NEW TIATRO .". C M." BY MARIANO FERNANDES.

On Sunnday, 16-6-19, I saw the new Tiatro “C.M.” written and directed by the well - known Tiatrist Mariano Fernanndes. It was very well attended by the audience starting at 3.45 pm at Hanuman Theatre, Mapusa where due to the hall being a non-A/c, it was horrible at least in the beginning to cope up with the heat. Not only that it was a non A/c hall but even some of the chairs were found broken and defective requring repairs if not replacement. What is the use of increasing the Ticket charges suddenly astronomically by Rs 50/- from 150/-to 200/-per seat when amenities are not provided properly. 

Moreover, the arrangement for the Stage setting was not done properly because of it one front Curtain fell down needing time to fix it back, while this Curtain was in the process of making it ok, Mike system indicated its mostly irresponsible arrangement on the part of the Management of this Tiatro.  I remember in 1958 when C.Alvares came to Goa to stage his best Tiatro “Axea”, my father and his one local  friend got the contract to show this Tiatro in our village Candolim starting at 10.30 PM.  But C.Alvares was C. Alvares, he was not from the ranks of Ladru & Pedru but  a genius in Tiatro and composing excellent Duets. He was moreover a responsible man as he was an excellent Organiser and to prove this capacity he came at 5.00 PM to the place where “Mattou” arrangement was in progress to stage his Tiatro in another 5.5 hours and from close angle he watched everything was arranged properly and in time.  He told my father who when questioned him politely why he had to come especially only to check the Mattou arrangement when everything is taken care of, replied Alvares, sorry to speak like this but I could not get a nap after my lunch because my whole attention was rolling on Mattou arrangement, of course because I am a responsible director, my audience have confidence in me and this trust to build in me and my audience it took me years besides strong sacrifices.  I cannot take my audience for granted and above all as the director I have my own reponsibilty.

At the start of the Tiatro people started shouting vociferously thereby inflicting fear into the minds and hearts of the attendees thus putting into the minds of the director and the owners of the Hall that “beware, it is too long that this hall is not equipped with sound Mike system.  Gone were the days when Mapusa had the huge  and spacious Mattou of Narvenkar opposite to the Police Station that catered to the needs not only of Mapusa City and its ambient areas but also  many of the villages around Mapusa. It is a pity that the elected representatives from Mapusa are doing nothing much for the betterment of Mapusa.  See, have a round in Mapusa Bazar, everything is filty because elected representatives of Mapusa are filty, they have no interest in doing anything good for Mapusa, it looks they are elected not to serve Mapusa and its citizens but to serve themselves only.       

As announced in the local newspaper the Bollywood actors Dhruv and Rajiv and TV actress Harsha as well as Bollywood singer who performed so well  in this Tiatro were not even introduced to the audience.   The actress Harsha with her two singing items in Konkani mesmerized the audience not only thru her vocals but also thru her attractive appearance and beutiful looks while both the Bollywood artistes  played their respective roles in the play extremely well, one played the role of the CM and the other that of the local politician.  By observing their acting minutely, I found their every move even walk and talk had the mathematical precision.  They brought an extra flavour and grandeur to the Konkani Stage. They were ably supported in their performance by yet another Hindu female artiste Shalini who does the role of the mother of CM who takes the whole Tiatro to the crescendo in the last scene which captures the total attention of the audience.  While taking the story to its zenith, he scolds the current rulers of Goa for doing nothing for the cause of the public when it is so easy to do.   In fact the Konkani Tiatro Stage is brought to the pedestal level by the Hindu artistes also from the time the most renowned among the Hindu artistes, Kamat de Assolna stepped on to  the Konkani Stage somewhere in 1956.  Both the Bollywood artistes as indicated above are also Hindus just as we have so many in Goa who kept the Konkani Stage well decorated.

Mariano in the past was known to bring about some innovations on the Stage but this time not much new nor anything extra ordinary.  However, I cannot remain indicating my admiration for the depiction of the Goa Legislative Assembly where it looked like live session was going on with the display of Benches and Tables as they  are there in the Assembly.  Full credit to Mariano Fernandes for this innovation of which type I never seen before shown by any of the best or mediocre directors.  The scene of the Railway carrying Coal looked very genuine and inducting in this Tiatro the best of yesteryears  artiste Bai Platilda who is still in high demand from the audience, stole the show  by her same old looks, voice, appropriate dress code and smart acting.  She was not only the Comedy Queen of Konkani Stage but was the genius comedian because she gained  a lot of confidence and experience by playing her comedy roles with the then topmost comedians namely Jascinto Vaz, Luis Rod, Wincy of Young Stars of Goa, M. Boyer, Greg de Candolim and many more. We are very fortunate to  have her still with us and attaining the status of “Garamae” she still acts like a teenager. May God give her more years to serve the Konkani Stage. 

The other comedian who is enjoying the lokhpriya status on Konkani Stage is Bai Anita whose daring and robust comedy turns the table upside down.  She played her comedy role very well thereby raising the standard of the play high. 

And the third comedian that inducted into his play by director Mariano Fernandes was Prince of Konkani Stage – Prince Jacob.  In fact Jacob was extremely on high spirit performing very well, even in his own dramas you rarely find him in this atmosphere.  He shouldered the responsibility of the comedy with zeal, dedication and push

Among the singers who rendered their songs well were attractive Maggy, handsome Elvis, Domnick-Platilda-Prince Jacob – Michael (a quarter) and others.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

NEW TIATRO "VANVAK CHUKLEAR GANVAK CHUKTA"

On 15^th of this month at Mapusa Hanuman Theatre, I saw the new Tiiatro “VANVAK CHUKLEAR GANVAK CHUKTA”, starting exactly at 3.35 pm, and it was written and directed by Kuwait based Tiatrist Domnick Fernandes. Domnick is a well known Tiatrist not only in Kuwait where he is employed but also in Goa and all his previous Tiatros went hit when he staged them in Goa during his vacations with very good attendance.  However, for this show at Mapusa, unfortunately the attendance was very   poor  though every artiste played his/her role well. I am sure his marketing of this Show was not done properly and some of the “pezad” artistes,  the more crowd  puller were not included in his team where Side Show songs would definitely get a booster and their presence would help  to woo the audience more for this Show, However, the current artistes did justice to their Side Show songs.

The story was surrounded around a family life where to cut short, charismatic Aplon played the fantastic role as a mother who gifted her naughty son whatever he ask her even against the wishes of her husband whose role beautifully and appropriately  played by Anthony San.  Then the son met with an accident and dies.  She makes a mistake by giving her son a Bike and then he met with an accident. Small mistake she commits but in the end it becomes very costly.

The role played by Aplon was excellent with her very fabulous and decent dress code and her nice looks brought an extra colour to her role, her display of motherly love in the end indicate why she is become the darling of the the darling of the audience because she does justice to her role.

The title of the Tiatro is based on one Goan proverb which we use differently and that is, "VETEK CHUKLEAR KHUIM GANVANK CHUKTA ANI GANVANK CHUKLER KHUIM DESHAK CHUKTA".  Very philosophical the proverb is. 

The role played by Justiniano sent chills into the veins of some of the Goa lover audience especially when as a migrant manual worker he comes to Goa and within a short span of time he makes so much of money and go on property purchasing spree in Goa holding vast Goan land in his pocket.  Then he goes on threatening the Goans in such a manner that it looks if it is come into reality then we genuin Goans will have to flee from Goa.  Threatens he thus:  “Gradually we will bring more and more people from our home states like Karnataka, Bengal, Madras, Kerala, Maharastra and fill your Goa with our people who will then control our Panchayats, Legislature and other segments where you  Goans are holding in your hands, if necessary we will even beat the Goans for calling us in a derogatory manner as “Ghanttis”.

The comedy part was good but still it needed more punch.  The defective mike system made it difficult for some in the audience to pick up what was delivered on the stage.  This is the defect of this hall since a long time now and still nobody bothers to rectify this fault. Audience like me pay Rs. 150/- each for the ticket and as such they deserve proper service.  In this problem, both the director as well as the owners of the hall are guilty.

In the side show songs, solos of Domnick, Jerry Cal, Anthony San, Robert de Calvim were good besides others so also the trios of Gimix.

Musical score under their Band leader Chris was good but it was a bit louder with loud musical feelings when play was going.

Otherwise, well done bab Domnick and his troupe.

A.Veronica  Fernandes.

KUWAIT INDIAN SOCCER - KUWAIT.

A.Veronica & Lawry Pinto

We Goans in Kuwait as per our tradition involved in creating lot of activities in foot-ball. When the early Goans came to Kuwait first time in fifties there were many foot-ballers among those Goans and also tournament organizer Goans  and by playing in Ahmadi for those days soccer teams comprising mainly the Britishers, they earned name and fame for themselves and for Goans as well.   During those days when those Goans playing soccer in Ahmadi at KOC center, they were treated by the spectators and others with high respect befitting their status on the soccer ground.  They were creating a very good image of Goans because of the very good display of soccer game they were playing.  Some of them were even given offers to come to London to play for the reputed clubs in England but our poor and simple Goans then refused those worthy offers otherwise these Goans would be creating a history in the soccer history books being the pioneers  among Indians to play in the British Big League.  In fact they were all employed at KOC Oil sector and the Press Cuttings from the local newspapers reviewing their performances were taken to England and some of these cuttings were displayed in the Cafes and Pubs in UK and the same were physically seen by some of our Tarvotti Goans when their ships anchored  at the popular ports such as Liverool.   

However when Goans started pouring in Kuwait in the seventies, under the banner of United Goans Foot-ball Center which was formed under the presidentship of Antonio Lawrence Fernandes originally from Siolim Goa, initiated their first ever soccer tournament for Indians only in 1979, on League cum knock out basis, at Kuwait City SOUR Grounds – Ground 1 & Ground 2. All the games were played in the evenings only.

Then the following year Flying Arrows Club started their one more tournament on Knock-out basis where Lawry Pinto from Mangalore played a pivotal role to promote this soccer along with his other colleagues. In this way more and more teams and clubs started their knock-out tourneys.  

Then there came the need to bring into existence one apex body to centralize all the activities conducted separately by each organiser and thus Kuwait Indian Foot-ball Federation was formed in the early eighties, this idea to form this apex body was initiated by J.P. D’Mello the renowned Goan soccer umpire and administrator and I have successfully marketed it while  Lawry Pinto thru his very hard work and perseverance  even receiving insults from those teams opposing the formation of  KIFF which was in the beginning christened as Indian Football Association, was instrumental in paving the way for the formation of KIFF.  I can rightly say that if it was not for Lawry  Pinto then, the KIFF would never come into existence.  Though the major credit for the formation of KIFF surely go to Lawry Pinto yet others too played a pivotal role in the formation of KIFF namely A.Veronica, Rato, of course J.P. and others.

While talking of Lawry Pinto, he was the very dynamic young man then hailing from Mangalore but having been involved with Goans was more Goan than Mangalorean, a soccer crazy and a great lover of Konkani language and Konkani culture in which subject he has done so much of good work from Kuwait. And above all, he was the great philanthropist whose generosity spread in many segments of Konkani.  He was instrumental in the formation of the Club “Flying Arows”comprising mainly the Mangaloreans but within a short time he dissociated from it and formed his own team named as RISING STARS” having powerful players which fetched them many championships and trophies,  the entire expenses to run this team  was borne by him only and not for one or two years but over a quarter of century.                 

During my time we had  a dozen of football teams participating in the tournaments conducted at Sour Ground  but the number of Goans is thinning now because more and more young Goans are migrating to UK from Kuwait and less number of young Goans are coming to Kuwait from Goa.  More and more Goans are migrating elsewhere for more greener pastures and for better conditions by leaving Kuwait thus facilitating the Malyalis to fill the vacuum created by Goans in the soccer activities both in the management and also in actively participating in playing this beautiful game.  Some of the teams named after Goa and Goans are dominated by the Malyalis. The foundation for this soccer for Indians laid by the Goans and dominated by the Goans only for about half a century is almost gone into the hands of Malyalis now.  This is a fact but it must also be understood that the Goans were pioneers in starting these activities and in this connection it must be borne in mind the Club UNITED GOANS FOOT-BALL CENTER popularly knoiwn as UG, deserves the highest credit to initiate these activities.  They have faced lot of difficulties, hardship, insults, humiliation and other forms of rejections from their opponents to establish this soccer.  Their founding members under the Presidency of Antonio Lawrence Fernandes from Siolim  an ace foot-baller during his younger days in Goa playing for the famed outfit “Lube”,  F.X. D’Souza from Assagao who was the brain behind their organising abilities,  Tony Gonsalves from Divar, Diogo Gomes from Bastora, Custodio from Navelim and others who all of them gave their life not only to form this soccer but also to promote it.

The soccer that we Goans initiated and organized at Sour Grounds created ripples not only in Kuwait but also in India and in the other parts of the World as it was known to FIFA as well.  Because of this soccer the name of Goans as soccer crazy infiltrated even in the Brazilian society when for one of the finals the Brazilian Coach of Kuwait National Team himself was the chief guest thanks to the excellent efforts put in by Shaikh Agnelo from Agacaim to get the Brazilian as the Chief Guest.  Additionally, many of the top personalities either from the Kuwait Government segment or renowned Kuwaiti personalities from the other segments including the Indian Ambassadors and other diplomats attended the finals as Chief Guests.  Some of the top Goan political figures were also attended these finals by especially coming to Kuwait but among them Churchill Alemao was the greatest beneficiary when he was the chief guest for one important  soccer match when he was still ripe in forming his political career needing a booster which he rightly got from Kuwait Goans.               

Coming back to our Kuwait Soccer, according to some involved in this soccer which is now shifted to some other location, KIFF under Derek Gomendes’ Presidency  is not running well, there is arrogance and pride and also Hitlerism in KIFF piloted by the President whose contribution in the formation and development  of this soccer is nothing, according to one source.  While according to another source, there are financial irregularities going on in KIFF where there is no transparency. However,  according to Derek he is upright otherwise let any accusation be substantiated with concrete evidence, said   Derek, further adding that those who are spoiling his name are guilty and who are all out to destroy KIFF and rob the kitty of KIFF as once it happened when one Chinchinnkar robbed the KIFF money while taking advantage of the position he was holding in KIFF.    

During my approximate one month stay in Kuwait last month, I have noticed lot of animosities among our community members which is nothing new, it is the same old story because this is our trade mark and it carried forward because no corrective measure were taken in the past by our elders to eradicate this defect deeply ingrained in our blood.

Kuwait according to me is not what it was, it is become too expensive.  I suddenly fell sick and taken to hospital at Mubarakia Hospital where I was kept for 4 days.  I was later on came to know that the charges for the visitor like me in the government hospitals which was F.O.C.  earlier, were KD 70/- plus other charges and for the local resident KD 10/- per night per bed. Then some of the Kuwaiti doctors came to know my antecedents  and my contributions towards Kuwait during their dark days when their country was under the siege by Saddam Hussein, they came to me to know more about what I did along with my other fellow Goans in Goa for their sake. Virtually, around my bed I was surrounded by the top Kuwaiti doctors discussing nothing but political affairs during those days as they were kids then. Then  I gave them my Book “FROM COCONUT TREES TO OIL WELLS” released 2 years back on Kuwait where they were surprised to know so much we Goans have done for them, one of them even shouted saying “when you have done so much for our country, you must receive the treatment F.O.C.”.  I asked him, Dr. can I ask and beg for it?  It is you as a Kuwaiti should raise this topic with your top management.  I am not a beggar, if you feel you have any gratitude then go ahead but knowing Kuwaiti mentality, I expect nothing from your Hospital management”.  Though it was thru commercial transaction that I worked for so many years in  Kuwait, yet I still feel I am grateful to Kuwait for affording me the facility to work for a long time in Kuwait, even though I expect nothing and no personal favour for me from Kuwait.  Two of these Kuwaiti doctors have agreed to visit Goa as my guests shortly.

A.Veronica Fernandes.