March 8 was celebrated as International Women’s Day, highlighting women’s rich contribution in various spheres of life towards the overall growth of the society. Undoubtedly, women have stepped in different fields today, thus carving a niche for themselves.
Be it within the four walls of the house as housewives or in the society as teachers, lecturers and officers in schools, colleges, offices, firms, in every discipline, daily toil and efforts put in to bring out the best cannot be ignored. Their intelligence mingled with manpower has yielded rich dividends.
Today women’s empowerment is not only visible in different circles, but equally and more prominently on the Konkani stage as accomplished actors, singers and musicians. Their involvement and commitment towards tiatr and its growth cannot be erased.
Apart from showcasing their God-given talents on stage, women artistes have helped to keep tiatrs alive till date. In earlier times, a woman stepping on the tiatr stage was considered a taboo. And women were bluntly discouraged to make an entry in this live three-hour entertainment.
But over a period of time, after males were rejected from displaying feminine roles on stage, women came boldly on stage and their presence and display of talent was well accepted and appreciated by the audience.
Today as singers, actors and musicians, women are in the forefront on the tiatr stage and more and more youngsters (school, college and working women) are made a bold entry there, thus growing in their respective talents and helping in the overall growth of this industry.
Despite some of the women choosing a career for themselves and standing on their own feet, they have also found time out to also commit themselves towards tiatr. Working women have excelled as artistes on tiatr stage as actors, singers, comediennes and musicians as well.
Careers as teachers, principals or even further studies in colleges and universities have never been a hurdle for them. Instead, many women artistes have played well a balancing role between their studies, profession and theatre.
Loutulim-based Meena Goes is an accomplished actor on the Konkani stage today. Having acted for noted tiatr directors like Roseferns, John D’Silva, Prince Jacob, Comedian Ambe, Comedian Agostinho, Milagres de Chandor, Mario Menezes, Ulhas Tari, Menino de Bandar and others, she has garnered enough knowledge and experience in the field of tiatr.
From 2010, Meena made a bold entry into tiatrs and since then it has been a steady go, learning the nuances of acting and singing. She also stepped in the shoes of anchoring and she joined the CCRT shows ‘Kolakarachi Bhett’ and ‘Kuznantlim Zogddim’ before Covid, thus interviewing many tiatr personalities.
“Fear was there initially whether the tiatr audience will accept me as an actor and singer, but after entry in tiatrs staged by different directors, people started appreciating my talent. A tryst as a comedienne also worked for me, and audience response was pretty good,” informs Meena.
As an actor, Meena has also featured in Konkani films and the going on the big screen was overwhelming as well. She acted in films ‘O La La’, ‘Kaatar’, ‘Mopa Diary’, ‘D’Costa House’, ‘Hasta La Vista’ and ‘Journey’.
For her immense contribution towards theatre arts, Meena also picked up several awards on her journey, with ‘Goa State Cultural Yuva Srujan Award 2022-23’ from the Directorate of Art and Culture as the most prestigious one.
Aquem-based Aloma Dias stepped on the tiatr stage since 2014 when she acted in children’s tiatr competition staged by Salvador Afonso. She has also featured in tiatrs presented by noted tiatr directors like C D’Silva, Comedian Agostinho, Pascoal de Chicalim, John D’Silva, Comedian Brian, Myron Travasso, Willy Silveira.
Singing and acting is Aloma’s passion. “And that passion came all along since school days,” she shares. “In the family from my mother’s side, there are several tiatrists and they have been my inspiration.” Liking towards tiatrs developed when she began watching shows on stage and the entry thereafter, gave her the biggest satisfaction.
Santa Cruz-based Madonna Fernandes made an entry on tiatr stage in Fr Milagres Dias tiatr ‘Sopnel’lim Sopnam Devalim Danam’ for the Kala Academy’s Tiatr ‘B’ Group Competition and she won the Best Female Actress Award. Later, she got an opportunity for Willy Silveira’s Lenten show ‘Kor Mhojem Kalliz Tujea Kallza Sarkhem.’
Madonna says she got many offers to act in tiatrs but as she was pursuing her B.Ed studies, she did not accept any. Again she made her presence felt on stage as an actor in one of Augie D’Mello’s tiatrs ‘Mohem’ for the Kala Academy’s Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition and won the merit certificate as best comedienne.
Presently in the teaching profession and serving in one of the Bambolim schools, Madonna never thought of stepping on the tiatr stage as she did not get much support. “But Fr Milagres approached and asked me to accept the offer initially,” she says.
Mentioning the quote of Brigham Young, ‘You educate a man, you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation,’ Madonna appeared in Sammy Tavares tiatr ‘Tuminch Mhaka Sangat’ in a new avatar—as a saxophonist. “By playing the saxophone, I would like to inspire the women in the North to play the blowing instruments as it is a rarity. Apart from music you can easily go hand-in-hand with your profession as well,” she confides.