04 Dec 2020  |   04:09am IST

The man who has always put up the best show for Goa

He is the man who has showcased the very best of Goa’s culture over the last couple of decades in the country and abroad. On the eve of the 60th year of Goa's Liberation, Francisco Martins speaks to Café about his experiences and how this momentous period can be showcased

H) Could u tell us your role in presenting Goa in various ways either through your floats or your other creative work?

Francisco Martins:  I have done it for Republic Day and prior to that I showcased my talent in the carnival. A lot of Indian tourists and foreigners used to come over and watch.  I won at the first prize carnival for seven consecutive years.They then suggested I do the same at the Republic Day parade in Delhi in 1981. I participated with fifty people in my group. I was excited and I did it with a live band and the best dancers from Goa. Everyone liked it for the first time there was a live band. The authorities asked me to design for the Asiad 82 in Delhi with 300 participants. I agreed immediately. We selected good people and I asked for time to do it. They agreed and yes the budget was very small and I took 300 participants, boys and girls from Goa. We would conduct the audition and if they were good they would be selected on the spot. We took a live band. It was appreciated in all the newspapers. Then the National Games in Pune, Suresh Kalmadi requested me to work in 1994, and yes I remember in 1987 I won the first prize for the Republic Day parade.   I brought out innovative designs in the following years to catch the attention with the use of colours. In 1988 we won the first prize again. 1989 second prize and in 1990 we won the top prize yet again. We showcased the fact we had music in our blood.  We won the first prize five times and the second on four occasions. Then I went international to the trade shows like ITB, WTM and I was sent by the Government of India and Goa. The Expo 98 in Portugal was a great opportunity to showcase our culture in familiar ground. I used shells that are used in windows. In 1989, Rajeev Gandhi expressed his interest in meeting me. Senior members came to Goa to meet me and to give me the brief for Bharatyam 89. It was the celebration of the hundred years of Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi with 35,000 children. They wanted me as the chief visualiser for the show, Anand Shanker was the music composer and Gulzar was also involved. I met Rajeev Gandhi, Mani Shankar Aiyer, and agreed to do it. Through my talent and vision, I was able to showcase on the spot.                        

H) Goa will be celebrating its 60th-year of liberation throughout the year. As a creative artist, how would you like to present Goa in its 60th year as a part of India.

FM: I feel they should involve the whole of Goa with participants who may be all over the state. One day in Panjim, one day in different places is what I feel. It has to be planned but I can say to do it in Goa is very good because you can involve all the people, all the houses along the route. I know I can get the people to participate. I have taken 300, people, 600 people, 1300 girls from Goa so doing this will be not a problem.        

H) Could you recount your greatest moments and greatest moments of pride and list them out?

FM) Wining in 1987 the first prize at the Republic Day celebration was a great feeling because the costume and everything were no great to look at. When they announced it, I could not believe it.  Then Rajeev Gandhi put me on the committee to select floats for the Ministry of Defence for six years. I changed the design, it used to be sad, we made it lively.     

H) You were the face of the carnival, could you tell us how you became so famous, how did it all start?

FM) I started in 1974, there I won thefirst prize with 18 people with an innovative design with the music of Osibisa and 1975 with two hundred participants in sacks. People acted their parts very well. I won the first prize for seven years.

H) What is your piece of advice for creative people on how they can come forward and showcase Goa the way you have shown?

FM) You should have the love and not do it for the sake of doing it. It is important to think and get people and divide the work and come up with ideas. Be organized and be prepared for hard work. Once you win, people will come to be with you