Khel Tiatr Festival at Kala Academy to be dedicated to the memory of Santiago Pereira

Khel tiatr festival from July 24 at KA
NT News Desk


Panaji: The inaugural function of Kala Academy’s 2nd Khell Tiatr festival will be held on July 24, 2007 at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panaji. The festival is dedicated to the memory of late Shri Santiago Pereira, a renowned personality from traditional Khell Tiatr stage in Goa. The function will be followed by staging of khell tiatr ‘Uzvadd Paloilo’ by Maxcy Pereira of S S Productions, Vasco. Altogether 5 khell tiatrs will be staged in the festival.

Santigao Pereira, born on May 22, 1912 at Kottambi village of Quepem was a versatile personality in the khell tiatr field. He was a playwright, lyrics writer, director, artist and a musician of repute. After completing primary education in Portuguese, he took to learning western music in Church coir and played instruments like violin, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet and gained expertise of these instruments. Thereafter, took to their family profession as ‘Render’. He was influenced and attracted to Khell performances of renowned artist popularly known as ‘Kuddo Minguel’ and later on at the age of 17 years, presented his first Khell at the village level.

Late Santigao Pereira received rave applauses and appreciation of Khell audiences for his setting, composition of songs so much, so that he received invitations to perform at villages Kottambi, Asolda, Chandor, Curtorim, Davorrlim, Kunkolim, Koprimoddi, Macazana, Shiroda, Panchvadi and other places. He also encouraged and guided other artists to come forward on khell tiatr stage. Kala Academy has appealed the khell tiatr lovers to attend the festival and inaugural function.

Meanwhile, the Kala Academy has declared results of regional-level bhajan competitions in ladies category organized at four centres. Accordingly Shree Madanant Mahila Bhajani Mandal, Savoi-Verem, Shree Pratibha Sangeet Vidhyalay, Ponda, Shree Vanadevi Sangeet Saunstha, Kaisuv, Shree Mahapurush Mahila Bhajani Mandal, Varkhand, Shree Gajalaxmi Sangeet Vidhyalay, Ponda, Yuvati Bhajani Mandal, Adkon, Shree Dadeshwar Mahila Bhajani Mandal, Nadora, Kuldevata Mahila Bhajani Mandal, Viornora selected to perform at the state-level bhajan competition in ladies category.
The state-level competition in ladies category will be held on July 28, 2007 at Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda from 2.30 p.m. onwards.

(The Navhind Times/21 July 2007)