Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Konkani Songit Kala Kendr's award ceremony

Konkani Songit Kala Kendr's award ceremony

PANAJI- Konkani Songit Somajik Kala Kendr will be organising a musical show followed by 2nd Award Ceremony in memory of late Dr Jack de Sequeira, father of the Opinion Poll on December 29,2008 at Gomantak Vidhya Niketan Hall, Margao at 3 p.m. As a befitting tribute to Dr Jack de Sequeira, the Kendr is organising this show and Award Ceremony to make the future generation aware of the role played by Dr jack de Sequeira during the opinion poll.
Tiatrists who will receive the award include Roshan Best Acress (outstanding performance as a mother in Maria Menezes �He Mai Konachi�), Salude Loutolim (best actor for his dynamic role as a police officer in Agostin Police), Comedian Luis Bachchan (Best Commedian), Peter de Benaulim (Best Composer), Osvi Viegas (performing as a artist for 50 years on Goan stage), Cibal Cabral (Best Female Child Artist), Marcus Vaz (Best Male Singer), Norman Cardozo (Best Musician), Dir Agostian for Drama �Police� Tiatra of the year), �Dempo Sport Club (Team of the year) Livia D�Silva (Best Female Singer), Francis de Tuem (King of Goa�s Political Songs), Wilmix-Sharon (Best Duet of the 70�s still going strong), John Claro (Writer), Sandeep Calangutcar (Veteran Actor, director and winner of many awards at the Kala Acaademy Tiatra competition).
The PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao will be the Chief Guest on the occasion and South Goa MP Mr Francisco Sardinha and Mr Anthony D�Souza will be the guests of honour.

(The Navhind Times)

Mathew Araujo gets Gulab Award 2003

ARCHBISHOP GETS GULAB AWARD:

The Archbishop-Patriarch, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, was awarded the 'Man of the Year 2003' during the 'Gulab' awards ceremony held at the Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao. The best writer award in Roman script was claimed by the editor of monthly magazine Rotti, Fr Moreno D'Souza. In the field of tiatr, Mathew Araujo was selected as the best actor in the drama, Devak Zai Zalear, while Sabina won the best actress award for the drama, Tiatr Somple-Cholat Ghara. A cultural programme comprising of
songs dedicated to late Fr Freddy J da Costa, mandos and a skit was also
held on the occasion.

(The Navhind Times / 27-11-2004)

Rosary Ferns' Volume 8 audio cassette "Padre Pio"

Padre Pio

Rosary Ferns after the success of Volume 8, has now
released its latest cassette "Padre Pio".

Padre Pio features songs by leading tiatrist and
singers like Xavier Gomes, Prince Jacob, Menino Mario,
Liciano Dias, Young Chico, Antonette, Lucy, Rosary
Fernandes, Josephine, Jr. Rod, etc.

The songs in this cassette includes Padro Pio, Time,
Bhikik Soumta, Sirvis Kor, Guru, Put, Loz Dista,
Sacrifice, Sovoskai, Mog ani Dekh and Goa to Kuwait.

The cassette is released and marketed by V P Sinari
and Sons, Goa's only music store.
(Info source: Gomantak Times)

- Forwarded by www.goa-world as posted in the Gulf Goans e-Newsletter/23-Sept-2001
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/1209

IFFI 2004 Programme Schedule includes Konkani Play

IFFI PROGRAMME SCHEDULE: 29th November to 09th December 2004

- Cultural Parade: 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm from Ribandar Circle to Parade
Grounds.
- AR Rehman Show at the Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir hall, on
November 29 evening.
- Opening Ceremony: 29th November, 2004: Tidal Wave + Fore Front
bands, Fireworks, from 6.00 pm onwards.
- Vintage Car Rally: 05 December, 2004: 4.30 pm onwards from
Ribandar Circle to parade grounds.
- Beach Cinema: 30th Nov: Mission Impossible; 01st Dec: Dhoom (H);
02nd Dec: Hum Tum (H); 05 Dec: E.T.; 07th Dec: Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
(H); 08th Dec: Gladiator (At Miramar Beach from 6.00 pm onwards)
- Kala Academy: 30th Nov: Konkani Play: Sangod; 01st Dec:
Bhangarallem Goem; 02nd Dec: English Play - Class of '84; 03rd Dec: Fusion
Jazz concert, Brown Indian Band. 04th Dec: Marathi play - Lekure Udentye
Zali; 05th Dec: Indian Music and Dance Recital by kala Academy; 06th Dec:
Konkani Play - Teen Paishancho Tiatr; 07th Dec: Western Music Performance by
Kala Academy; 08th Dec: Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, Hindi Movie starring Anupam
Kher. (At the Large Amphitheatre from 6.30 pm onwards).
- Shaan Concert: 04th Dec: Miramar Beach from 7.00 pm onwards.
- Amrit Lala on 06th Dec at Miramar beach from 7.00 pm onwards.
- IFFI Amusement Park at Bhagwan Mahaveer Bal Vichar: 29th Nov to
09th Dec from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
- Goa Kite Carnival at Miramar Beach from 10 Dec to 12 Dec: 10th Dec
at 4.00 pm onwards; 11th Dec: 11.00 am onwards; 12th Dec from 11.00 am
onwards.
- Street Animation: Old GMC building to Kala Academy from 30th Nov
to 09th Dec.
- Installing the Beach: Exhibition of Installation Art by Subodh
Kerkar at the Miramar Beach from 29th Nov to 9th Dec.
- Other Beach Screenings (Films) from 6.00 pm onwards: Calangute
30th Nov; Colva 01st Dec; Vagator 02nd Dec; Baga 03rd Dec; Baina 04th Dec,
Anjuna 05 Dec and Palolem 06th Dec.
- Closing Ceremony: 9th deck 2004 at Sports Authority of Goa grounds
at 7.00 pm. Remo, Bondo, Hema and Vaishali.


(Goa-World.Com sources)

FALLING STANDARDS OF TIATR:

FALLING STANDARDS OF TIATR:


Tomazinho Cardozo has expressed serious concern over the deteriorating levels of tiatr over the recent years. In a letter to the Kala Academy, Tomazinho called for convening a meeting of writers, directors, artistes and other interested persons
in tiatr to discuss matters that have threatened the very existence of tiatr.
Tomazinho was one of the judges in the 38th Tiatr Festival which concluded recently.


HERALD / 19-12-2002

Tiatr script-writing workshop held at Kala Academy

Tiatr script-writing workshop held
NT News Desk

A day-long tiatr script writing workshop organised by the Kala Academy was held on July 2 at the black box, Kala Academy Complex, Panaji.
Two tiatr scripts namely ‘Pakkam’ by Alfredo Fernandes and ‘He Chukik Bogsonnem Asa’ by Mario Menezes were discussed at length in the session-wise programme.
The speakers who deliberated and critically analyzed the aspects of these scripts included Premanand Sangodkar, Teotonio D’Costa, Jose Salvador Fernandes and Alfredo Fernandes.

Mario Menezes and Alfredo Fernandes also expressed their views after the general discussion. John Claro Fernandes, Ceasar Fernandes, Irene Cardozo, Caetano Pereira, Mathias Mascarenhas and others stimulated a healthy discussion on various aspects of script-writing. The sessions were co-ordinated by Mike Mehta and Tomazinho Cardozo.

Earlier, Dr Pandurang Phaldesai, member-secretary of Kala Academy in his welcome speech highlighted the activities undertaken by the Kala Academy for the development of tiatr and stressed that the organization of script-writing workshop was one such step in the said direction.

Mr Dattaguru Amonkar, programme executive, compered the function and also proposed the vote of thanks at the concluding of the workshop.
Meanwhile, the Kala Academy held its literary programme ‘Sahitya Prakash’ at Mandrem High School, Mandrem in collaboration with Sahitya Sangam, Mandrem.
On this occasion, Dr Pandurang Phaldesai, member-secretary of the Kala Academy, Mr Atchut Naik, Prof Gajanan Mandrekar, Prof Vithoba Bagali, Dr Govind Kale, Mr Sanjeev Zarmekar, playwright, Pandurang Gawde and Mr Vijay Tulaskar were present.
Dr Kale, programme and development officer of Kala Academy appealed to the Goan institutions to avail the benefit of the activities of Kala Academy. Mr Atchut Naik, president of Sahitya Sangam also spoke on the occasion.

The programme was compered by Mr Zarmekar, programme executive of Kala Academy. The inauguration was followed by an interview of the playwright, Pandurang Gawde by Vijay Tulaskar.

Prof Gajanan Mandrekar and Prof Vithoba Bagali narrated some selected experiences of the 192 literary programme conducted by Sahitya Sangam.
Vocalists Rajesh Purkhe and Mandar Jathar recited selected poems of Goan poets. Tabla accompaniment was given by Ajit Shetgaonkar.
(The Navhind Times/July 4, 2006)

- Forwarded by www.goa-world.com

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)

Include Tiatr, Kantaram in the IFFI cultural programme

INCLUDE TIATR, KANTARAM

The Dalgado Konkani Akademi, Orda-Candolim, has appealed to the State government to include Konkani tiatrs and Kantaram as part of the cultural programmes during the International Film Festival of India.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Tomazinho
Cardozo said that after reading the advertisement appearing in a section of
the press on Sunday he was surprised to note that although dramas in
Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and English will be staged, the Konkani tiatr does
not find place in the programme.

He said that Konkani tiatr is the most popular dramatic form of Goa. No other stage in Goa has a mass base as Konkani tiatr enjoys.


(Gomantak Times/28 November 2004)

Tiatr Fest held at Santa Cruz

Tiatr fest held at Santa Cruz

PANJIM(HND): The Parish Youth of Santa Cruz organized a three day Tiatr festival recently in the Santa Cruz Higher Secondary School premises.

Tiatr ‘Hanv Porot Ietelim’ directed by Succoro De Santa Cruz was staged on the inaugural day.

The second day saw a considerably good response from the crowd providing them good entertainment from ‘Sogllim Sopnam Gupit Chintanam’ by comedian Domnic.

On the final day, the Tiatr ‘Mhaka Zobab Zai’ directed by Rose Ferns drew a huge crowd.

Parish Priest of Santa Cruz Fr Saud Pereira along with Fr Kenneth Teles, Fr Camilo Dias and Fr Noel graced the occasion.

(HERALD/12-December-2008)

Photographer gives image makeover to Konkani 'tiatr'

Photographer gives image makeover to Konkani 'tiatr'

January 04, 2008 | RSS


Panaji: It is financially lucrative and vibrantly popular, but the century-old traditional Konkani drama form of 'tiatr' is still looked down upon by those who matter. Post-colonial culture in Goa has given step-motherly treatment to art forms influenced by the West. Even the minority Catholic elite here looks down on tiatr as being too plebeian for their tastes.

Now, a portrait photographer is attempting to change that image. Literally. Alex Fernandes, a photographer of Goan origin who grew up in Mumbai and worked in the Gulf, has taken it upon himself to exhibit the portraits of some of the best tiatrists (as those acting in it are called).

Fernandes, 44, is showcasing his portraits of tiatrists at a bookshop in north Goa this week. Fernandes runs a studio in Goa that specialises in portraits and is called Portrait-Atelier.net.

"I did the tiatrist bit, because I thought that is my representation of a Goan portrait," he told IANS.

"It struck me that in Goa everybody identifies with the Konkani theatre artistes. I thought it would be a nice idea to get all these together and do a series on them."

"Significantly, the tiatr also started in Bombay (now Mumbai) as a way for the expatriate Goans to keep in touch with their homeland (then still a Portuguese colony and a sea-journey away)," he notes.

"Growing up in the Dhobitalao (locality of Mumbai) was like being right in the heart of the tiatr. In two places, Rangbhavan and Bhangwaddi, Konkani dramas were regularly held. Tiatrists could often be seen at the Sonapur Church or the C. D'Souza Bakery after the mass," he said.

Teatr has a strong Portuguese influence.

"I'm not a big tiatr fan myself," Fernandes confesses. "But I saw in my work sharp similarities with those of the characters in (cartoonist) Mario Miranda's book on Goa."

US-based scholars of Indian origin, like the Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi scholar specialising in Indian drama, Pramod Kale, have written about the Konkani stage, explaining the relevance of the tiatr in Goa's cultural and historical evolution.

While in Goa, Fernandes created three series of portraits, dealing with musicians, artists (shot for a major local art exhibition) and tiatrists.

"The musicians were a little difficult. For some reason, some seemed reluctant to cooperate. Once they got into the studio they were okay though. On the other hand the artists - perhaps because they were artists - built a different equations. In fact, tiatrists and musicians who came to the studio were not a problem. They become the collaborator very easily."

Portrait photography is a different ball game, especially when it involves non-professional subjects coming in on a walk-in basis, rather than professional models, Fernandes explains.

"The professional model is trained for it. They know their best angles and are not camera-shy. With a walk-in, it's a different story. Specially when it comes to communication skills," he says.

His first memories of photography go back to a time when as a 10-year-old he would mess around in a darkroom at the prominent Mumbai college - St Xavier's, where his father lectured.

In 1987, Fernandes headed for Kuwait, where he learnt more of the trade with top portrait companies.

In Kuwait, he kept honing his skills for the next 13 years, taking portraits. He shifted companies, faced the Gulf War, and came back home as a refugee-through Iraq and Jordan.

Later on, Fernandes shifted to Goa.

Fernandes is pro-digital photography. "There are some people who say 'film was the thing'. I think it's only fear of technology. You can still be purist as a photographer, and still use the contemporary top-of-the-line (digital) photography," he says. (IANS)

Pride and Joy - Tiatr Competition at Kala Academy

Pride and Joy
by Marc De Souza

THE recent tiatr competition held at the Kala Academy brought back nostalgic memories of my salad-days, when village tiatrs, particularly for a chapel feast was a ‘must’, holding the whole village and even surrounding villages in suspense. The occasion was a source of pride and joy. Those were the days of His Master’s Voice gramophone reigning supreme - before tough technology came out swinging. Now you simply turn on your computer and turn on a world of possibilities!

As a boarder in St Stanislaus, big boys from the village would come to Bandra with scripts of concerts and I was usually given a female role. May holidays would start and back to the roots, nightly rehearsals were held; counting those days among the happiest in my life. Then on the big day, in conjunction with the feast, football game, boy’s cross litany, the tiatr would start at around 9 p.m.

The stage set outdoor at a convenient place, with bamboo and wooden planks, secured with ropes. Palm fonds and other greenery, crape paper used for decoration. The curtains made out of coloured bedsheets, and two petromax lamps to light the stage. Benches and chairs were from the neighbours around.You had to have a loud voice. Villagers do have a loud and clear voice. Prompting was done, at times louder than the voice of the actor. It was all fun. Everybody would participate in some way, that gave added colour and sparkle. Elders were given front seats and you could see them dozing to glory.

Usually, a beggar would sing a song, with laughter and tears and ask for alms. The people gave generously, filling his kotti and his worn-out straw hat. It would suffice to pay for the band, banjo, violin, drums. There were no other expenses involved. It was a free show. The villagers would talk and talk about it for days, abuzz with stories. It was the time when Goa was seen through its village activities, that provided the community with a focus for living.The last tiatr I acted in and when I was in my mid-teens. I did a crackling solo ‘Mogan Boulinao’. I was bit jittery, sort of having a stage fright. I started the song alright but mid-way I messed it up. To me it was a disaster, but the audience clapped and clapped, for a little boy, and the hillside echoed! Later I came for a duet, dressed as a girl, even with a ruffled petticoat.

At a romantic moment the guy came to embrace me, I was embarrassed and laughed. He laughed too and the whole village laughed. In those glorious days people knew to laugh, now one has to go to the laughter session to laugh!

(The Navhind Times/12-02-2005)

Tiatr Review: 'Xaronnaeta' - by Danny de Ribandar

Tiatr Review: 'Xaronnaeta' - by Danny de Ribandar

Courtesy: Navhind Times (J P Pereira)

'Xaronnaeta', (Submission) is the 'tiatr'- that I bagged the second prize at the
Kala Academy Tiatr Competition. 2002. An outstanding play written and directed
by Danny de Ribandar, keeps the audience fully engrossed throughout its run.

Diana, Rima and Zelia are sisters. Diana is a doctor, Rima is employed and Zelia
a student. Rima is secretly in love with Franky. The mother of the three
sisters, Sonia, is hardworking and has brought up the children single handily.

The daughter are told that their father, Donald, was an upright policeman who
died whilst performing his duty whereas in reality he had actually driven the
mother and his four daughters out of the house when he fell in love with a woman
called Bela. One of the daughter dies, as the mother has no money to treat her
sickness. The father re-turns as he has fallen into bad times but the wife does
not want to forgive or accept him back. The daughters want to know who this man
is and even accuse the mother of having an affair with him, as they see him
corning to the house often.

How the daughters discover about the father and the stunning twist in the climax
completes the story of this interesting play.

A well written script, slick direction and natural acting by most of the amateur
cast together with appropriate background music makes this play a treat to
watch. Rosalia Rodrigues (Ribandar) is outstanding as the mother Sonia. Her
portrayal of emotions, whether she is happy or sad are so good and natural. NO
DOUBT SHE WON THE BEST ACTRESS AWARD AT THE COMPETITION. Sandra acts well as
Diana but her dialogue delivery should be a bit slow in some instances: Rosy as
Rima, Aureo as Franky and Luis as Donald emote well but Dynicia as Zelia is a
bit uneasy.

The setting of the entire house by Austin is done well depicting the sitting
room, dining room kitchen and bedroom and good use is made of the different
rooms. The light effects by Sandip are well timed and the special scenes of the
hen looking after her chicks by Inacio are presented well during the opening
song. Music by Agnelo Dias is good and so are some of the songs sung by the
various cast.

A PLAY THAT IS WORTH WATCHING.

Comedian Agostinho's tiatr 'Sir'

Sacrifice for a Cause

- by J P PEREIRA


Comedian Agostinho's tiatr titled 'Sir' was a path breaker when it was released, depicting a tale with a difference. Manfa Video, Margao have released a telefilm of the same drama.

This is a tale of an upright college professor, who sacrifices his happiness and future progress to upkeep his principles, against a rowdy student who later turns into a corrupt and greedy politician. The professor suffers a lot at the hands of the politician but as is said, each one pays for his or her own misdeeds.

A good script from Augustinho and the tight screenplay from Fabian G da Costa keeps the viewer engrossed. The two principal characters are played by Mathew Araujo as the professor and Salu de Loutulim as the politician. Both give wonderful performances, especially Mathew, in the latter half. Others in the cast are Roma, Meena, Osvi Viegas, Samuel Carvalho and Joaquim Cabral, Selvy, Crizon, Benny J Rebello and Agostinho provide lots of humour to offset the seriousness of the main story.
Norman Cardoso provides the music. Yogesh Mandrekar�s photography coupled with Santosh Shetkar's editing adds to the slickness of a well told tale.

A must watch! Do buy your own copy, it is worth it.


(The Navhind Times)

Tiatrist Grey de Candolim (Fernandes) passes away

Tiatrist Greg passes away



Greg Fernandes, popularly known as Greg de Candolim, acted on the Konkani stage for well nigh 40 years. He was born on March 10,1935, in scenic Candolim. His debut on the stage was in female roles and he excelled in duets. Later on he took to comic and character roles, performing in more than 100 tiatrs. Each of these were performed several times in Goa, Bombay, Pune, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, in East Africa and the Gulf.

Greg, always full of mirth, was the founder member of the Young Stars of Goa and the Konkani Tiatristanchi Sounstha. He had penned several tiatrs including Ximiterint Ekvott. He had also acted in most of the Konkani movies and in a couple of video films.

Even a bypass surgery four years ago could prevent him from acting. Greg expired in Candolim on March 10, 1999, leaving behind his wife Sabina (also a veteran tiatrist) and two sons.

Dr. Franics M. Rebello - Former Editor of NOVEM GOEM no more

Dr F M R no more

The passing away of Dr Francis M Rebello, wellknown gynaecologist from Margao and a staunch Konkani activist on March 30, 1999, has shocked many in Goa. The Goa Union of Journalists have express their shock because Dr Rebello was the former editor of Novem Goem, a unique people's daily in Konkani.

Along with other Konkani lovers, Dr Rebello had worked hard to collect funds through the formation of the Novem Goem Prathishthan. Novem Goem suffered the pangs of survival through troubled times but DR Rebello was one of the few leaders who did not shirk his responsbility and tried his utmost to keep it alive. During his stint as the editor, he displayed a strong commitment to social causes, Konkani language and other humanitarian issues.

He loved Konkani dearly right from his college days at St Xaviers College, Bombay. He was a former president of the Konkani Bhasha Mandall in Goa and was associated with the Konkani Porjecho Avaz.

Dr Rebello leaves behind his wife Dr Sicletica, daughters Dr Gleena, Dr Gleeson and Dr Shomreena. The bereaved family includes his brothers Fr Michael, Adv J S Rebello besides his sisters.

End of a Legend: Dr Bento Egipsy

End of a Legend: Dr Bento Egipsy


Born on October 27, 1925, in a Calangute family of distinguished medical lineage, Dr Jose Bento do Rosario Souza Egipsy, was one of the seven children of late Clara and late Dr Eduardo Egipsy, the gynaecologist and anaesthesiologist. Dr Bento completed the five-year Licentiate at Escola Medica-Cirurgica de Goa in 1959, and worked as a lecturer in surgery at the GMC and as a health officer in Pernem.

On November 5, 1956, the Portuguese government selected him for overseas study scholarship at the renowned Coimbra University in Portugal. He earned the degree in Medicine and Surgery in such colours that he was selected for three scholarships in a row, which made him a superspecialist surgeon.

With training in cardiovascular surgery at the Centro de Cirurgia Cardio-Vascular da Zona Zul in Lisbon, he assisted its director Dr J Decio Ferreira in operations and experimental surgery. He was awarded the British Council scholarship for training in speciality thoracic surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Birmingham in England. Dr Bento worked at the Thoracic Surgical Centre at Bromsgrove and was elected member of the Thoracic Surgeons of England.

On his return, he was appointed Surgeon Specialist and redesignated Superintendent of the Sanatorio St Jose at Margao, then the only centre for thoracic surgery in the entire Konkan region. With path-breaking surgeries and the first-ever Pneumomectomy for cancer of the lung and others, young Dr Egipsy shot into prominence, performing thousands of complicated surgeries at the TB Sanatorium and at his own hospital (Casa de Saude). Dr Bento even replaced a part of a patient's lung with a ping-pong ball and amputated a part of the lung to arrest the fast spreading disease. The patient lived into old age.

He leaves behind his widow Tessie. His elder son Dr Ivan is an ENT specialist at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai and the second son Dr Yurii is postgraduating in Obstetrics and Gynaeocology.

When a patient suffering from terminal cancer asked Dr Bento how long he would live, the good doctor told him "longer than me". He was right because he succumbed to coronary blocks, discovered some four years ago by Dr Francisco C Colaco.

But Dr Bento remained ever humble unassuming which endeared him to patients far and wide. Dr Bento updated his knowledge of medicine continuously by pouring over medical journals even after a hard day's work. When Dr Bento breathed his last on February 14, 1999, many wept bitterly because he was a family surgeon to thousands. Doutor Ejipsy readily attended to anyone who knocked at his door at any time of the day and night. They hadn't seen a doctor better and more understanding than him.

Writes Max de Loyola Furtado in Mirror/Herald, "When the pall-bearers lowered the coffin into the final resting place at the Holy Spirit cemetery, on February 15, 1999, it was the internment of an era, the burial of Goa's pioneering spirit, if not the final adieu to a blithe spirit that so adeptly blended medical expertise with missionary charity."

Courtesy: Valmiki Faleiro and Max de Loyola Furtado

GOAN MUSIC (4) - by Valmiki Faleiro

GOAN MUSIC (4)

- By Valmiki Faleiro


The British occupied Goa 20-odd years. From 1799. This led to their discovery
of the virtues of Mormugao harbour. Which, in turn, led to the Luso-British project to modernize the port and link it to mainland India by the Western India Portuguese Railway, the rail girdling Goa from Mormugao to Castlerock. Locals resented the British presence.
A mando on this tails an interesting dulpod:

Kira bhaxen pinzreantu ga (Like caged parrots)
Inglez ailo Goantu (The English have arrived in Goa)
Boson ujea’ gaddiantu ga (Sitting in steam-engine trains)
Ankvar cheddvam hankeantum (Unmarried girls in their laps)

Margao’s rail station opened Jan 17, 1887. It was a mile away from the town
centre (‘Mercado de Vasco da Gama,’ now Old Market.) The administration decided to
shift it closer to the new hub. The new market, ‘Mercado Novo de Afonso de Albuquerque’ was inaugurated Dec 5, 1889. The taluka’s main offices – the ‘Camara’
(municipality) and ‘Fazenda’ (revenue office) – were also slated for relocation.

The story is told of the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of that most
grandiose municipal edifice in Goa: of Salcete (by now substantially shrunk in area and population, after Mormugao was carved out for better administration of the port.)

Officials were upbeat about the function. With reason: a grand cash prize was
announced to any woman who would carry the foundation stone to the laying spot –
without a stitch on her body.

The year: 1901. A Medeira damsel from Comba-Margao, driven by either a sense of
wild adventure or a mundane need of the prize money, stepped in to the challenge. At
the appointed morning hour, before the assembled dignitaries and a huge crowd, she
stripped, heaved the stone to the ‘chumboll’ on her head, and delivered it some
distance away at the pit. The audience, initially dumbstruck, went into appreciative
peals of applause.

The Medeira maiden earned not only the prize, but also much approbation for her
natural assets from the assemblage of ‘Pakles’ and local men. Rumour was that
she ended up working at the construction site, hand-pounding limestone for the
mortar of the building. At that desolate site, her fate and that of other female labourers will be better imagined than expressed.

To fund this edifice, Governor Eduardo Augusto Rodrigues Galhardo imposed steep
taxes. (Check coincidences: last Sunday, we saw how a Guv. called ‘Camara’
killed Goa’s Camaras, an Administrator called ‘Faro’ had 23 innocents shot dead, and
now, ‘Galhardo’ meant a spendthrift!)

Public resentment reflected in a mando composed by Arnaldo de Menezes of Raia
(1863-1917), “Kitlem odruxtt amchem vorho.” Its lyrics tell the story better
than any description (translation mine):

Great is our adversity, Goa is finished
Pakles are harassing people because they want to build a municipal house
Inventing all sorts of taxes, they extract them from impoverished people.

Municipal councillors are a gang of thieves
Brains dense as stone, they look like the baker’s pigs
Squeezing taxes, they drink at Cruz’s tavern.

Governor Galhardo skinned people
He came with a gang of white soldiers and emptied the treasury
Galhardo is a genuine buffalo, people’s curses will affect him.

Tragedy has befallen us, we are quite undone
Even Goa’s medical profession turns whites blind with envy
They banned our doctors’ ambulances!

Like the 1890 Margao elections, those of 1854 in Tiswadi had produced another
great mando, ‘Luisinha, mojea Luisinha.’ Intense rivalry between whites and natives
led to the killing of a Mestiço (mixed-blooded) Portuguese army captain, Joaquim Garcez Palha, a contestant who went to Divar to rig the polls. It describes how he was soundly spanked and his body quartered (in the compound of a local church.)

The dekni, “Custoba, miraxi Indiecho" is about legendary Kustoba Rane and the
dulpod, "Farar far" on the confrontation between the Portuguese and the feudals of
Sattari.

There are hundreds of mandos, dulpods and deknis – most are pages from Goa’s
past. Let’s end on a lighter note.

Salcete’s traditional Brahmin-Kshatriya superiority syndrome manifested itself
in strange ways. Benaulim, the only Brahmin village in a Kshatriya-dominated Salcete
coast, had a running feud with adjoining Colva over the “Benaulim Monte.” Old texts
indicated it belonged to Colva. The Banalcares were not impressed. Both sides petitioned everyone from Governor in Panjim to King in Lisbon. They finally agreed to have the matter resolved at the Salcete Court.

Despite overwhelming evidence produced by Colva, Benaulim won the case.
Banalcares produced just one piece of clinching evidence: the old dulpod, “Bannaleche monti socolorodtai kole!”

(To conclude.)


HERALD / August 31, 2008

Preserving Goan Music

Preserving Goan Music

Mr Valmiki Faleiro writes of the past in one of Goa�s leading English dailies. His writing makes knowledgeable reading for the present day generation. In the last few series he has written of Goans in the fiels of drama. We have missed seeing most of the tiatr stalwarts of the yesteryears. They have excelled with God given talent and left behind a great heritage to make Goa proud. Their contribution to Konkani is immense and unforgettable. Even today, the All India Radio gives two hours of daily coverage to local Konkani artists much to the delight of the Goans. Time ravages everything leaving behind only traces of history. Goan music is a rare heritage, which must be protected and preserved for posterity.

A SEQUEIRA, Salvador do Mundo
(The Navhind Times)

http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2008092359

GOAN MUSIC (9) - by Valmiki Faleiro

GOAN MUSIC (9)

- By Valmiki Faleiro

Shankar Bhandari (1928-87), of the landed gentry of Cumbarjua, was a rare personage.
A creative writer with unambiguous opinions, great wit and genuine Goan values, he
crafted programmes for All India Radio. I longed to be in his presence, even if only for a few moments, when, as a casual artiste in my college days, I often went for ‘YuvaVani’ talk recordings – no, I can only croak, not sing! – at AIR’s Panjim studios.

Pearls flowed from his fertile mind! One reason, perhaps, I was more impressed was
that he hailed from the same village as that of my maternal grandfather – an exotic little “Republic” of my childhood images.

Shankar Bhandari was a man of cool courage, and conviction. And one who defied the
adage, ‘When the wine is in, the wit is out.’ True (not Dutch) courage it would take when, some years after 1961, he penned a verse on India’s ‘Ganarajya’ (Republic.) In that era, India was the only nation besides the Soviet Union to define “sedition” amongst the gravest offences under the penal law.

‘Ganarajya’ was a parody on India. Goa had been integrated into the Indian Union on
March 27, 1962. Shankar Bhandari daringly asked: “Gonachem Ailam Raj / Khuincho
Gana Konn Zanna?”

The governance of ‘Gana’ has arrived (upon Goa), but who knows this ‘Gana’ or
wherefrom (it comes)? In the name of ‘Gana,’ Andhra and Telangana fight each other.
Maharashtra and Vidarbha tussle over the (waters of) Godavari. Who knows this ‘Gana’?

If you’re still wondering which ‘Gana’ (no, not another song) he was on, think of the
national anthem … “Jana, Gana, Mana.” That was Shankar Bhandari. Like him or
lampoon him. No Goan freedom fighter dared report him “anti-national.”

He could come up with rare ones like “Goenkar: ratche torrad, sokallche honrrad!” Or his riddle, “Why does Bandodkar always face the river Mandovi?” (When CM, mineowner
Bandodkar’s chamber faced the river, after demise, his statue by the old Secretariat also faced the river.) His answer: “To count his barges carrying ore, he doesn’t trust his daughters!”

The ‘Trio Kings,’ Conception-Nelson-Anthony, were notorious for stage songs chopping
Bandodkar’s policies to pieces. They thwarted his moves to woo the Catholic vote bank.
Their songs ruffled the CM’s feathers more than Opposition MLAs ever did. When all his offers to rein in the Trio failed, Bandodkar imposed a Tiatr tax!

Tiatrists faced tough days, but none suffered as Kid Boxer did.

Sometime in 1958, Siolim-born Kid Boxer (Caetano Manuel Pereira, 1917-1991) sang an
“anti-India” song in Bombay. Goan freedom fighters there got him jailed. Kid was then
deported to Goa. The Portuguese immediately employed him at the Goa Radio. As an
artiste, he worked with the likes of Jacinto Vaz, Allen Costa and Georgina Jacques.
According to my Candolim friend in Kuwait, Anthony Veronica Fernandes, a walking
encyclopaedia on Konknni songsters, Kid was the highest paid Konknni artiste.

The songs he recorded at Goa Radio were runaway hits, like:

Divo pettounk guineanacher / Uzvadd ieunk chintnacher / Zo kon zanna konnem ghoram
bandleant tim pongeranchea zaddancher.

Suskar soddlet maeyani / Dolle bhortat dukhani / Aiz putancheo maeyom duddu na
zaun, rodtat zorinnim.

The true meaning of his riddlesome lyrics was known only to close friends. Yet, listeners lapped up his songs. The one above was scripted in the wake of a Govt. of India ban on both money transfers and travel by Bombay-Goans to Goa.

After liberation, Kid Boxer was arrested again when singing on stage at Mapusa. The
song that earned official ire went as follows:

Tum bhitor sorlai chukon, mortoloi sukon, dusreacho desh pochona;
Tum nestai fokot valo, ani khatai fokot palo, hem matui hanga sobona;
Tum panpotti khatai, ani poch'chu korun thuktai, lozui kaim dissona…

After things cooled down, Kid returned to Bombay and began stage acting again. During
a Tiatr, as he sang one of his by now famous ‘zupattis’ (tongue-lashings), freedom
fighter Evagrio George in the audience raised a ruckus over Kid’s “anti-national” song.
“Audience was with Kid but the law was not,” says Veronica. Kid was arrested yet again, incarcerated at Nasik jail for six months, where he was physically – and mercilessly – tortured. His spirit didn’t break. In jail, Kid wrote another Tiatr, "Somzonnem Zali Chuk."
He sang a hit in it, "Sov mhoine Nasik conventan kaddle, torui converter zaunk na."
(Despite six months at the Nasik “convent,” I was not converted.)

Kid Boxer was incomparable, especially when delivering melodious ‘zupattis,’ like:
“Nesson dusreachem kapodd, hath paiem kamrun bosleat makodd.” Obviously alluding
to his conviction that Goa was invaded and illegally occupied by India.

Lucky that Kid Boxer was not charged with sedition! (Concludes.)

Pics courtesy: Kid Boxer (Fausto da Costa, ‘Tiatr ani Tiatrist’, Vol-I, The Goan Review publication, 1994), TrioKings Conception-Nelson-Anthony (JoeGoaUK, www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk12) and Shankar Bhandari (Goa Konkani Academy.)

(HERALD / October 5, 2008)

YEAR-END MUSINGS - by Valmiki Faleiro

YEAR-END MUSINGS.
- By Valmiki Faleiro.

“Year-end? We’re almost one-twelfth into the new year!” This Rip van Winkle knows. But, my year-end seldom ends before this time in the following year. I mean the festive season of joy, of visiting overseas friends who with unscheduled ‘surprise’ visits upset schedules, of birthdays, wedding invites… Which makes the ‘holiday season’ my busiest in the year. The time of the year is literally a holiday for overseas friends. To escape the bitter winters in their country of domicile, for a slice of the Goan sun and warmth of local folks. For most of us, poor country bumpkins, it is not vacation but work as usual, save the day of Christmas and at best a couple of days around it. But, when one is on holiday, one perhaps presumes everyone around is also on holiday. Not that I grudge giving overseas friends time. Provided it be factored in my schedule.

Most folks will come unannounced. To give you a ‘sweet surprise.’ Abroad, they would have the door slammed on the face – after being curtly told to phone and come. The way it should be, because in the times we live, everyone’s day is planned, and nobody is waiting to welcome ‘surprises.’ Personally, such ‘surprises’ do not fascinate. They irritate. So be alerted friends ‘n’ foes:phone and come! On the eve of Republic Day, let’s turn our thoughts to those gallant men who give their lives in defence of the nation. The numbing November terror attack in Mumbai produced more national heroes. (Incidentally, ‘Param Vir – Our Heroes in Battle,’ by Maj. General Ian Cardozo, Roli Books, 2008, ISBN: 978-81-7436-262-9, Pgs.225, Rs.295, is veryinformative and inspiring.) The unsung heroes of Mumbai were ordinary men.

Unfortunately, just as the media stayed stuck with elite targets like the Taj and Trident hotels, with negligible coverage of CST, Cama hospital and Girgaum junction, it was, ironically, the latter that produced the greatest heroes of that black day. Like the announcer at CST who, perched high above the platforms, saw what Ismail and Kasab were doing with their AK-47s. Over the public address, he continuously advised passengers which way to alight from trains and in which direction to run for safety. The perplexed terror duo, seeing a rich harvest suddenly vanish, spotted the announcer and opened fire at him. The man ducked and saved himself, but not before saving heaven knows how many innocent lives.

Like the unarmed constable who grabbed an ancient 303 rifle from the frightened hands of a colleague, to take on the might of two AK-47s, each discharging 150 death rounds per minute.

Like the humble generator technician at Cama, on his way down after locking dozens of doctors and others in the hospital’s terrace, encountered Ismail and Kasab, who asked the way to the terrace. The brave man saved those sure terrace deaths. But my greatest were two men of the Mumbai Police at the Girgaum road block, hastily erected to halt the terrorist duo. Moment the commandeered Skoda hit the road divider, a constable sprang to the driver side window and snatched the car keys, sealing any chance of Ismail and Kasab’s getaway. As Ismail, at the wheel, opened fire at the cops and was soon wounded mortally, Kasab crouched. Abruptly opening the side door, from the still crouched position, Kasab fired. He got PSI Tukaram Ombale. Despite a hail of bullets on his chest, Ombale lunged onto Kasab, deflected the AK-47, and, as he died, gave the nation not just his life but also the only terrorist from ten to be captured alive.

Ashok Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, will be bestowed tomorrow on the 12Mumbai cops who died. Honestly, men like Tukaram Ombale deserve much more… Hats off to Lorenz Photo Studio, Margao, for the lovely wall calendar dedicated to ‘Tiatr,’the stage art form despised by upper classes. Photography was brought to Margao by an Amar from Cortalim. Then came studios like ‘Atelier Moderno Fotografo Antao, ’Mauzo and Raikar. Started by a ‘Times of India’ lensman in 1947, Lorenz’s 2009 calendar does the history of Goa’s photography proud.

24 January 2009

Roseferns' Tiatr "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV"


Roseferns' Tiatr "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV"



Once again ROSEFERNS will be back in Kuwait with his hit Konkani tiatr "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV" with his full cast. The tiatr is scheduled to be held on Friday, 4th April 2008, at the Hawalli A.C. Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. and presented by Jolly Boys of Benaulim-Kuwait. A tiatr with a touching story of love and sacrifice, the bitter truth, with enjoyable comedy and superb fine acting under the direction of the King of Centuries, Roseferns.

The review of "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV" in the Goan English newspaper 'The Navhind Times' goes thus "The play entertains to capture the attention of the viewer with a good script that has many surprises and fine display of emotions".
Konkani tiatr lovers watch out for the next media announcement or email: jollyboysofbenaulim@gmail.com or contact Aseno Ferns 9420352 or Benny Vaz 6533229 or Raja Stores Tel; 2412970 or keep following up on the our blog http://maimtuzoupkarihanv.blogspot.com/

GOAN MUSIC (7) - by Valmiki Faleiro

GOAN MUSIC

By Valmiki Faleiro

"Tiatr" produced copious volumes of music-song. Named after the Portuguese
'Teatro,' the Konknni stage was Goa's largest of performing arts, mainly among
Catholics. It sure featured names like Kamat de Assolna but bulk was Goan Catholic, some with curious stage names like Titta Pretto and Jhepsis Hitler!

"Pai Tiatrist" Joao Agostinho (JA) Fernandes, actually "Irmao" of pioneer
Lucasino Ribeiro as JA himself always protested, wrote original plays and music
right from his first, and history's second, Tiatr. JA set Tiatr in the seven-Acts format, and between the Acts, songs that could be solos, duets, trios or quartets. With his own wife, he introduced women to the stage. His themes were clearly aimed at social reformation.

Thence, the world of Tiatr produced many giants. They would take a tome to
even be briefly discussed. I'll restrict to a few whose song-music so impacted my
young mind that I remember them to this day. I was not old enough to see some of them live, but heard their renditions from vinyl records or from 'Akashvani' (in those times, "Aqui Portugal, fala Emissora de Goa.")

Personally, my greatest Tiatrist was singer-actor Kid Boxer. Not just for his song, but for his courage of conviction. Allow me to leave the best for the last, in a
couple of Sundays, when I'll elaborate.

One colossus of the Tiatr world was Minguel Rod. He strode the Konknni
stage at a precocious age, entering when he himself was only 13. His songs attacked
social ills, which is natural as he hailed from a poor tribal background of Cortalim.
His verse-lyrics were absolutely original – even if his tunes at times were borrowed. His imagery and satirical bite was not. A song went like, "(The landlord's) house was massive/ built of rock-solid stone/ but a wall collapsed/ when a pig's tail accidentally brushed against it."
Credited with revival of the Tiatr during its gloomiest days, Minguel produced colourful titles like 'Lembddo Santan' and 'Pobre Fidalgo.'

Year 1955 was tumultuous for the Portuguese in Goa. August 15, India's Independence
Day, saw several "Jai Hinds" shot dead or injured at border points of Patradevi, Molem and Polem. On October 5, Portugal's Republic Day, hundreds of natives
converged at Cortalim. Everyone from Governor to gun-totting soldier quaked, until it
was discovered it was not an internal 'Satyagraha.' Minguel Rod had died. Like several Tiatr greats, at a young age: 32. "Aqui Portugal …" announced the demise in all its six language news bulletins. And annual radio tributes until liberation.

Anthony Mendes is my best Konknni comedian-singer, not because his ancestral house
was a whistling distance from mine. Such was his singing, dancing and acting talent that he was about to be inducted in Hindi films, when he too departed – also at
a relatively young age. Upon his death, Alfred Rose composed and sang a tribute to him.
Several times during its rendition, Alfred broke down, and with him, most in the
audience.

Anthony need not have uttered funny Konknni lines to have the crowd in splits. He
achieved that by merely twitching his bushy whiskers or squinting his saucer-sized eyes. Or a faked movement of his agile body – or even with an equally spurious
Padri-style short quote in Latin! He scripted Tiatrs but only one, "Joao Paddekar," was staged in Goa. Typical of his song lyrics:

"Ho tuzo guneaum, muzo guneaum, kestaum pettota / Beijeam svater, vontt
poleancher, thapttam suzota" (on domestic tiffs between spouses, where, instead of
kisses, slaps resound off cheeks.)

After him, Jacinto Vaz and M. Boyer held the flag of stage comedy high.

In this galaxy, the greatest in his day was Alexinho de Candolim. He sang
and also penned some pretty powerful Tiatrs, including his famous "Sonvsarant Konn
Konnacho,"and his trademark last, "To Bhavtto Dhormancho." Alexinho died at age 49,
in 1964.

Young Menezes was the first rapid-fire ("jet-speed") singer. He liberally
used Konknni adages in his songs, including one titled 'Hotel de Jakin!' Like his senior fellow villager Alexinho, Young's songs rhymed perfectly.

Trio singers (three actors interspersing in a song) were popular on the
Konknni stage. The most legendary was Kid-Young-Rod (Kid Boxer, Young Menezes and Minguel Rod.)
Among the famous Trios was Rom-Rem-Rod, who sang on the abominable murder of a
Taleigao housewife, her daughter and a yet unborn child. That crime, a few
years from liberation, shocked Goa, earned Malayalees local hatred and, in a long
time, the Aguada gallows a trophy.

The generally accepted "Trio Kings" were Conception-Nelson-Anthony. Their
political satire was so devastating that they invited post-1961 official wrath on the
Tiatr fraternity – special guys, let's leave them for the last piece. (To conclude.)

Herald / September 21, 2008

Tiatr "Kuwait Soddun Vetana" - 16/1/2009 - in Kuwait