Theatre Can Never Get Marginalised by Films

Theatre Can Never Get Marginalised by Films
by SHOMA PATNAIK


A poet, novelist, director and actor, Mr Ratan Thiyam, is all that and more. This well known resident of north-east India, is an impressive personality to meet. Known to be an absolute powerhouse of artistic talent with a recent John D Rockefeller Award, to his credit the man is famous for always putting forward the case of dearly loved, home-state: Manipur. All in all, achievements reflecting deep, abiding, feelings for native land.
Yet, success sits lightly on the great shoulders. Down to earth and engrossed in teaching, he looks deeply involved with the artistes in the isolated environs of the �Black Box, Kala Academy, Panjim. It is a theatre workshop that Mr Thiyam has come down for, and there are no pompous airs while getting the point across to the local students.
Today, the workshop ends, so naturally there is a host of last minute guidance to be given before signing off. Everything has to be just right for the man; the background music, props, ambience and even complete silence from the small group of interested observers watching unobtrusively. Meantime, during a break our visitor is genial enough to grant a quick interview, taking time to reply to each question with a lot of thought.
How does it feel, visiting Goa for the first time and interacting with our budding dramatists? �Fantastic,� is the reply before adding �it is very refreshing kind of experience for me, being in the midst of all these enthusiastic people, who are so very fresh in exposure.�
Our visitor from up north continues happily, �I never thought, I would enjoy myself so much, as this is something that has not been taken up by me for a long time. These days, I am more busy with own experimental theatre. Clearly, teaching is a different experience altogether.�
But, can acting be taught, considering that it is inherently creative in nature? �To a certain extent,� is the response, before going on to explain that the most important aspect to teaching is �to bring out the hidden soul of an actor.�
So, according to this playwright, who has brought out many successful productions in the past, �Each actor has his own calibre or talent.� But, it needs to be �brought out in front of an audience.� Thus, there are certain techniques in acting that could be taught to aspiring actors that could make it easier for them to �express themselves better on stage.�
Pointing out, how Manipur, among the states of north-east India has a rich cultural lineage, Mr Thiyam elaborates, �Theatre, among us is a tradition that goes a long time back. Besides, the linkages from Bengal, the residents have also benefited from their own ethnic �Maite� community background that digs deep into traditional folk lore.�
Yet, one cannot help asking, what about competition from commercial films, that is taking away audience from theatre? �No! No!� the disagreement with this general perception is vigorous and quick. Our eminent personality states, �Many people have the notion that theatre has got marginalised, but that is not so.� He continues, �Theatre has been surviving from the last 6,000 years and will continue to do so. It is like any good work of art with a timeless appeal. Plays that are well crafted and with a story line will grab peoples attention and get the audience to theatres.


www.navhindtimes.com

'Devull' - Povitr Pustokantlo sondex dita

'Devull'

Povitr Pustokantlo sondex dita



Tuzo uzvo dollo tuka patok korunk oddun vhorta zalear, to umttun kadd ani bhair uddoi, kiteak tuji akh'khi kudd iemkonddant uddoun gheunche poros, tujea ekach sandeacho nas zal'lo tuka odik borem. (Mt. 5: 29). Povitr Pustokantlea hea utrancher Komedian John D'Silvan aplo novo tiatr 'Devull' boroun machier haddla.
Mon’xachea kallzant duddvanchi axea rigtoch, to eke bhaxen kudd'ddo zata ani uprant to vaitt kornni adharun, patkant poddta, somazant dusreanche nodrek ek khuni zaunk pavta mhonn 'Devull' tiatrant spoxttponnim polleunk mellta. Survek Perry (Ignatius de Xelvona), aplea ixtta koddlean chear lakh rupia gheta tednam, itle sogott poixe poilech pavtt polleun to sarkoch piso zata. Aplea ixttacho khun kelear te soglle poixe apleache zatole mhonn to chinta ani tacho khun korta. Punn to khun adartana ek vattsur Perryk polleta ani tabortob pulisek kolloita. Pulis Inspektor (Xavier) taka rokddoch koidi korta ani tea khunak lagon taka boroch kall bondkhonn favo zata.



Vaitt chintnam monant golloun, vaitt adarche adinch borem chintun, boreo kornneo adarloleo zalear faido aslo mhonn pulis Inspektor (Aplon) taka bonddkhonnint sangta.
Dusre vatten, Britto Travasso (Joe) hachea kuttumbant tacho ekloch put Ryan (Peter de Pedda) kudd'ddo zolmota. Kudd'ddo ason-ui igorjek sodamkal bhett diun, Misant vantto gheun, gayonam gavun, Aitara disa bhurgeank dotorn' xikoun, aplo put dusreank ek nomuno ani bori vatt dakoita mhonn tacho bapui khup sontosta. Ria (Rosy) tea ganvchi bhoinn tachi thoknnai korta ani goroz tednam tem taka adar dita.
Aplea dolleamni apleak patkant ghalo dekun Perry bondkhonnint khup dukhi zata ani thoimsor khast bhogche bodlek aple patki dolle umttaun uddoilear odik borem mhonn to somzota. Bondkhonnint aple dolle kaddunk proyotn kortana, Pulis Inspektor taka addaita ani tech dolle eka kudd'ddeak dilear odik faideache mhonn tem tea opradheak sangta. Xevttim kudd'ddea Ryanak Perryche dolle favo zatat. Punn zolmak thavn ailolem kudd'ddeponn nopoit zatoch, Ryan Devak sompeponnim visorta ani vaittovem jivit jieyonk lagta. Gharant vonttir umkolltolem Jezuchem chitr bhair uddoun, tea zagear ek pozddem chitr to ubarta ani patkant poddta. Mezar aslolem Povitr Pustok store room-ant uddoun, tea zagear cholchitranchim pustokam to haddun dovorta. Ghara bhair mell'lolem Povitr Pustok ubarun, tem pustok kitlem povitr ani xoktivont tem xezari Braz (Komedian John) Ryan ani tachea bapaik sangta. Apleak atam soroll dista dekun, Ryan igorjechi vatt soddun, dis-rat parttiank bhonvta. Hanga-thoim cheddvam borobor mouza marta ani gharant Povitr Pustok vachunk sud'dam taka vitt ieta. Xevottak aple dolle dusreak bhettoun kudd'ddo zal'lo Perry somzant konn zaunk pavta ani dusreache dolle gheun sonvsaracho uzvadd polletolo Ryan konn zata, kel'le chukik taka kosli khast favo zata tem nimannea porddeant bhes-bore toren dakoilolem asa. Kudd'ddo asun, borem ani xegunni jivit jiyelear odik borem ani faideachem mhonn John D'Silva aplea tiatrantlean ek boro sondex loka meren pavoita. Vinodha babtint, komedian John aplea sangata komedian Michaelak lokak pottbhor hasoita. Kantaram vixim, Xavier Gomes-an gailolem 'Mon’xachem Kalliz' kantar, Ignatius de Xelvonachim 'Ixttagot' ani 'Tiatrist' kantaram lokak boro sondex ditalim. Aple dakovnnentlean Povitr Pustokantlo sondex loka meren pavunk John D'Silvan bhes boro proyotn kela ani Povitr Pustok kitlem bollvont ani xoktivont tem tannem dakoll kelam. Hea tachea proyotn-ak taka xabaski favo ani fuddarak-ui osle dekhivont tiatr machier haddun, lokak Deva thaim oddunk V. Ixtt John D'Silva-k borem ies anvddeta.

Digdorspi uloita:



® Konknni palkar ho mhozo 26vo tiatr.

® Mhozo poiloch tiatr 'Vell' gheun, ek boroupi ani
digdorspi koso hanv machier choddlom. Paiche bhaxen put asunk xokona mhonn tea tiatrant hanvem dakoll kelem.


® Vegllench rup gheun, hanvem don 'experimental' tiatr 'Sokallim' ani 'Avesvor' machier haddle. Sahityacho (literature) orth somzotat tankanch te tiatr somzole ani avoddle.

® Vinchnnuke vellar, veg-vegllea pokxancher lokx ghalun ani kochreacho, IFFI-cho vixoi gheun hanvem
‘Xiddkavnni' tiatr machier dakoilo.

® Tiatrachi kotha kitli-i bori asum, punn boro sondex dilea bogor hanv mhoje tiatr machier kednach dakoina.

P. Agxekar


(V-Ixtt hanchea upkarant)

TIATR ‘TREAT’ FOR VADODARA GOANS

TIATR ‘TREAT’ FOR VADODARA GOANS

For centuries, Goans have moved out of their peaceful villages and settled elsewhere for work and employment. It is because of such diasporas that one can find Goans in all parts of the world, whether in large numbers or few. Once settled in some part of the country or outside it, by and large, they still hold fast to their unique lifestyle and culture. At the same time interacting with the other culture as well.



My educational pursuits landed me in Baroda (Vadodara), Gujarat. The Maharaja Sayajirao University hostel in Pratapgunj is close to the Rosary Cathedral and over here I got acquainted with a few Goans. Through Mrs. Charlotte Pereira, I had the opportunity to meet the President of St. Anne’s Club, Mr. Alleluia (Al, for short) D’Costa. We began talking over a delicious dinner which comprised of fish and Goan xitt-koddi prepared by his wife. Truly, I felt home! It is from him that I learnt the presence of a fairly large Goan population in Baroda, comprising of approximately 400 families.

A large Goan population and that too left high and dry without a Konknni tiatr is hard to imagine. This so called void of Konknni theatre in Baroda was filled when Menino Mario’s tiatr ‘Sottor Pauti Saat’ was staged for the first time in Baroda, by a troupe from Ahmedabad. Earlier this tiatr was performed in Ahmedabad too.

Amy Menezes, who actually hails from Colva but is now settled in Ahmedabad, procured the rights to re-stage the tiatr. The play was reproduced on the basis of the script and the video recordings. Joseph Menezes (who happens to be Amy’s husband) also helped in the setting of the drama. And finally after six months of hard practice, the tiatr premiered in Ahmedabad on the 20th of July. It is pertinent to note that all the actors are non-professionals and have managed their other occupations while at the same time giving their all for the tiatr.



The cast of the tiatr includes: Amelina (Amy) Menezes, Alegra, Agnessa Carneiro, Olivia Pereira, Florence, Flory, Darren, Agnelo Frenandes, Domnic Fernandes, Timothy Pereira, Vincy Vaz and Phillip. The music is provided by Joe Michael (Sexaphone), Tony (Bass Guitar), Cassein (Guitar), Richie (Keyboard) and Nicholas (Drums). Agnelo Fernandes is also the co-ordinator.

If the drama in Baroda goes well and everyone appreciates it, there is every likelihood that a tiatr from Goa will soon hit the theatres of Baroda. But the organizers are still reluctant. “It would be very expensive”, admits Al. The organizers only seek subsidized rates for the actual play, rest all expenses would be reimbursed. Maybe some of our Goan artistes can provide a helping hand to them.

Al D’Costa, who is one amongst others instrumental in the staging of the tiatr in Baroda feels that it is an occasion for all the Konknni speaking population of Baroda to come together. “The purpose behind staging the tiatr in Baroda is not commercial. It is an occasion to bond with each other for solidarity,” explained Al.

Another plan which is in the pipe-line is to publish a ‘directory’ of all the Konknni speaking population of Baroda. This plan was conceptualized some three years ago. The directory will be released on the 3rd of December, on occasion of the feast of St. Francis Xavier.

The objective of the publication of the directory, as confided by Al, is to find suitable matches for the would-be grooms and brides as they (Goans in and around Baroda) lose touch with people back home. Secondly, it would help bring Goans together on any enterprise.

The St. Anne’s Club operates like any club in Mumbai. A Goan can find cheap accommodation; members get ‘death benefit’ and can find fellow Goemkars! Accommodation is provided to bachelors and married men who are traveling alone. The club was established some 60-80 years ago.

Al D’Costa as the president of St. Anne’s Club has some very ambitious plans. They are to increase the membership of the club and to enhance the death benefit to an attractive sum. Since the community is mixed economically, plans are afloat to provide financial assistance to the middle and poor classes.

The Club plans to start a co-operative by the donations and lending of the well-to-do class. The interest rates offered will be slightly higher than the ones offered by banks. This co-operative will serve the educational and small business purposes of the people in need. The Club plans to provide some employment to the unemployed, by means of running small errands for other people.

The tiatr “Sottor Pauti Saat” (Seventy Times Seven) is one of the few Konknni dramas to be successfully staged in Baroda. Let us hope that tiatr in Baroda happens often. How about seventy times seven?

END OF ARTICLE

Edited version of this article appeared on Gomantak Times, dated: 06.11.2008.

Dale Menezes,
Quepem, Goa.

[ dale luis menezes ]


Photo Courtesy: St. Anne’s Club, Vadodara.
Photo Canvas: Dale Menezes.

Pic 1: Banner of the tiatr.
Pic 2: Ahmedabad based Goans who acted in the tiatr.