Yesterday at Kala Academy Panjim Hall, I saw the new Tiatro “DEVAK DHIUM--IA ARGAM” written and directed by the well know artiste Ulhas Tari who during his last quarter of century acting in Tiatros has gained very good name and fame for him as one of the best stage artistes like that of yesteryears great Tiatrists. The Tiatro was attended by the full house and the main play was very well scripted and well enacted by all the artistes namely the director Ulhas Tari and as his wife by Rosy Alvares who were ably supported by Rosario de Benaulim and Philpe Almeida as their two sons, so also by the majestic looking Roma as daughter and charming Antonette de Maina as daughter-in-law. The role of son-in-law played by Tari – brother of Ulhas Tari was excellent.
Francis de Tuem singinf his solo
Since the Tiatro is still in its infancy, I decline to disclose fully the contents of the story but disclose here that it was a very good family story where the parents are ignored when they attained their old age by their sons but well looked after by their daughter and her husband. For this reason the father – Ulhas Tari – invokes the name of the God saying we must “ DEVAK DHIUM-IA ARGHAM”.
Lovely Antonette in one of the scenes
All the Cantos of the Play were good, a few of them were excellent especially the sorrowful ones rendered by Rosy Alvares with her sweet melodious voice. It was she who brought an extra colour to these otherwise colourful Cantos of which type we rarely hear now-a-days in our Tiatros.
Rose Ferns rendering his solo
Though the play was excellent in all respects but Side Show songs was not up to the mark with the exception of two excellent songs, one by mighty singer Francis de Tuem on Soccer in Goa and the other by Rose Ferns on Konkani and the ongoing controversy regarding the MOI.
Lawry Travasso on opening solo
In his professorial researched song, Francis de Tuem yet again proved to the audience and to everyone why he is adored by the people. Such researched songs earlier were rendered by Alexinho de Candolim, Alfred Rose, M. Dod de Verna, Remie J. Colaco and M. Boyer. With number of encores, Francis de Tuem once again proved that his number one spot on the Konkani Stage is unshakened and will remain so for a long time to come. His quarter with Lawry Travasso-Marcus Vaz-Xavier Gomes was another item which deserve highest compliments.
Aonother scene
The other solo rendered by mighty director and script writer Rose Ferns was too good especially now during the crisis time of language issue. It was very well rendered with perfect clarity.
Antonetter & Rosario
The other songs deserve mention here are the solos of Marcus Vaz, Xavier Gomes and Peter de Benaulim and the duet by Tony de Ribandar with Roma.
The comedy part was not much to be appreciated though a section of the audience enjoyed it because they love statements with double meaning and vulgarity.
A quarter by Xavier-Marcus-Lawry-Tuem
Durig those good old days, the gigantic comedians namely Kid Boxer, Anthony Mendes, Jacinto Vaz, Champion Peter, Jepsis Hitler and Greg de Candolim never lowered themselves to make the audience laugh with cheap and vulgar comedy. In fact they rarely uttered vulgar words in their mouth even in their private life because they had at least most of them, very good family background and character though they may not be coming from financially affluent family background.
One more scene
Just because so and so comedy and so and so statements are common in Bollywood Films that does not mean we also should follow their path. Our culture demands that we should confine within our own areas. What I noticed in most of our comedians is that they lacked basic family education to build their character. They lacked proper parental guidance to follow the right path of discipline. Worst part of all this is that some of the so called ace directors are also guilty of this nonsense. If our guardians and leaders are not good then how we will build the good society? It is a sad news that some of our directors are slaves of some of our vulgar and filthy comedians.
Aonother scene
Congratulations to Ulhas Tari because you have played your captain's inning very well in your maiden Tiatro. I wish you all the best in your future such endeavour.
A.Veronica Fernandes.