TIATRO: "AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY" BY MARIANO FERNANDES.
Jr. Nelson sings solo on Jr. Rod
On Sunday, the 3rdof this month, at Mapusa, I saw the Tiatro “AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY”, starting at 10.35 AM and it was attended by the capacity crowd. The story in short revolves around a Hindu family where a Christian daughter-in-law was not welcomed by the Hindu mother-in-law because of which the daughter-in-law faces lot of hardship in her husband house. However, in the end, the mother-in-law was forced to realize due to the sickness she undergoes, her folly and reconcile to the changed situation. This was made possible when she as a Hindu along with one Muslim and Christian in a sign of co-operation give their body organs to the others including to the Hindu lady. It was a sign of unity among the members of the three communities.
A scene: Siddarth & Ariti
The role played by the mother-in-law (Ariti – a real Hindu) was excellent, so also by Shiddarth (also a real Hindu) as her husband. They showed their Tiatrist talent very beautifully. However the major credit of elevating the level of this Tiatro goes to Anil Pednecar who played an excellent role of their son and also the role played by attractive Maggy as his wife was superb. Her attractive looks, beautiful dress code and clarity of her each and every word gave an extra colour to this well accepted Tiatro by the audience.
The comedy part handled by seasoned Joana, Domnick and Luis Bachan was good but too noisy and screamy which I think is unwarranted.
Duet: Olga & Anil
During my younger days comedy roles were played by those days gigantic comedians namely, Kid Boxer, Jacinto Vaz, Jepsis Hitler, Champion Peter, M. Boyer, Anthony Mendes, Rico Rod and Titta Pretto but they did not indulge in shouting and screaming at the top of their voices to make the audience laugh. Comedians like Jacinto Vaz, Champion Peter, M. Boyer, Anthony Mendes and Jepsis Hitler would make the audience laugh just by their simple entries only, they need not even utter a single word, by looking at them at the Stage audience used to laugh. They brought serenity on the Stage by their serene manner comedy and did not make the Hall filled with unnecessary noise. They had unique class of Tiatro acting in them as they belonged to the genuine Tiatro class comedy and not of Khell Tiatro class.
Saby de Divar sings solo
The Side Show songs were good, some even received encores. The solos rendered by Aniecedo, Olga, Saby de Divar, Reagan, Cajy, Mini Mario and Duets by Anil & Olga, Reagan & Maggy and a Trio by Andrew & his partners are to be appreciated.
Olga sings her solo
The best song in this Tiatro was the one rendered by Jr. Nelson (Tomy Afonso) on the recent death of the late Jr. Rod, the son of legendary Minguel Rod. In fact a sizable number of people came to see this Tiatro only to listen to this excellent song which Tomy rendered with the necessary decorum and due respect to the departed soul, wearing Black Suit and entering the Stage with slow and serious pace thereby giving an advance impression that his song is of serious nature. In this song Tomy elaborated Jr. Rod’s certain qualities as a human being and also his superlatives as a Tiatrist stressing philosophically and spiritually on his life.
To compose and sing songs on the dead persons is rather a difficult task. In the recent past the late Rosary Ferns from Kuwait mastered this art when he composed and rendered the songs on Alfred Rose, Romeo Mendes and Dr. Rosario Rodrigues. Earlier Alfred Rose rendered on the death of Anthony Mendes and Anthony D’Souza (Trio fame) on Alexinho de Candolim.
Reagan singing his solo
But the greatest of all was the song composed and rendered by Young Menezes on the death of Jr. Rod’s father, Minguel Rod. He composed it on the same night of Minguel Rod’s death and rendered it on the next day. The great Tiatrist of those days Alexinho de Candolim after listening to that song said “I don’t think anybody can compose and sing such a song”. When Young Menezes was singing that song, many members of the audience were practically crying. While seeing him making entry to sing that song bare footed, black dress and walking with slow pace and also listening to the sorrowful music, audience started crying.
Jr.Nelson (Tomy), deserves highest compliments for rendering such an excellent song on the late Jr. Rod.
A.Veronica Fernandes.