The origin of the Tiatro was started with the concept of correcting somebody for doing something not correct. Earlier, this job was undertaken by the "Zagor" when in the form of “Zupattis” the wrong deeds and the wrong system followed by the Brahmin Bhattkars and others were exposed from the Stage. So much so, being unable to digest these Zupattis, the Bhattkars dubbed the Zagors as mode of entertainment for the third class Goans. So also, Tiatro was considered by the Brahmin Bhattkars as mode of entertainment for the lower strata of Goan society. A hundred years back acting in Tiatro was considered as profession of illiterate and low class of people. So much so, some parents refused to marry their daughters to a Tiatrist boy who normally during those days lacked good discipline, etiquette and education. In general, the Tiatrist in one word was considered beyond the Stage as a man of vices including that of drinks.
Many of the earlier topmost Tiatrists including the legendary Minguel Rod were the first class drunkards but genius in their art of Tiatro as script writers or singers or song composers. They were all naturally talented and with meager resources and facilities at their disposal they turned out to be exceptionally talented as Tiatrists. It was their stage genius during those days that changed the mindset of the Goans and minimized the ill effects of the social barriers created by the upper class of Goans even in the Church, of course with the consent of the Clergy.
Tiatros and Zupattis or Criticism in the Play or in the Sideshow songs are the part and parcel of the Tiatros. Without Zupattis the Tiatros could not be successful, be it the Zupatti for the fellow Tiatrists, Bhattcars or Brahmins or for the ruling class or for the local Pe. Vigars and Pe. Curs for their illicit sex with the local females. During the earlier days, Tiatrists directed their Zupattis against the Brahmin Bhattcars as we saw in most of the Tiatros of Minguel Rod. Thru Tiatros during those days policy of cleaning of the social evils like Dowry system, harassment of daughter-in-law by the mother-in-law etc. was implemented. As a matter of interest, audience would never enjoy the Tiatro if there was no Zupatti part introduced either in the main plot or in the Sideshow songs.
The Zupattis against the government functioning was started immediately following the invasion of Goa by the Bharat Serkar under the premiership of Nehru. The first Zupatti for the government after the Portuguese ouster from Goa was rendered by the great political singer Kid Boxer at Mapusa somewhere in the first quarter of 1962 where he was immediately arrested. Fed up of corruption started in Goa in Bharati style, Kid Boxer said in his solo against the government of India, its system and its people, the following:
TUM BHITOR SORLAI CHUKON ANI MORTOLOI SUKON, DUSREACHO DHES POCHONA.
TUM PANPOTTI KHATAI ANI POCHU KORUN THUKTAI, LOZUI KAIM DISSONA.
TUM NESTAI FOKOT VALO ANI KHATAI FOKOT PALO ………………….
The whole solo was a piercing Zupatti against the government of India for illegally invading Goa and turning it into a mess for Non Goans’ benefit.
Then onwards, almost every second Tiatrist started singing Zupatti songs against the government of Goa first headed by Bandodcar. The most popular Zupatti singers were the Conception-Nelson-Anthony Trio, ROM-REM-ROD Trio, M. Boyer, Remmy Colaco, William de Curtorim, the Trio of Tomazinho Cardoso along with his brother and Volley D’Mello and many others. Even full Tiatros were scripted based fully on Goan Politics such as “Nationalist” and “Bhondolist” by Nelson Afonso, “Amchea Xetachi Pavnni” by Alexinho de Candolim and more.
Because of the political Zupattis there was a lot of improvement in our Goa since Goa government listened more to the voice of Tiatrists aired from the Stage than from the Opposition Benches in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Even the voice of media was ignored but not of Tiatrists especially of Trio Kings of Con-Nel-Ant.
Now, recently on 9th of this month, there was an attempt on the part of Non-Goan Hindu fanatics to stop the tiatro “Akantvadi Goeant Naka” by the young director Tousif de Navelim. If it was not for the last minute efforts by the Goa conscious Goans to support the director in going ahead in staging the said Tiatro, it would be a big defeat and a big surrender to the Muthalik diktat by the Goans in general and Tiatro Art in particular. Under the direction of Goa conscious Goan Kennedy Afonso all the Saxttikars challenged the brute might of Mutallik’s gang and helped the director to stage this Tiatro so successfully.
While this scenario was taking place in and around Vidya Niketan Hall at Margao, there was no sign of CM Parrikar inspite of his being the Home Minister of Goa. By keeping his total silence on this episode, Parricar gave an impression that clandestinely he supports Mutalik and his Hindu fanatics. Very shortly the next Assembly election will come and during that time Parricar and his colleagues will be questioned by the people’s court on this and similar topics.
Lastly, it was very unfortunate that personnel from Tiatro Academy of Goa remained totally aloof from this scenario instead of taking active part in defending the director Tousif de Navelim. Even the role of senior tiatrists of keeping a distance from this whole scenario on 9th August was looked upon with suspicion. They failed to fight for justice for their own colleague.
While concluding, let me quote Prophet Mohammed: When he was asked once “when there will be justice in this world”, thus came the reply: “when everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only, then only there will be justice in this world”.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.