Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)

Mangalore, Sep 1: Konkani Natak Sabha, Mangalore released the 'Konkani Natak Bhandar' an archive of Konkani drama manuscripts on Sunday August 31, at Don Bosco Hall, here in city.

Fr Peter Cyprian D'Souza, president of Konkani Natak Sabha released the 'Konkani Natak Bhandar'.

In his presidential address, he thanked all the members and various other writers for supporting and being part of the programme. "Konkani Natak Bhandar will preserve all the Konkani drama manuscripts and use them whenever necessary. These handwritten scripts are very important for everyone and it will give a hope for the upcoming writers that their writings will be collected and kept for future use," he said.

Hemacharya, editor-in-chief, Daijiworld Weekly said, "There are many Konkani handwritten plays available and 'Konkani Natak Bhandar' would help in documenting all Konkani literature which would help and be a motivation to all writers."

Dolphy Cascia, a famous playwright and director, in his keynote address said that he started his journey from Tulu theatre in 1967 and has since written many stories and performed them. He then came into Konkani theatre which gave his career a new satisfaction. He has written almost 25 Konkani dramas. He would give these scripts to Konkani Natak Sabha, so that through these scripts, he would be remembered, he added.

"Artiste is immortal, he lives forever. A writer should know about the stage act, backstage work, body language of actors and many more things, or else he cannot be a perfect writer. Already Konkani dramas have history of completing a century. 'The Mousetrap' a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie is the longest ever play for completing more than 50 years. It has been performed for more than 24,537 times all over the world. There are plays in various languages which have made their mark." he added.

Further, he said, "In today's world, Tulu dramas are performed in churches instead of Konkani ones. Konkani culture is losing its hold because we are not giving preference to our mother tongue. When a play is going on or being performed on the stage, it is the duty of director and the producer to see that the play goes on well till the end." He also praised Comedy King Dolla and said that he will never reach Dolla's level as Dolla is the best.

During the ceremony, people handed over their hand-written scripts to the Konkani Natak Sabha to keep them safe in Konkani Natak Bhandar.

C G S Taccode compered the ceremony, Dolphy Saldanha, vice-president of Konkani Natak Sabha welcomed the guests. Sunil Menezes proposed the vote of thanks.

Christopher D'Souza Neenasam, Dolla Mangalore, Felix Sequeira, Alwyn Pinto of Daiji Dubai, Raymond D'Cunha, John Permannur, Leslie Rego among others were present.