TIATRO "DEVACHEM DEVAK DIYAT"

Seen above is beautiful Jessica singing

 

On 1^st of this month, Wednesday, I saw the Tiatro “Devachem Devak Diyat” in Panjim at Kala Academy A/C Hall,  written and directed by Fr. Nevell Gracias.  This was the golden Jubilee Show attended by special invitee as Chief Guest the “Vigar Geral” of Goa Fr. Jose Remedios Fernandes.   Otherwise, it was attended by a less number of attendees and one could easily notice very many empty chairs in the hall.  From the proceedings one could also notice that it was a low budget venture as it consisted of small cast missing some of the heavyweights of Konkani Stage. 

 

Comedian Domnick beautifully singing his solo 

 

Fr. Nevell whom I first time met in Kuwait a few years back when he came to visit Kuwait whence he participated in the best and the last Tiatro of late Rosary Ferns, “Kuwait Soddun Vetana”.  His mission is to spread the gospel of Christ thru Tiatro just as J.P.Souzalin did when he was alive.  In this Tiatro of Rosary Ferns, Fr. Nevell played a small but beautiful role of a priest winning hearts of many in the audience. 

  

Felcy seen singing her solo

 

Thru my immense publicity in the local newspapers in Kuwait, the international community surprisingly came to know of this Goan priest acting in Dramas. Because of this wide coverage he became a hero in Kuwait not in the eyes of God but in the eyes of human beings.  But later on as it looked to me, he had to put extra strain on his eyes to recognize me. At least with strainful eyes he recognized me but some “Rostad Padris” who enjoyed my benefits from Kuwait never even hallowed me while in Goa for good.  Like most of the politicians, many of the Padris are become first class “Beiman”.  When they come to Kuwait for their gains, they approach you as slaves but once they fulfilled their goal, they act as masters and on top of it they claim to be the followers of Jesus Christ. By going against the doctrine of Christ they crucify Jesus again and again.   

 

A scene where Jogle & Rosario Botelho are seen

 

The Tiatro “Devachem Devak Diyat” is fully filled with Christian doctrine, not only the main play but also the side show songs as well.  It would have been a bit better if some side show songs were based on topics different from religion as J.P. Souzalin used to do during those days. For this reason J.P. Souzalin became more successful not only in attracting more audience for his religious Tiatros but also in spreading the message of Christ to greater number of audience.

 

A duet of Semeca & comedian Bachan

 

The artistes who took part in this Tiatro have performed their roles well especially Jogle as a priest, Rosario Botelho as a Psycho, both the comedian brothers Domnic and Luis Bachan, Sameca and the  beauty of Konakni Stage Jessica,  this time not as a young heroine but as an old mother.  It was surprising to see her for the first time playing this type of role so appropriately by hiding her natural beauty and youthful attractive looks and yet performing the role of a mother so well.

 

Chief Guest seen speaking. Next to him is Fr. Nevell

 

The role of a priest played by a Hindu artiste Jogle is to be admired especially when he is a Hindu.  Elsewhere we saw how another Hindu artiste Tari playing the role of a priest so well.  Luis Bachan’s overdoing of comedy role has to be trimmed a bit especially when the scene required seriousness.

 

Beauties of Konkani Stage Felcy & Jessica

 

While concluding the message the audience got was this: “Do not criticize the priest because he is in place of Jesus Christ”.  I do not agree with this message. With the exception of a very few holy priests, the rest are not good and as such to say so is not a sin.  These “not good” priests are a black mark not only on Christ but also on His wonderful doctrine. Today the image of Christianity is damaged only because of the corrupt and worldly priests who for the sake of money and sex like politicians will stoop to any low.  

                                                   Seen are Jogle and Jessica

The main theme of the play is to give God what must go to God and to the King what belonged to the King stressing on the point that we must give to God 10% of our earnings.  Islam said 2% which is called “Zakat” but for the good cause and not for the Mullas to spend this amount recklessly.  Today there is no account of the money given to the Church in the name of God and in view of this there is fear that this money is misused by the priests for sinful purposes like buying luxurious cars, keeping innumerable concubines, for drinks and drugs, for luxury sex trips to Far East and for other sinful activities.  God does not require money.

A.    Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim,  Goa.

Tel: 7507394349. 

 

 

 

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.