Report and Pics by Wilson Saldanha, Shirthady/Kuwait and Winston Alfonso
Daijiworld Media Network – Kuwait (SP)
Kuwait, Sep 26: ‘Konkan Kala Samithi Kuwait’, led by eminent personalities like Anand D’Souza, a friendly personality who is well known in Kuwait for providing top quality lighting and sound facilities for most of the programmes under the name, ‘Illuminations’, and Lancy Rodrigues, who is widely known in Kuwait as a professional director, actor, singer and an able compere, along with the committee members, Jaison Lasrado, Kiran Gonsalves and Steven Misquith, with the co-operation of the local artistes, created a history of sorts in the gulf, by presenting a Konkani Tiatr, ‘Kuwait Sodun Vetana’.
The Tiatr that was originally written by well known Goan writer, singer and director Rosary Ferns, and translated into Mangalorean Konkani and directed by Lancy Rodrigues – Bondel, was staged at American International School Auditorium, Maidan Hawalli, on Friday September 25, at 4.30 pm.
The programme started with a tablo by Jovas XLNC and the song, ‘Konkani Mata’, followed by the introduction of the compere of the evening, Vineetha Pinto. The music score for the Tiatr and all the songs in the Tiatr, were arranged and directed by John Kiran Gonsalves and supported by Joe D’souza.
Moreover, to mesmerize and entertain the music lovers, and to further brighten up the event, visiting artistes, Mike Simon from Mangalore and Norbert Pereira from Doha- Qatar, presented their super hit songs, Konkanni, Pavs, Prathver Kallok Fanktana, Meera Meera, Moag, Oh Maria, Hanv Tuzo Moag Kartam Bai, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Dream Boy, Di Maka Moag Tuzo, Sopnnant Bhettlo Sunder Chedo and Lavina, from their popular albums. They were ably supported by the ‘Gulf voice of Mangalore’ fame Vinay Lewis, Joyline Gonsalves, Jovita Fernandes and Gladys Lorena. Scintillating music was provided by Salvadore Rebello, Brian Rebello, Andrew Fernandes, Suneeth Noronha, Vincent Braganza, Austin Salins and Linton Pereira, son of Norbert Pereira.
The songs were also accompanied by foot tapping dances, presented by Jovas XLNC for Dance, choreographed by Sunil and Jyothi Noronha. In between the sentimental scenes of the Tiatr, a very popular comedian from among the Mangalorean community, Stephen Machado, along with Rudy D’souza, Lucy Aranha, Sunny Menezes, Kiran Lobo, Agnel Saldanha, Ibrahim, Master Ansel Gonsalves and Little Master Aaron Gonsalves, presented rib-tickling jokes, written and directed by Lancy Rodrigues.
The singers and the cast for the Tiatr were Cynthia Pinto, Jaison Lasrado, Gratian D’souza, Valerian D’souza, Joyline Gonsalves, Jovita Fernandes, Anil Menezes, Renny Menezes, Anil Fernandes, Wilfred Lobo, Vally Sanctis, Bernard Fernandes (Goa), Joyston D’souza, Joe D’souza, Ozwald D’souza, Fr Melvin D’ Cunha, Vinay Lewis, Gladys Lorena and Vineetha Pinto.
The flashback scenes of the Tiatr were pasteurized by Alban D’souza, Blue-Ray Video and Photography, and edited by Rick's Entertainment (Michael Monis). ‘Illuminations’ (Anand D'souza) provided state-of-the-art sound and lights, while the flashback projections were done by Steven Misquith. The programme was well-compered by Vineetha Pinto.
The programme was sponsored by Nalinum Builders and co sponsored by Oriental Restaurant, Bestow Super Market, Paragon Builders and Promoters, Caesars Group of Restaurants and Confectioneries, Royal Plaza Catering Co. and Pascal B. Pinto. www.daijiworld.com was the media sponsor.
After the interval, the chief guest, Fr Melvin D’Cunha, RC Suresh (Nalenum Builders), Rudy D'souza- president of KCWA and Rosary Ferns were called up to the dais. Visiting artistes Norbert Pereira, Mike Simon and Rosary Ferns were honoured with mementoes. RC Suresh, in his speech, appreciated the work of the organizers for bringing out this excellent programme and said that this was a good eye-opener for the people of Kuwait and that he is always prepared to sponsor such events in future too. Rosary Ferns was happy to inform that he had already received a request from the Malaylam and English Association, to stage this play in their respective languages. On this occasion, Rosary Ferns sung a song written by himself on the life of the people in the Gulf. Lancy Rodrigues proposed the vote of thanks and the programme came to an end with the concluding part of the Tiatr, which was really a touching story with a meaningful moral. Rosary Ferns has written and directed 21 Tiatrs, out of which 12 have been played in Kuwait.
In general, the programme was a perfect blend of heart-touching script, professional direction, dedicated acting, original jokes, rib-tickling comedy, foot-tapping dances, emotional scenes that saw tears rolling down the cheeks of the audiences, melodious songs, mind-blowing music, uninterrupted sound, eye-catching stage setting, glittering lights and well-edited flash back big screen scenes, which the Kuwait audiences had never experienced before.