THE GREAT TIATRIST "PRADEEP NAIK".

Pradeep Naik 

 

One of the best Konkani Stage artistes one can find now is none other than Pradeep Naik from Carambolim Goa. His character roles in different directors’ Tiatros create very impressive image of his Tiatro art though because of his busy work schedule at Art and Culture Dept., Government of Goa at Panaji where he is employed, he acts only in limited Tiatros especially after studying the suitability of the roles he is offered by the directors. The recent magnificent role he played of a father in the Tiatro “Pai” of Comedian Agostinho is one of the most memorable roles he played in his career so far, as at least I have noticed. Precisely because of this extraordinary feat he was awarded the best actor award.

 

Pradeep Naik seen as Portuguese Official in Goa

According to Pradeep Naik, it was by accident that he entered the Konkani Tiatro Stage starting from the very early age when he was schooling at Morjim but now he enjoys every bit of it.  Having in the family his grandfather as expert in the drama art being a well-known director, he taught  the young Pradeep the art of acting in the dramas.  Later on as a young boy he shifted his residence to Carambolim where actually he was groomed in the art of Tiatro though  earlier he was already established himself as one of the best Marathi Drama artistes.  It is here in Marathi Dramas  that he polished his drama art and later on applied this talent to Konkani Tiatros.  It is because of their earlier background in acting in Marathi dramas that many of our Hindu artistes maintain their perfection on Tiatro Stage, Pradeep Naik being a Hindu is one such perfectionist.

 

Pradeep Naik seen as Shenoy Goembab

 

At the age of 18 according to Pradeep, he acted first time in Tiatro at Carambolim and later on got a chance to show his talent in the competitive Tiatro Festivals at Kala Academy, Panjim where in the Tiatro “Zoitachi Ek Bukh” he won the best actor award. As a matter of pride, he won 4 times best actor award in the competitions at Kala Academy, Panjim. Then onwards, there was no stopping for Pradeep as innumerable directors started offering him different roles in their Tiatros. Some of the directors who inducted Pradeep in their Tiatros were Comedian Domnic, Mariano Fernandes, Fr. Neville, Francis de Tuem and Comedian Agostinho.

 

Pradeep Naik in one of the Tiatros

 

During the yesteryears, Tiatrists like Tony Sax, Anthony D’Sa, C. Alvares, Prem Kumar and Conception were great stalwarts of Konkani Stage who were known to play character roles with topmost precision.  And currently I can rightly include Pradeep Naik in that bracket since he belongs to that great class of yesteryears greats.  Pradeep Naik’s delivery is perfect with very good clarity, dress code is very appropriate, body language very well and positioning himself on the stage is superb. In the current crop of Tiatrists I don’t see any artiste like Pradeep Naik who can rise to any height in performing great character roles.

 

Pradeep Naik receiving National Kala Bushan Award 2015

Academically being a University graduate, besides winning innumerable awards and prizes by acting in Konkani and Marathi dramas, Pradeep Naik is also known to be a good journalist and an established Anchor.  A young man having lot of humility, he is a very humble and decent human being minus any pride.  Such humane qualities are rarely seen in many of our current Tiatrists. His charisma is his charismatic natural smile ever existing on his face and that attracts people towards him.  One of the major reasons  according to Pradeep to reach to the top ladder of Tiatro acting is the strong support he receives from his wife who is very encouraging and also from his young daughter.

                             Pradeep Naik 2nd from left along with his colleagues

As a Tiatrist he travelled many parts of the world including the Gulf and UK and as matter of interest he received warm welcome from Goans there either from the Stage or beyond.  He found this attitude of Goans especially of Tiatro fans unique and for which he feels very much indebted to Tiatro fans. He also praised his Tiatro colleagues for welcoming him in their midst with open arms without doing any discrimination.  He feels he is totally integrated in Tiatro fraternity by becoming a part of it.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

CRISIS IN AAP.

It is with deep regret and chagrin that I write this piece to indicate my total disappointment over the crisis AAP is undergoing now in Delhi.  When AAP came into existence we had great hope that it will spread its wings not only in Delhi but also all over India to give clean and upright administration as per the aspirations of the citizens of India. But within a short time the aspirations of the people turned into nothing when its leadership failed to shoulder its responsibility responsibly by resigning abruptly of course to the disappointment of all the followers of AAP.

Still people stood by AAP again and gave AAP a resounding victory in its last election to rule Delhi with absolute majority.  While APP enjoyed absolute majority its followers in Goa danced on the streets with white AAP “Topi” thinking that in Goa too we will have similar revolution because people in Goa are totally dejected by the poor showing of BJP and all other political outfits.  Unfortunately, due to the internal bickering in the AAP in Delhi among the party stalwarts, the high expectations of the people have gone down.  In view of this, who else in India can save the people from the clutches of corrupt  and cruel politicians? I think AAP was the last and the best hope for Indians to get uncorrupt and upright people to rule India but that hope too vanished now.  In view of this, on whom now Indians will rely to get good people to rule in India?

In India, we have great stalwarts but none to rule India appropriately.  Some are meant only to win the elections while others to be very good in the oppositions but none to rule as per the aspirations of the people.  Under the great leadership of Gandhian Jayprakash Narain, Janata Party came into existence with high hopes to change India from worst to the best but within a short period Morarjee Desai’s government collapsed like a pack of cards thereby killing all the high hopes of Indians for better days.  This happened only because of the selfish greed for power of a few Janata Party leaders. 

Then came the political force in India under the leadership of another Gandhian, Anna Hazare who totally shook the Congress Party in India in general and in Delhi in particular.  As an offshoot of Anna’s movement, AAP was born and captured power in Delhi not once but twice but both the times failed the aspirations of the people not only of those who elected AAP to power but  also of those who were expecting AAP will turn into a savior for millions of Indians who are the victims of the maladministration of the current politicians. 

It is a very sad story of AAP happenings in Delhi now.  It was never expected from them to fight like this and thru this fight AAP leaders in Delhi totally killed the high hopes people had in AAP.  While the ugly events are taking place in Delhi, the AAP stalwarts in Goa cannot remain as silent spectators, they must raise their voice in unison loudly and openly too against what is happening in Delhi now, they must air their concern over the events taking place in AAP at Delhi. AAP has to be purified and if necessary in Gandhian style AAP stalwarts and supporters  in Goa must conduct a daylong fast at Panaji to pray for AAP leaders in Delhi to bury their selfish ambitions and have a peace among all its members. AAP by all means has to surive because it is the last hope for Indians to get better leaders and better governance.  

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.           

END OF CONGRESS IN GOA.

The results of the recently concluded Zilla Parishad election gave a stunning blow to the Congress Party in Goa though it officially did not contest the election.  In the constituencies where Congress contested unofficially but backing their candidates from behind the curtain, it was a big humiliation for Congress Party headed by Goa’s prodigal son Luizinho Faleiro who in the name of Italian born naturalized Indian citizen Sonia Gandhi is trying to revive the prospects of the Congress Party in Goa.  According to my observation, even if hundred more Luizinho Faleiros try their best to revive the hopes of Congress Party in Goa, nothing will change.  It is a pity that this oldest party is facing extinction from the scene not only in Goa but all over in India as well.

In my Calangute constituency voters thought a very good lesson to Congress Party by sending its unofficially fielded candidate reeling down the canvas to the third position though a few hours before the election results, the local Congress leader foolishly predicted victory for his candidate. This action the voters have taken only to silence the revengeful voice of the Calangute Congress leader and not against the candidate who became an innocent victim of the sin of vindictiveness of his boss.

In view of this heavy defeat for Congress candidate the rating of Congress Party on the Barometer indicates that the revival prospects of Congress Party in Calangute constituency is Nil.  However, if any hope of revival is to come, it should come only by discarding the defeated, vindictive and arrogant leader from the constituency. He was responsible for Congress Party’s defeat in the last general election because people from the Constituency disliked his vindictive nature towards those whom he suspected to be his political opponents. While he was in power people were living in fear because of his vindictive nature when he should not be vindictive because he was elected not to take revenge on his opponents but to serve all judiciously.  Thru this defeat people indicated that vindictiveness, arrogance, revenge, corruption, bribe taking and womanizing will not be tolerated any more.

Being a Congressman myself from my student days, I feel hurt to see the Congress Party in Goa reaching to such ebb.  This has happened only because the affairs and leaderships of Congress Party in our villages and Constituencies have gone into the hands of wrong persons who are ignorant of genuine Congress culture, tradition and history.  Most of the current Congress Party leaders in Goa are fake Congressmen who embraced Congress Party only for their personal gains.  With such Congressmen in Congress Party fold, the Party will never  revive its prospects in Goa.  When John Fernandes took over the leadership of Congress Party in Goa it looked everything will move smoothly but when he was dethroned things started moving in the opposite direction and if Luizin Faleiro does not act straight with corrupt people in the Party, I am sure he will make a total disaster of Congress Party in Goa.  For this end Luizin Faleiro alone will be held responsible.

 A.     Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.