Mangalore, Aug 13: It is generally believed that comedy is a serious business and it is not easy to make people laugh. Since tastes and preferences differ with changing times it is difficult to gauge what makes people laugh. Often comedy is mistaken for ridicule and that is the biggest disservice done to a comedian. Making people laugh is an art which very few people have been able to master with élan. In the Konkani cultural scene one name that stands out as a comedian with his witticism, dialogue delivery, body language and the punch line that pulls it all, is none other than our own Avitas Adolphus Cutinha, “Dolla Mangalore” to his innumerous band of fans.

That Dolla is chosen for the 4th Karavali Konkani Kala Award 2014 is a manifestation of his contribution to Konkani theatre for the last 6 decades. “A good comedian is one who creates a proper environment for laughter and sends people to ecstasy in an amazing way with his mannerisms and actions without being crude. Dolla is a multifaceted personality who has created his own forte not only as a comedian but also as a dramatist whose enthusiasm and unbridled energy is not ebbed even when he is nearing 70 summers”, says Lesli Rego, President of Karavali Konkans ® Mangalore. 

The award will be conferred on him on Friday August 15 at a function to be held at Don Bosco Hall at 5.45 pm. On this occasion Konkani play “Ucharn Sangta” written by Joel Pereira Bejai and directed by Dolla Mangalore will be staged by the members of Karavali Konkans. 

It is not an exaggeration to say that all through his life Dolla has made other people laugh with his rib-tickling comedy and now Koknai people are repaying their debt to this great artiste in the form of this award. It is amazing and inspiring to see Dolla working with renewed vitality for the cause of Konkani theatre, age notwithstanding. He is one of the few Konkani artistes who took theatre as a full time career that calls for dedication and determination. 

It is indeed difficult to imagine that a young boy who suffered from stammering and was even denied roles that had dialogues due to this lacuna, has risen to the top echelons with his excellent jokes combined with his unique body language to give that ultimate punch to the comedy. Yes, Adolphus Cutinha had a stammering problem which vanquished on its own with his growing confidence on stage and there was no stopping him since then. Coming from a background of circus as his father was working in circus, Dolla came in contact with comedians in the circus company and was greatly captivated by their comedy. Dolla who began his stage appearance in a Tulu plays at the age of 10 has acted in more than 26 Tulu plays since then. He has directed more than 200 plays in various languages. The highlight of his theatre career was the staging of the Konkani religious magnum opus comprising more than 300 artistes with multiple stage settings under his direction in 2010. 

Dolla began his tryst with Konkani theatre at a young age, when an opportunity came knocking at him to essay the role of a dumb artiste in a play titled “Kaloka Patlyan Uzvad” (light behind darkness) staged at Milagres School ground directed by Sri Giri. The flipside of this debut as a dumb artiste is that for the next three years Dolla had to be content with the role of dumbo in all the 5 plays directed by Sri Giri. This is because with his stammering problem and with this as a liability it was impossible to find a better role in theatre than the one he essayed in these plays. Even then Dolla could not resist the lure of theatre and his abundant creativity resulted in his writing and directing his first play “Anbavadthyache Parthovne” at a young age of 15. In this play Dolla acted himself, that is, in the role of a stammering artiste and that was the first play that heralded the arrival of Dolla on Konkani theatre stage. 

Soon after he made his debut as a comedian in Tulu play “Kalgigada Madimal” written and directed by Ibrahim and for the next 26 years till 1986 he acted in over 26 Tulu plays. He has also written plays in Tulu. Ironically Dolla was known by the name Prakash Kumar Nandigudda and in the Konkani movie “Mog ani Maipas” produced under the banner of United Youngsters he essayed a role with the same name. 

Dolla is a name to reckon with in all Konkani theatre and other related activities. He is a multifaceted personality with a talent for acting, writing plays, directing dramas, comedy and he has also tried his hand in magic. More than his other equally luminous talents he has made a name as a comedian par excellence in the Konkani cultural scene and is nicknamed “Komedy King”, a title aptly suits his histrionics and his multi-talented persona. The very sight of this portly, short statured man with a contorted face and unique body language is enough to evoke laughter among the audience. 

It was the 100th Wilfy Nite that gave an opportunity for Dolla to showcase his talent as a comedian though he was active in Konkani theatre as actor–director. Keen to have something novel in the Wilfy Nite Dolla with his friends Clarles Sequeira and Felix Saldanha came out with the “Dol-Fel-Chel” team to regale the audience with their jokes. It proved to be a big hit and and after that these jokes became a regular feature in all Wilfy Nites and many Konkani cultural programmes, establishing him firmly in the field in his multi-faceted capacity. Dol-Fel-Chel went on to regale the audience for another 100 Wilfy Nites. After that the team was dissolved due to various reasons. Dolla then came up with “MEMORI” team comprising Mellu, Moras and Richy which has succeeded in mesmerizing the public. 

Dolla has also dabbled in magic and it is interesting to note here that he began his association with Konkan Kogul Wilfy as a magician nicknamed “Professor Saithan” in one of his nites. This association with Wilfy proved productive to both and Dolla’s comedy became a permanent fixture in Wilfy Nites. In 2010 after a short hiatus, Dolla made a grand and successful comeback with his gigantic and ambitious show titled “Comedy of Circus”. 

Dolla has been the recipient of various awards including Kannada Sahithya Academy award, Karavali Konkan Kalakar, Konkani Kutamb Bahrain Award and now this award is like a feather in his crowded plume. A delighted Dolla expressed his joy and thanked Karavali Konkans for choosing him for this prestigious award. “It is a great honour and wish Karavali Konkans continue their noble work of identifying and honoring artistes who have worked for the cause of Konkani”, he stated. He also recalls with gratitude the support he received from his wife Valentine and sons Dennel and Kennel. 

Dolla has brought out two books titled “Hip Hip Hurrey”, and “Kuch Kuch Kuchulyo’, - both comprising Dolla’s Konkani jokes. 

Konkani theatre has been fortunate to have the services of a talented, creative and a gritty personality like Dolla. Konkani theatre has given him a platform to give expression to his talents and Dolla exploited it to the fullest. 

Let us hope Dolla will continue to enrich Konkani theatre with his creative prowess and unrestrained energy and continue to entertain us with his plays and also make people laugh with his comedy in the years to come.