Saturday, January 12, 2008

Posthumously honour 3 Konkani stage stalwarts



Posthumously honour 3 Konkani stage stalwarts: meet
BY HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, OCT 18, 2007 — A condolence meeting called on Thursday in the City made a fervent appeal to the State Government to posthumously honour three stalwarts of the Konkani stage C Alvares, Nelson Afonso and Prem Kumar.
Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) President Tomazinho Cardozo was in the forefront to make the appeal at the meeting called to condole the deaths of Fr Moreno de Souza sj and Prem Kumar, both of whom passed away recently.
Cardozo recalled, “In the year 1969 Kumar was a super star and I had the opportunity to play a part alongside him. His tiatrs had scenes enacted that looked like movies, he remembered.
Speaking on Fr Moreno, he said no person would be able to forget the priest’s contribution to Konkani language. His four books on the churches of Goa constitute a proof of history and I sincerely wish somebody could translate these works into English, he added.
Apart from Cardozo, several tiatr artistes, priests, writers and other personalities, including friends, paid rich tributes to the two stalwarts of the Konkani language. Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes was also present.
Stage artist Ciriaco Dias, like Cardozo, also urged the Government to honour Prem Kumar and the others posthumously and reminded the gathering of the artist’s outstanding works like Mary Magdalene (tiatr) and Boglant (movie).
Another artist Fatima D’Souza recited a dialogue from one of Kumar’s dramas and showered accolades on him as a quality writer.
MLA Victoria Fernandes said the five minutes time allotted to her wouldn’t do justice to pay tributes to these pioneers of Konkani language and culture.
Fr Pratap Naik sj of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr said condolence had no place in Christianity and Fr Moreno and his works would always be alive.
Fr Mathew Almeida sj, ex-director of TSKK recalling the works of the two said both were innovators in their respective fields.
Others who paid their tributes were Anil Kumar, Premanand Sangodkar (both tiatrists), Pundalik Naik (noted playwright and GKA president), Miguel Braganza (horticulturist), Purnanand Chari (Konknni Bhasha Mandal President), Salvador Fernandes (DKA Secretary) and Michael Gracias (Editor of Jivit).

Biography of M Boyer released


Biography of M Boyer released at KA
HERALD NEWS DESK


PANJIM, OCT 13 — The biography of the living legend of tiatr, M Boyer, researched and written by Michael Gracias, was released at the 77th birthday celebrations of Manuel Santan Aguiar aka M Boyer at an impressive function at Kala Academy, Panjim, Goa.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Mauvin Godinho, Deputy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, complimented the author and the publishers for the great work that they had accomplished. He said that there was no “Goan identity” without Konkani. The Goa government was committed to promote Konkani through publications, tiatr and other forms of expression.
Responding to the suggestions of other speakers before him, specially Cyriaco Dias, co-villager and co-actor of M Boyer and former Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Tomazinho Cardoz, a well known tiatrist, educationist and current President of Dalgado Konkani Akademi as well as a member of Goa Konkani Akademi.
Earlier, Tarkeshwar Naik welcomed the dignitaries, tiatrists and Konkani Mogi for the function. Premanand Lotlikar elaborated on the book, while Cyriaco Dias introduced on M Boyer's life, while Tomazinho Cardoz and Fr Conceicao D’Silva addressed the gathering. Vincy Quadros, a well known Konkani writer, compered the function.
M Boyer is the only Goan artiste to be so far honoured with an award of the Sangeet Natak Academy of India. He received this honour in 1994 at the hands of the then President of India Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma.
In 2005, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, presented the Padmashree award to M Boyer.
M Boyer has received a number of awards since 1967. The big ones include the Kala Academy Award on the Centenary Celebrations of tiatr in 1992 and Goa Konkani Akademi Award in 1993 that preceded the Sangit Natak Academy Award as well as the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Sangeet Sammelan Award in 2002 and Dalgado Konkani Akademi award in 2004 that preceded the Padmashree in 2005 and finally the Goa State Rewards in 2007.
The book is published by Agnelo Alcasoas of Velsao and available on sale at Remediana Stores, Old market, Margao and with Zito Almeida, near Cine Lata, Margao. The book will shortly be available in Panjim and other towns of Goa and in Mumbai. For details, contact Michael Gracias on Tel: 2884677.