PANJIM: ‘Onnollkhi’, a tiatr penned by Menino Mario Araujo, directed by Soccor Fernandes and presented by Machi Mogi, Cujira, Santa Cruz, throws light on issues pertinent to Goan society today.
After man perishes, is death the end of everything? The body decays, but the soul is everlasting. Ten years later, will the developmental plans of the government benefit Goans? Due to unemployment, Goans are fleeing to Europe and strangers being the majority, are ruling the State. Will the opposition to Mopa airport by minority Goans yield fruits? The non-existence of Dabolim airport and functioning of international airport at Mopa will bring in umpteen hardships. These are some of the issues tackled in this tiatr in a fictional way.
Due to kidney failure, Clinton (Cancio Dias) is fighting for his life at the hospital. The doctor (Rosario Botelho) has pointed out that his time is limited. His brother John (Rayson Botelho) is on his way to Goa from UK to offer him one of his organs.
Meanwhile, Clinton’s fiancée Ciandra (Mefi Antonia Chris de Araujo), who is pregnant outside wedlock, is willing to offer her kidney, but the doctor refuses to accept it on medical grounds.
The Goa-UK flight, which was supposed to land at Dabolim airport, is diverted to Mopa airport due to terror threats. There is commotion and stiff opposition among the Goan passengers onboard the flight. Some of them hijack the plane, with insistence that it should land only at the old airport.
Will John reach the hospital on time to offer his kidney and save his brother? Who is the stranger at the hospital? Who saves Clinton’s life? These queries find answers in the second half of the drama. Disbelief in the existence of God among the medical fraternity, supernatural powers, and the situation in Goa ten years later are some highlights of this drama.
Cancio Dias delivers his role with ease. Luiza is apt in the nurse’s shoes. The passengers in the plane, including Milson Fernandes as Lusu in a comical role, Elson Braganza as the pilot, Rebecca de Souza as an air hostess, and Succor, Rayson, Filipe and Daphne as passengers deliver their dialogues promptly. But Mefi Araujo as Ciandra and Rosario Botelho as the doctor are the centre of attention and deserve special mention.
Except for minor hiccups and despite tense moments witnessed on the plane and at the hospital, the drama lacked enough laughter through comical acts, except at the sixth act with the garden scene.
The stage sets, especially the view inside the aircraft, by Kiran Naik, besides light by Pandurang Pangam and background music by Mohan Khavnekar, deserve appreciation.
Songs presented in the form of solos, duo, duets, trios and choral, besides inclusion of a patriotic song had a message for the audience. But the concluding song ‘Konn Tum?’ delivered by Succor Fernandes with his melodious voice summed the entire the play.
