The theatre is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental. It is so much like life - Arthur Miller, American playwright. For most connoisseurs, Goa is a destination of fun, feni and frolic, but few are aware of the rich culture of the sunshine state which is such a draw with holidaymakers.
As such, the culture and tradition of Goa is arguably best showcased by its traditional theatre or (tiatr), a unique form of entertainment which carries a social message interspersed with melodrama and comedy. Goa has a (tiatr) or a theatre academy where artistes are trained in Kantar (singing), dancing, acting and other attributes required for a success.
A good storyline, attractive songs with pleasing music and comedy form the basic structure of the Tiatr. The other aspects such as stage, sets, light effects, background music, acting etc form part and parcel of good direction.
The songs - Kantaram - sung between the Pordhes (scenes) of the tiatr are equally responsible for the success of the tiatr. Mumbai has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for Goan theatre groups like Prince Jacob, Rose Ferns and Menino De Bandar as a sizeable part of Goa resides in Mumbai itself.
Most Goans in Mumbai own ancestral houses in Goa and proceed there in their vacations to keep in touch with their home state. Little wonder then that when such a group comes to Mumbai it draws packed houses with most Goans making it a point to watch the plays. Recently, this writer, also a thoroughbred Goan, had the proud privilege of watching such a play at Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagraha at Vile Parle.
Entitled ' Bhurgim Tim, Bavlim Nhoi' in Goan Konkani (They are Children, not Dolls), it was presented by a heavyweight tiatrist/ producer Rose Ferns.
It was a three- hour musical extravaganza with a social message that children have to be nurtured by parents and not neglected. If neglected, they become a menace to society as the play proceeded to show. It had a child actor (Cameroun) brilliantly portraying the role of a son gone astray because of parental neglect. Thrown out of school, Cameroun courts the girl next door (Shanaya) at a very young age and then becomes a drug peddler. When Shanaya tries to reform Cameroun, he pushes her down a cliff and kills her.
Later, Cameroun is arrested for her murder and the play ends with him blaming his mother for not being there to correct him for his faults and spending her time in politics. Other plays such as '100 Vorssa' produced by Menino De Bandar, ' Dog Bhau', ' Phator', ' Aiz Aum Phalan Tum' produced by star producer Prince Jacob have also been box office hits.
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