October 25, 2012

CARMO REBELO'S DVD ON SALE IN KUWAIT.


“HO AMCHEA KOXTTANCHO INAM?” is the latest Konkani DVD of Carmo Rebelo reached Kuwait for sale in the Video Shop. In the absence of original I had to purchase a pirated copy sold here very cheaply.

After watching it attentively because it captures the attention of the viewers very easily I found it worth watching because as it was indicated by the producer that “it is based on family & cultural values”. Besides I can add one more word to it saying “traditional” values also. It depicts Goan traditional values with regards to their religious belief

It is a good story woven around a feud between two religious entities – Catholics and Believers; girls side Believers while boys side Catholics. Both sides are adamant as far as their religious believes are concerned finally forcing the boy (Willy) a Catholic to leave UK by deserting his staunch Catholic parents (Pascoal Rodrigues & Felcy) to join his girlfriend in Goa.

In this Album we see how we in the name of our religious denominations are creating splits among us. Catholics and Believers are both the followers of Christianity, both these denominations are propagators of Christianity but with some different ways. Catholics perform more rituals while Believers are dubbed rightly or wrongly as anti-Mother Mary.

I am in Kuwait involved in many religions and denominations including Believes attending their services and lectures but never even once I noticed that Believers are against Mother Mary. To my knowledge those who campaign against Mother Mary are not true Christians whether they are Believers or from any other Christian denomination.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Religions are different routes leading to the same destination”. Believers and Catholics are two different routes leading to the same destination. But there are many faults of Catholicism and its leadership for the development and spread of Believers who will according to me capture a major portion of Catholicism in the very near future. What Catholicsm cannot provide Believers provide to its followers and overwhelming majority of the current Believers are from Catholic denomination. Many of the Catholics who left Catholicism and embraced Believers have done this as an act of rebellion against Catholicism and its arrogance. If Catholicsm is still strong it is only because of the strong base created by its earlier followers, promoters and leaders. But this base looks shaky now.

Earlier our tradition was to oppose our children marrying in different castes and in different religions but now that trend is changed and fights erupt between Catholics and Believers as it is depicted in this DVD.

One important subject that is seen in this DVD is that of the acquisition of Portuguese Passport which gives better dividends than that of the Passport of the "Chor" who robbed Goa from the hands of Goans and forced their unwanted Passport on Goans.   

Pascoal Rodrigues’ role as a father was an excellent one along with that of Felcy as his wife. Both these great Konkani Stage jewels brought an extra colour to this Album. They were ably supported in their endeavour to make this DVD magnificent by Willy and Felcy’s Sister pretty looking Aplon. Veteran Jessie Dias played a very good role of a mother. In the first Canto of the play she sang so beautifully with her so beautiful voice reminding me of her singing prowess she exhibited in C. Alvares and Prem Kumar’s Tiatros during those great old days. In fact all the Cantos in the play were worthy of admiration.

Comedina Jannet once again proved why she is dubbed as Comedy Queen of Konkani Stage. She is very natural artiste. Other artistes too played their roles well.

One can also watch in this DVD felicitation ceremony of the great and now retired artiste Anthony D'Souza who is the surviving member of original Trio Kings namely Conception-Nelson-Anthony.

Carmo Rebelo is a new to me but I find him exceptionally talented, knowledgeable and wisdomatic. To produce such a magnificent work is not a joke. This work of his gives resemblance of the works produced by the yesteryears great artistes. Keep up the good work Carmo Bab.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

October 24, 2012

Goan Icon Footballer Orlando Viegas to play in Kuwait

By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait: Orlando Viegas, one of the star icon footballers from Goa, will be visiting Kuwait to play for Navelim Youth Centre in the Sheikha Huda Memorial International Football Tournament to be held in Kuwait on Saturday, 27th October 2012, at Surra Stadium. 

One of the best and complete footballers, Goa has ever produced, Orlando, hailing from Navelim and currently working in Dubai, played for India’s famed Dempo Sports Club for most of his playing career in Goa.

Orlando’s career started as a young and budding player playing for Navelim Soccerites, then champions of All-Goa sub-junior championship. He later captained Goa at Jammu & Kashmir in the All India Sub-junior Championship in 1986. Orlando also played at the Assam Sub-Junior Games in 1987.

Orlando started his senior career with Salcette Football Club in 1987 and played professionally for Dempo from 1989 to 1995. Later he joined Churchill Brothers for 2 years and was with Vasco Sports Club till 2000 before moving to U.A.E for greener pastures.

At the senior level, Orlando represented Goa in the Santosh Trophy till 1995 being on the winners pedestal in the 1989 championship held in Goa, and Runners-up in 1993.

Working as a Manager in Logistics field, Orlando is happily married to Hylette and has 2 children. He remains one of the most popular footballers in Navelim Village.

The star footballer will be seen in action in the International tournament organized in fond memory of Late Sheikha Huda Bader Mohamed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, a much awaited feature in the Expatriate Football circuits in Kuwait.

A total of 24 teams are expected to participate in the prestigious tournament which is presented by Betalbatim FC. Teams vying for the glittering Trophy and valuable prizes will include the champions of last year - Aldona United F.C., Dubai, Vanxim Divar, Dubai, Siolim United, Dubai and Indian expatriate popular teams from Kuwait namely AVC, Goa Maroons, Don Bosco Oratory, Navelim Youth Centre, Real Betalbatim, Fahaheel Brothers, DHL F.C., Veterans United  and Kuwait Goans Association (KGA) among other teams. 
 

A large holiday crowd is expected to witness the games.

October 23, 2012

FR. NEVILLE GRACIAS' NEW KONKANI FILM.



Every week in Kuwait we get one or two Konkani Albums either as CD or VCD or DVD. Every week I purchase them from Video Shop. Most of these Films are scrap but some are good. One such a good Konkani Film recently I got was of Fr. Neville Gracias’ “VOCH ANINK PATOK KORUM NAKA”.

Fr. Neville and I met in Kuwait about 4 years back when he visited Kuwait and taking this opportunity he participated in Rosary Ferns Tiatro Kuwait Soddun Vetana in which he played a nice role. When I penned down a few lines with his photos in both the local newspapers in Kuwait describing his dramatic activities, not only Goans but even international community residing in Kuwait was surprised to know that this priest is a dramatist also.

The recent Film of his “Vochat Anink Patok Korum Naka” was really worth watching; the story has got biblical meaning and spiritual significance and it is a very good lesson for the young couples who are unfaithful to their marriage vows. In this Film one gets lot of information of how to be faithful to his/her spouse and also how to be unfaithful as well.

The romantic role played by handsome and attractive Sylvester Vas opposite to equally attractive Felcy deserves highest compliments. Felcy is one of the senior most artistes whom I first time saw in Minguel Rod’s Tiatro “Lembddo Santan” when I was a College student about 40 years back and she was very young and beautiful looker then attracting immense interest in youths like me. Seniority and age did not shadow her original looks which she in this film beautified more elegantly with nice dresses. It is admiring she still keeps her youthful looks. As usual Sylvester Vas played the hero’s role with his normal ease and elegance.

The other beauty who gave extra glamour for this Film was attractive Jessica Gomes who stands tall among all the lovely looking female artistes on Konkani Stage today. It reminds me of those great days in sixties when beautiful Antonette and charming Ophelia used to dazzle the audience with their superb acting and beautiful looks. It is very essential for the female artiste to have good looks to attract the attention of the audience. It is not only Jessica’s beauty that attracted the viewers to her but also her very romantic role she played opposite Salu de Loutolim who was unfortunately no match to her as he lacks lot of qualites to play such a romanti role.

Both the comedians Domnick and Luis Bachan did justice for their comedy roles.

Fr. Neville’s role as a Doctor was superb, the delivery of his statements was appropriate and to the point.

Fr. Neville deserves praises for scripting the story of this film which is worth watching.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.