CANDOLIM "MANDD" FEST & TIATRO.

CANDOLIM MAND FEST.         

                 

In Candolim at Pintos vaddo where the great Aade Faria the world renown hypnotist was born and also the home of Pintos  revolution, there is a Mandd knwn as Holy Cross Mandd where  innumerable miracles takes place. Every Sunday huge crowd gathers there in the mornings to pray. On 2^nd of February every year on the feast day of “Condoi Saibinn” in the Asilo Chapel opposite to Mandd, they organize a tiatro there with lot of enthusiasm where people gather in the big number. 

This time tiatro “Aadhaar Card” by comedian Domnick was held. Before the start of the tiatro, as per tradition two groups of musicians comprising traditional instruments such as Gumott, Madyem and Kansaem come to the Stage in a big procession, one group comes from next to my house Araddy starting point is in front of the house of llgendary old timer tiatrist Effie Fernandes. Both these groups converge a few metres from Mandd and then enter the Stage and play their music for about 30 minutes. Then the elderly Mandd member conducts the prayer for a about 10 mintes  and then the tiatro starts.

The following photos are self explanatory.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

                  

Seen above on the Stage are traditional msicians 

Seen above Josemarie conducting the prayer

Seen above is a section of the audience

Comedian Bach'chan in one scene of the tiatro

Jerry Cal seen singing his powerful solo 

TIATRO "IN OR OUT" BY SIMON GONSALVES.

Yesterday at Kala Academy Hall in Panjim, at 7.35 PM I saw the new Tiatro “IN OR OUT” written by Simon Gonsalves who unfortunately was not present to direct his own Tiatro since he had to rush back to London on emergency basis entrusting the task of directing it into the hands of Willy. Though the hall was not packed yet the attendees who attended this Tiatro yesterday were happy to witness this Tiatro and enjoy it.

Singing opening song: Philip Almeida and Comeian Jannet 

Simon Gonsalves is a good script writer whom I know in Kuwait where he worked a number of years before migrating to UK a few years back.  His specialty lies in a Premkumarian manner in decorating his Tiatros which he staged in Kuwait, in the beautiful Scenes.  This is exactly he does also in this Tiatro where he showed some beautiful and impressive scenes namely the Plane flying in the Sky and the accident of the Van.

In Kuwait he beautified a few Tiatros of the late Rosary Ferns with the excellent scenes of which type none has showed before.  Though Rosary Ferns Tiatros were really excellent scriptwise and of which type none of the current Tiatrists scripts yet Simon Gonsalves’ beautiful scenes gave an added booster to those few Tiatros.

Xavier Gomes singing his solo 

In the photograph printed in the Tickets, the faces of some of the tiatrists printed there did not participate in this Tiatro even though from the photos published they were bound to participate unless the director wants to fool the audience or cheat those tiatrists by simply publishing their photographs without their consent to pull the crowd.  This should be stopped henceforth because  this is nothing but cheating with intentional chicanery.  The organizers and directors  of such Tiatros should not think Tatro goers are idiots like them who take the Tiatro goers for granted.  And secondly  it is also the responsibility of those Tiatrists whose photos are published in the advertisements to see to it that their photos are published with their consent in which case they are obligated to be present for the Tiatros on the stipulated dates. Otherwise they too become the partners in the crime.

Singing his solo "Airportar Pulic Meeting"

Some Tiatrists have dirty habit to accept 2 or even 3 Tiatros  on the same day and even at the same time but when their time come to perform they make mess of a their performance thus spoiling their own image and that of the director and organizers. 

The story of this Tiatro is nice which gave lot of information of the life in London.  It also tells the greatness of Portuguese government of giving Portuguese Passports facility to Goans. The story dwells more time in London and in simple terms it conveys the message saying “if you do good you will go IN Heaven and if you do bad you will go OUT in Hell.

Scene where Willy and Jessica are seen

All the artistes played their part well but Willie and Jessica Gomes gained the hearts of the audience.  Jessica played the double role but in the second part of her double role she goofed at many counts. First of all she failed to indicate her status of the mother by not even applying little white powder to her black hair to give a semblance of her advancing in age, neither she did remove her make-up of her first part because of this she looked more younger. While speaking her  voice did not sound her to be an elderly woman a mother of a grown-up daughter and her walking posture and pace looked like that of an athlete.  Otherwise her role as a spinster and epically in the hospital bed along with Willy was excellent deserving the Rs.2000/- present given to her by a member of the audience.

Singing a quarter: Jannet-Caetan-Philip -Benny

Similarly the role played opposite to her as her husband also the second part in the double role commits the same type of goof otherwise his first part was ok.  The role played by attractive Willy was appreciated specially the part he played as a lover of Jessica slipping himself in the arms of his dying lover was excellent. 

Cajetan de Curtorm singng his solo

Bunty whom I saw for the first time played his role opposite to Nelishe was good however Nelishe was not audible with clarity and because of this much of her excellence disappeared. Philip Almeida’s role of a Hindu was excellent especially when it reaches to its crescendo where describes his action of killing the politician.  But among all, Juju playing the role of a Minister gains the tremendous limelight in this role, his expressions, actions and dress code were superb befitting the Minister’s character. He brought an extra colour to this play. 

  

The comedy part played by all the three ace comedians namely comedian Jannet, comedian Agostinho Temudo and comedian Bach’chan was superb especially in the later part where Bach’chan was at his best while comedian Agostinho was more of a philosophical and comedian Jannet was the supreme in all respect. The most seasoned and experienced comedian she is deserves highest accolades.

Benny de Aldona singing his solo

The director of this Tiatro as per my information was Willie who in the absence of Simon Gonsalves who had to fly back to UK due to unavoidable circumstances deserves compliments for shouldering this responsibility with care and discipline.  In this connection, let me recount one most  memorable incident of how in an emergency case  a last minute substitute director staged a Tiatro in Bombay. It was an incident taken place about 80 years back. The legendary Minguel Rod after getting drunk in Bombay slept on the ground only at Cross Maidan keeping the script with him while going to stage his Tiatro. After waiting for the director Minguel Rod for long and having no other choice and to pacify the restless audience, his right hand man Master Vaz – father of Marcus Vaz – took the responsibility on his shoulders and started the Tiatro under his direction and that too even without the script which was lying with Minguel Rod who was woken up by some of the Tiatro goers returning home after watching this Tiatro.

                                         














A comedy scene where Bach'chan-Jannet-Agostinho are seen

The Side Show songs were good in which both the solos of Benny de Aldona were nice especially the second one “Surprise” so also his quarter along with comedian Jannet, Philip Almeida and Cajetan de Curtorim; after a long time I saw a quarter and it looks the revival of quarters is come.  Earlier, Alexinho de Candolim used to introduce quarters in his Tiatros.  The solo “Tiatrist Director” by Caetan de Curtorim was worth admiring so also “Nossai” by Marcus Vaz and “Tarvotti” by Bunty. But among all the solos, Xavier Gomes’ solo on “Goenchem Ghor” was the best and very informative and meaningful which he rendered with perfect clarity.  But the only thing which is not palatable of him was the way he takes his entry with a sprint of an Olympian which I feel not necessary. I am sure he must have noticed how gracefully M. Boyer, Alfred Rose, Remy Colaco and Alexinho de Candolim used to take their entry on the Stage.

Anther scene where willy & Nelishe are seen

My congratulations to Simon Gonsalves for scripting this nice Tiatro and Willy for directing it.

  

                                                  Bunty is seen singing his solo


A.Veronica Fernandes.

THREAT ALSO FOR LEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN CANDOLIM?

In Candolim at Dando, yesterday, there was much noise when North Goa Planning and Development Authority headed by Calangute constituency MLA Michael Lobo, sent its representative R.K Pandita to check the construction done in the Compound of Mrs. Mathias the mother of Mr. Roshan with an intention to facilitate punitive action since according to this Authority this construction  was built illegally in the CR Zone.

One of the locals seen discussing with Mr. Pandita

According to my information this construction was done in 1989 much before the CRZ came into being and since this is the case the term illegality does not apply to this construction. However, it is surprising that how the authorities concerned remained silent for such a long period over this issue and suddenly now only got up so shamelessly?  Is it a sign of revenge and vindictiveness against Mr. Roshan who is a member of local Forum that is fighting against those people who are with the help of their official status in the elected bodies are doing corruption by usurping the land from the Comunidade and other sources?   

Where are all the Candoikars gone now especially the prominent ones and why they are silent on this matter when the PDA is all out to harm  the constructed piece of Mrs. Mathias who is a genuine Goan?  For Ghanttis the Goan Ghattis in the Panchayat and Legislative Assembly close their eyes for illegal construction they do but for Goans they immediately oppose.  These Goan Ghattis are so corrupt that for the greed for bribe money they will do anything even they will dole their wives for these Ghanttis. Most of our Panchayats and Sarpanches are Ghanttis including the one below my nose who is threatening a local from his village that he will use Goonddas to beat him!! From here you can make out the quality of our elected village leaders. Is it right for a Sarpanch to use such threatening language?  Is it right for a Sarpanch to talk such a rude language? 

Roshan and Dalvi seen in discussion with Pandita

It is really surprising to note here that so many constructions are done and still under construction which are illegal but why there is no objection?  Is the local political leader unaware of all these illegal  constructions?  Why he is silent over these? And by the way, are all his constructions which he already erected done with due legal process?  Is he  not responsible to allow mushrooming of illegal constructions by the Ghanttis in his village by paying the Panchayat bribe which is shared among all the members?  In this way thru the bribe money these Ghantti local leaders amassed huge wealth and with the help of this illegally acquired wealth these rascals are threatening the locals like the one mentioned above.  This bloody rogue when he came to Goa a few years ago from Ghanttar he had no place even to sleep but he is now after 2/3 terms in the local Panchayat by looting became a crorepoti. There should be thorough investigation to know from where he amassed his wealth when he was always a “Bekar Loudi".  It is this type of rogues who should be reprimanded and not the persons like Rohan Mathias.  And even if Rohan is guilty (that he is not is a different matter) he should be allowed to go scot free because he is a Goan and being so he should be accorded preferential treatment.

Personnel seen measuring the so called illegal structure

Now according to my latest information, the local Panchayat Body in collaboration with the local MLA is targeting all the local Goans with the notices of illegal constructions in order  to frighten them from opposing of wrong-doings by the elected representatives in the village. If this is the case then I feel Salazar Raj is still prevailing in Goa with the help of elected Salazars though the original Salazar was not elected.  

In view of this, all the justice lover Candoicars must join together to oppose this type of arrogant policy of revenge and vindictiveness exhibited by the elected Salazars.  I am surprised how an unknown entity named Samir Krishna Govekar residing at Khobravaddo Calangute complained to the authority concerned that the construction of Mathias is illegal? Is he not implanted by the interested persons?  What is his interest in this construction in Candolim? And did anyone checked if this same Govekar is totally free from any illegality?  This should be probed. All my friends, colleagues and acquaintances especially from Khobravaddo, Calangute must ask this Govekar why he is working against Goans.  By the way is this Govekar first of all, a Goan?  All the Goa lover Calangutkars especially known to me must question this Govekar why he interfered in this matter.  If today in Candolim then tomorrow he will do the same thing in Khobravaddo and elsewhere in Calangute.  Cngttkars must be ready to face this Govekar.  This construction that was built in the Compound of Mathias is not a hindrance and obstacle to anyone.  If he is so conscious of such matters then why he cannot do the same in his own Khobravaddo and elsewhere in Calangute where there are innumerable illegalities?  Can he display his courage by doing similarly in Calangute?  

Now I would also request the local Church  authorities and church leaders to come out of its silence and broker a peace in this conflict because Church leaders can do anything to eradicate the bad blood currently existing in our village where Catholics are the centre piece and since our local Church leader is  like  fatherly figure, he should come forward.  Besides,  it would be better if all the persons involved in this confusion are brought to their senses especially the Catholic elected representatives who by being revengeful and vindictive are bringing disgrace not only on them but also on the Catholicism. They should be told in bold words that they are a shame on Catholicism because Catholicism does not allow such ideas, these ideas are sinful and and as such they should not be implemented. These ideas of revenge and vindictiveness are meant only for the Satanic persons and not for true Catholics especially those who are having priests in their families. It is a shame for the priests to have people in their families who on the strength of their official position are taking their personal revenge which is not correct, they are elected not to take their personal revenge on others. These revengeful elected representatives must think what was the fate of their colleagues who were acting revengeful when they were in power but once out of power they were fish out of water - big jokers.

A.Veronica Fernandes.