthy, no water to have bath and no food properly and sleeping on the floor.  What was his and of his likes mistake?  These Bastards Iraqis made disgrace of our Brother Royal Agnelo and proved to the Jews, Christians and others how filthy their Iraq is.  Iraq was functioning  on the basis of its principles, then is this Iraqi principle to harass the  innocent people?  If this is their then I dislike it, instead I would rather embrace Judaism where they would treat the innocent people humanely.

The funeral of the late Agnelo Fernandes will take place on Saturday 15^th of this month at 4.00 PM at the Sada Christian Cemetry.  The body will will be taken for the burial from his residence at Keserwal – Cortalim at 3.00 PM.

May his soul Rest In Peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to all his family members to bear this colossal loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes

CANDOLIM FOOTBALL ARENA INAUGURATION.

10^th of February will remain an unique date in the history of Candolim Football arena because on this date the Candolim Foot-ball Arena was inaugurated  to cater to the needs of the football playing teams and players. It was the wonderful work done by the Candolim Panchayat under the leadership of young and energetic Sarpanch Blaize and his team of the Panchas.  

                                             Match is in progress

                                           Cidade de Goa team

The football ground was just repaired and reworked by spending lot of money by the Panchayat and the name of this Stadium is rightly retained as Dr. Gustavo Monteiro who has done so much for the development of Candolim soccer from early fifties when he  used to run the  Club almost single handedly even when the Candolim figured in the elite club of first division along with the then mighty teams of Goa dotted with some of the great Portuguese Pakle players from Portugal and also the Negro players from the Portuguese Colonies.  Can anyone remember the deadly magician right outer of Vasco Sports Club the renowned Arantel?  Similarly, can any one remember the much greater than all the greats from Portugal and its colonies, the gigantic and deadly sharp shooter Negro foot-baller playing for Bemfica's Mapusa as Centre forward?  Will we be able to see such genii again in our remaining life?  And is there anyone in my own village Candolim who remembers the 4 dynamic Prtuguese Pakle soldiers from Aguada who were inducted into the Candolim team thru the tremendous efforts of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro the moment  Candolim just a village team qualified into the Primeiro Divisao, thanks to the excellent efforts put in by Dr. Gustavo Monteiro to get them? Otherwise who else could do this job besides Dr. Gustavo in the absence of any other village stalwart? Why cannot we with the combined efforts of the Panchayat, local MLA Michael Lobo, family members of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro and of course the locals jointly embark on the mission of erecting the Monument or at a least a bust of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro in view of the excellent work he did in the promotion of Candolim Foot-ball?  The team that Candolim had and that had qualified for the First Divission was known as dream team and  during those days the name and fame of that  dream soccer team of Candolim  even reached to Portugal.  Some of the players of that golden team were  Goalkeepers Antonio Cabral (Tony Cal) from Orda St. Cruz and Shripad near Shanta Durga Temple; Backs - Right: Andrew Machado from Orda St. Cruz and Baba Naik - Left Back;  Midfielders Madhu Left Half - Centre Half my one brother Jose Marie and Rright Half Bushan who never played with Boots;  Centre Forward Cheddo my other  brother, right wing Babazinho, left wing Kamal and left outer Satchut.  It is to be noted that in Candolim first time in the history 3 brothers played together namely Kamal-Madhu - Satchut and the second a team of three brothers played for one team of Candolim were Cheddo-Jose Marie -Antonio Veronica Fernandes.

                                          Seen above is Shawn Martins Ex Sarpanch of Calangute  

                                 Seen above are some spectators in front of Foot -ball Arena                             

The ground was left into the hands of Dr Gustavo Monteiro who in the mid sixties handed it over to the Candolim Panchayat which was the right decision. Though it was not his own ground but it belonged to  the Nuns who acquired it for them to construct a big Convent but due to some unavoidable circumstances, they were denied permission by their Headquarters to construct the Convent.  Then the Nuns  left Candolim and Goa as well by leaving that big property into the hands of Portuguese Patriarch of Goa from whom Dr. Gustavo Monteiro got it for the local boys to play foot-ball. Since it did not belong to Dr. Monteiro, he did the right thing by not keeping it for him.  

Since the custody of foot-ball ground is the monopoly of Panchayat, the leadership of Blaize as Sarpanch has created lot of activities for the local boys.  The local MLA Micahel Lobo is very helpful and co-operative in promoting these activities and speaking to me he said he will do everything within his capacity to develop Candolim boys in sports in general and in foot-ball in particulars.  This view in mind, Candolim Panchayat started  Foot-ball Academy in Candolim which is organized by the local soccer expert Ricardo Cardoso who was an international goalkeeper having vast experience in this field. He is the son of once renowned and highly professional goal-keeper of Goa during his days and who even started a soccer Academy in Candolim but as per information the moment the leadership of  local soccer body was changed then this Academy was stopped.  

Coming back to the Football Academy under the guidance of Ricardo Cardoso,  about 50 local young boys are getting training on this ground and as Mich/ael Lobo said within the next few years Candolim will produce some of the topmost Goan footballers.

                                           FC Goa players with Michael Lobo                                                                                                                               

                     Members of the Dr. Guustavo Monteiro's family.  1st on left is Carlos the younger son of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro.

                                List of the players who donned the colours of Candolim A Team 

                                          Seen are musicioans playing music

On 10^th afternoon the foot-ball ground and the entire stadium was having electrifying effect on the large number of spectators not only from Candolim but also from the ambient villages gathered to greet Coro and his other 2 FC colleagues Jahou and Mohammad Nawaz.  Coro was the Chief guest for the function to inaugurate the Football Arena  which he did in the presence of Michael Lobo and huge gathering.  Then a friendly foot-ball match was played between Churchill Bros. and Cidade de Goa which ended in a goalless draw and in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the Cidade de Goa won the match. 

                                         Very busy man the compeer Xavier covering everything 

                                                                                     Another section of the spectators.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

                                         

FOUNDATION STONE LAID TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN CANDOLIM.

Yesterday, on 10^th February, 2020, two major events have taken place in Candolim, one at Dando side where there is an existing Health Centre, where the Candolim Panchayat is going to build a new Hospital with all the modern facilities for any sort of emergency, the foundation stone has been laid today in the morning in the presence of a good number of people in attendance while seated at the dais were the main Guest the Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Sawant  along with other guests and special invitees namely the Minister and MLA of Calangute constituency Michael Lobo, Health Minister Viswajeet Rane, Mapusa MLA Joshua, Candolim Village Sarpanch and others. 

T                    The birthday Boy- the Candolim Sarpanch Blaize seen addressing the gathering 

What is the need  of Hospital in Candolim when there already is one as existing and it is  known as the Government Health Centre.  However,  in this same Health Centre due to the increasing number of population  in our locality there appeared a demand for a bigger and better Hospital having latest instruments and facilities to cater to the needs of the people.

Taking note of this need, Candolim Village Panchayat in close liaison with the local MLA and Minister Michael Lobo laid the foundation stone for the construction  of this new Hospital that has received a nod from the Jr. Rane.

Seen above are all the dignitaries namely Lobo -CM-V.Rane - Joshua

Let us see thru historical context how, when and under what circumstances the existing Health Centre was built. It was built about 50 years back.  In fact the government plan under the then Chief Minister of Goa, Dayananda  Bandodcar was for the erection of  one Health Center at Siolim.  All formalities were comleted only foundation stone date was to be announced.  However, during that particular time 5 MGP MLA’s withdrew their support to MGP government.  So to offset the loss of 5 of his MLA’s and to maintain the parity, Bandodcar started poaching for 5 MLA’s.  He started searching frantically 5 MLA’s from UG Party even by purchasing them for any amount and giving them anything they want in exchange of 5 MLA’s.  He found 4 namely from Benaulim Elu Miranda, from Aldona Orlando Lobo Sequira, from Vasco Abdul Razzak and one more.  When he fund difficult to buy the 5^th one, Bandodcar Approached his Saligao MLA Punaji Achrekar to approach Calangute Constituency MLA Valente Sequiera the resident of Candolim.  The persons who brought heavy pressure on Valente Sequeira to defect from UGP to MGP were the popular Sarpanch of Candolim Domnick Lobo a Gulf returnee and one Panch Krishna Naik also a Gulf returnee.  These two and Valente Sequiera all these three were the worst enemies of one local very prominent doctor who was the strong supporter and promoter of UGP.  Though all the three were in good terms externally with the said doctor yet internally they craved for his blood.  In order to make him lose his medical business and suffer heavy losses,  the three traitors agreed to to help Valente Sequeira to join with Bandodcar’s MGP on condition that Bandodcar allot Candolim one hospital.  For this Bandodcar immediately agreed and thus from Siolim project was transferred to Candolim though Siolim MGP MLA was not happy but Bandodcar succeeded in giving him a Lolipop in some other way. 

                                          Seen is the section of the attendees

What is the need  of Hospital in Candolim when there already is one as existing and it is  known as the Government Health Centre.  However,  in this same Health Centre due to the increasing number of population  in our locality there appeared a demand for a better Hospital having latest instruments and facilities to cateer to the needs of the people.

Taking note of this need, Candolim Village Panchayat in close liaison with the local MLA and Minister Michael Lobo laid the foundation stone for the construction  of this new Hospital.

                                              Yet another section of the attendees. 

Let us see thru historical context how, when and under what circumstances the existing Health Centre was built. It was built about 50 years back.  In fact the government plan under the then Chief Minister of Goa, Dayananda  Bandodcar was for the erection of  one Health Center at Siolim.  All formalities were completed only foundation stone date was to be announced.  However, during that particular time 5 MGP MLA’s withdrew their support to MGP government.  So to offset the loss of 5 of his MLA’s and to maintain the parity, Bandodcar started poaching for 5 MLA’s.  He started searching frantically 5 MLA’s from UG Party even by purchasing them for any amount and giving them anything they want in exchange of 5 MLA’s.  He found 4 namely from Benaulim Elu Miranda, from Aldona Orlando Lobo Sequira, from Vasco Abdul Razzak and one more.  When he fund difficult to buy the 5^th one, Bandodcar Approached his Saligao MLA Punaji Achrekar to approach Calangute Constituency MLA Valente Sequiera the resident of Candolim.  The persons who brought heavy pressure on Valente Sequeira to defect from UGP to MGP were the popular Sarpanch of Candolim Domnick Lobo a Gulf returnee and one Panch Krishna Naik also a Gulf returnee.  These two and Valente Sequiera all these three were the worst enemies of one local very prominent doctor who was the strong supporter and promoter of UGP.  Though all the three were in good terms externally with the said doctor yet internally they craved for his blood.  In order to make him lose his medical business and suffer heavy losses,  the three traitors agreed to to help Valente Sequeira to join with Bandodcar’s MGP on condition that Bandodcar allot Candolim one hospital.  For this Bandodcar immediately agreed and thus from Siolim project was transferred to Candolim though Siolim MGP MLA was not happy but Bandodcar succeeded in giving him a Lolipop in some other way.

In this way the Health Center of Candolim was erected but that doctor whom all the three local tin-pot politicians wanted to teach a good lesson purely out of jealousy for the good doctor no negative effect was created.

                                           Mapusa MLA Joshua

The reason to lay the foundation stone for this Hosital yesterday 10^th of this month was  to mark the birthday of the local Candolim Sarpanch Blaize.  Taking advantage of this write – up, I wish Blaize a very happy birthday and pray to God to give him wisdom and guidance to rule our village nicely without any bias towards anyone. 

Once again, Blaize, I wish you a very hapopy birthday on behalf of me, my family and all the like minded people of Candolim.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

TIATRO "UTT ... ANI CHOL" BY BENEVANGELISTO.

Seen above is beautiful Jolita singing her tital song

On 7^th of this month in Panjim at Kala  Academy Hall, at 7.45 PM, I saw the Tiatro “UTT ani CHOL” written and directed by Ben Evangelisto. This Tiatro of Ben is coming after 14 years since he was afflicted with sickness that made him immobile to act on the Stage for such a long time. During his so many years of sickness, he faced lot of trauma and difficulties in life even though many of his friends and well wishers were praying very hard for his recovery.  When he was ok before falling sick he was very jovial, disciplined and friendly that created a big friendly circle of his.

The beautiful solo comparing the work of elder Tiatrist with current ones

What made him sick suddenly when he was otherwise so well?  From my childhood I was told that the most dangerous and jealous people among Goans are the Tiatrists because they don’t like to see their own colleagues coming up, prosperous and gaining name and fame.  This does not mean that all the Tiatrists are like that, no, but some are among their circle and these some are creating a very bad image of their entire segment.  But when Ben indicates in his Tiatro how his own fellow Tiatrist whose role Anil Pednekar performs so well, tries to poison Ben to kill him and finish him from the Stage purely out of jealousy because he could not bear to see Ben gaining celebrity status.  And hence, he goes ahead with this nasty plan but it failed to create the required effect. 

                           Seen above is one Scene where Tari & Rosy Alvares are seen

What does this indicate?  Doesn’t it show that there are Bastardised Tiatrists among us who want to destroy some among them? When Rosary Ferns died a few years back after acting in one Tiatro that night, there were so many stories circulated that he was the victim of jealousy among his colleagues not only in Kuwait but also in Goa and they must have poisoned Rosary.

                                  Seen above in another scene Tari and Anil Pednekar

It was about 45 years back, H. Briton was shining on the Stage, hence he acquired some jealousy from his colleagues. One night, in a Tiatro of C. Alvares after finishing his song with 3 encores, one unknown person congratulated Briton through a small opening of the fence behind the Stage and gave Briton a Chocolate which he displayed as a great honour, to his colleagues, then broke it into two pieces and while about to put one piece into his mouth, suddenly from nowhere C. Alvares came there and snatched the Chocolate from Briton’s hand. Briton got angry, then Alvares took Briton and a few more artistes outside the Mattou, called some dogs that were frequenting around there, threw one piece to the dog and when that dog ate it, within a few moments the dog collapsed.  This is to prove how the Basterdised Tiatrists are finishing the life of some of the shining Stage artistes purely out of jealousy.  Have you  any time noticed one Tiatrist speaking good of other TIatrist? Either never or very rarely.

                                              Seen above is Fr. Isibio singing his solo.

Coming back to the Tiatro “Utt ani Chol” which has Biblical connotation that indicates how a sick man with the power of God getting up from the bed where he is lying down due to sickness and starts walking.  In  another word, Ben was bed ridden and when everyone deserted him, no doubt some were very close to him namely his wife and a few others but the almighty God remained closest to him and only thru His love for him, God cured Ben of his sickness. 

            Seen above the attractive pair of Konkani Stage Olga & Anil singing their song.

The Tiatro started at 7.45 PM while the attendance was more or less half the capacity.  Most of these attendees were very sympathetic with Ben because they know the greatness of this Stage stalwart.  The role of Ben Evangelisto performed by Tari was so good that even if I am given whole day and the whole night to write Hosanas of Tari, I will never get tired.  That is the strong point of Tari who is the great gift of God for Konkani Stage.  Opposite to Tari the role of Ben’s wife played by Rosy Alvares was superb, this is the greatness of Alvares Families.  Stage acting and singing comes outomatically for them, “Tiatristpon”  is  in their blood and Rosy Alvares being a member of Alvares clan she should be smart as she indicated her smartness.  One Canto that she rendered was so beautiful that I can easily call it the Minguel Rodan type of Canto, so sorrowful words, so sorrowful tune and moreover her singing it with her soft and serene voice brought an extra beauty to this Canto.  Such Cantos are not heard nowadays, normally. Jolita too played her role well along with Cajy de Kakoda, some attendees were expecting a solo from his mouth as he is a very good singer. The role of a priest was nicely played by the real priest Fr. Isibio.

Seen above is Ben offering his thanks for the audience.

While on the subject of priests involving in Tiatros, it was some years back in Kuwait, Fr. Freddy de Costa came to Kuwait to stage his Tiatro  in the Church Hall in Kuwait.  When he went with the recommendation letter of the Bishop of Goa – Rahul Gonsalves – to the Bishop of Kuwait Monsg. Frances Mechallef,  the Kuwait Bishop got so annoyed on Fr. Freddy that the same Bishop of Kuwait not only denied the facility of the Church Hall to Fr. Freddy but on top of it he went a step ahead and fired a letter immediately to the Goa Bishop asking the Goa  Bishop Gonsalves this, “WHAT PASTORAL SIGNIFICANCE THIS VISIT TO KUWAIT WITH HIS TIATRO HAS?”  Later on when I spoke to the Kuwait Bishop, he felt Goa priests are not taking up the issues concerning more urgent needs of the people in Goa.  Tiatro is not the right choice of the priest, instead the Goa Church which according to Bishop Mechallef is so rich that with the help of this wealth the Bishop of Goa must utilize the talent of every priest for the development of Goans in general and Catholics in particular.  

Seen above are in one scene both Ben & Fr. Isibio

The Side Show songs were good but still there was more space to improve, however, inspite of this the songs a political solo by Olga Vaz was so piercing against Michael Lobo that he is depicted as a shameless man who loves to lick the Lamanis.  If this tirade mounted by the Goan political singers go on unstopped  then it will be “Perig” for Lobo in the next election in Calangute constituency where approximately out of about 9 thousand voters aqbout 3,500 are Lamanis. To defeat Michael Lobo the opposition should have to field only one candidate, as one against the other. Her duet with her husband Anil was also powerful where Anil beutified it by rendering a nice “Segundo”. The title song rendered by Jolita was very nice so too the comedy solo on Garbage by the unvulgar comedian Cedrik. The duo  rendered by Starcy and Jolita was beautifully sung so too the trio on Airhostess and Pilot. The solo that Ben rendered on handicapped children was very good and he sang it too very well.

                                           Seen in another Scene are Jolita-Kakoda-Tari

                                    Seen above Jolita & Starcey Mesquita sing their song

The comedy part was not up to the mark though all the commedians performed their roles, however,  inspite of a few vulgar patches which should not be there when the God is eulogized so well in this tiatro,  how on the otherside there can be vulgarity which is the Satanic work?   Ben should apply his mind on this because his image and character is at stake and since a greater number of attendees came to see him, his role and his story penned down by him, the same audience must be satisfied first. The current status of Ben on the Konkani Stage is like that of ‘FIDALGO” and this ststus he must maintained if necessary even by dropping the vulgarists who not likely to change for the better.

                      Seen in above Scene are Tari - Bust of Jacinto Vaz - Rosy Alvares 

Whille concluding, let me congratulate Ben for this Tiatro and wish him good health.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

TIATRO "LION KING" BY FRANKY GONSALVES.

On 6^TH of this month at Kala Academy in Panjim, I saw the Tiatro “LION KING” starting  at 7.40 PM,  written and directed by the young and energetic man Franky Gonsalves who has been acting since a long time now for some of the leading Goan directors and earning a name and fame for himself.

           The above singer singing the Title Song very beautifully with her beautiful voice.

This being his first Tiatro, it was assumed before hand only that it will be just an ordinary Tiatro  of ordinary Tiatrist but when seeing this Tiatro it was proved to be an extra ordinary Tiatro  of extra ordinary Tiatrist with something new introduced on the Konkani Stage purely in  a Prem Kumaran style. In fact after a long time some “novidade” has been seen on the Konkani Stage and this Novidade was the short stature of the director himself potrayed in a very intriguing way of his size as half, that means he is shown on the stage as dwarf since his both the legs from the knees are shortened, he is shown even wearing his shoes and walking as normal man walks.  In this pose Franky Gonsalves looks excellent and the role that he plays is also excellent.

Seen above is innovative director Franky Gonsalves with short stature

Also purely in a C.Alvaresan style, the playwright Franky Gonsalves introduced a few beauties on the Konkani Stage not of cosmetic value but of real worth as they proved to be very good singers and excellently excelling in acting too. The director deserve high compliments for training them nicely and thus tuning them to face the audience and play their roles perfectly well.  During those days the late father of Duets, was responsible to introduce new – new female faces in our Tiatros and because of this the base of our Tiatros has been enhanced. 

One Scene of the Play

However, the base that was so strongly put from the time Lucazinho Ribeiro intiated the  Tiatro and staged it first time about 150 years back, is now received a big jolt that due to its impact I am afraid that this art which was protected and promoted and patronised by the innumerable Goans and other Konkani people, I am afraid it may suddenly collapse like a pack of cards due to vulgarity introduced by a few vulgar Comedians who are backed by their equally guilty directors.  And those who admire them among the audience are also equally vulgar.  Earlier, because of such audience, decent people never used to be a part of audience.  During those days, elite Goans never used to patronize Tiatros because the “Mattou” used to fill with the third class audience. This dirty and hoi-polloi audience was the support of all the Vulgar comedians who are nothing but a curse on the development and promotion of Konkani Stage.

                                        

                                               Xavier Gomes sings his solo 

Coming back to this Tiatro, the comedy was not fully clean, usage of the word “Pad” “Farting” is not proper in the public platform,  it sounds not palatable, using the word “Pad” lowers the dignity of the Tiatro, the director should not make use of such words from the stage.  Even at few places double meaning words were used.  This is the work of stupid comedians.  The director how he tolerates this unpalatable actions is itself a big question mark.  Not only in this Tiatro, if the vulgarity is flourishing is so rampantly nowadays it is only and only because of those few Directors who are inducting the vulgar Comedians into their Tiatros knowing that they are degrading their comedy roles and the Tiatro as well.  The great directors of yesteryear namely JP Souzalin, Saib Rocha, Prem Kumar, Alexinho  de Candolim, Airestedes Dias and many others like them first of all will never induct these comedians into their Tiatros and even if they get a  chance to act in the Tiatros of the great Directors,   they would never be allowed to use vulgarity in their Tiatros.  This is the diifference between those directors and the current tin-pot directors.

Marcus Vas sings his solo                              

It is my suggestion to the directors now that when they write the play, they must also write the comedy roles as it was done till recently.  Nowadays the current directors are not full fledged writers of the Tiatros because they are not full fledged writers, they are ‘LANDDE” writers because they lack intelligence to write comedy also which is the part of the Tiatro as well.  Many of the current script writers are buying the comedy  part from the unfit "Baddeache" Comedians, it is like that they getting “Baddeachi Comedy” . 

Francis de Tuem

The side show songs were excellent but the main ones are mentioned here namely “Zantteank Eksure Sanddinakant” by Lawry Travasso a very matured and wisdomatic solo;  “Aum Hospitalan” by Marcus Vaz who indicated thru this high calibre song how matured he is become; “On Biblical Statements” by Rosario de Benaulim who has been seen since a long time now  promoting Biblical philosophy.  

Marcus Vas on his Duet

Seen above in one Scene are all the latest beauties of konkani stage

Seen above are singing their Quarter

It is to be noted that what in one song based on Biblical teachings he gives the lesson of Christianity  even a Roman Catholic priest cannot give on one sermon during the Mass he offers. The song that Francis de Tuem on  Citizenship Act. Amendment was excellent with a deep study of the subject like a Professor of Political Sience lecturing the College students.  I don’t think anyone else goes so deep in giving detailed explanation of the subject. Xavier Gomes solo on “Ghorabo”.  The duet Marcus Vaz rendered with T. Fernandes was not onloy well composed but more than that very well rendered by the female partner of Marcus especially when sang it in a melodious “Segundo”.

Lawry Travasso seen singing his excellent solo

Seen above Franky holding his friend in protection

 The story of this Tiatro is based on Franky who plays the double roles first as handicapped with his short legs and later on as normal.  Since this Tiatro is going on all over Goa, I will not touch the subject but request the audience and Tiatro lovers to patronize this Tiatro which is the first of the young director. While on this topic, I must give best credit to Vashal Gawas for playing the eole of the villain so excellently. 

One more Scene is seen above

                                                             Yet another scene seen above

Well done Bab Franky Gonsalves and your troupe including the musicians who played their part very well.  Let me now wish you all the best while concluding.

A.Veronica Fernandes.