With the spread of the Coronavirus, apart from the tourism industry, the tiatr industry has been badly affected in Goa. And with no other alternative in hand, the tiatr directors, artists, musicians and all those involved in tiatr have to face the hard reality and live with it.
Café had reported that some of the artistes, who were noted singers on the tiatr stage, managed to find an alternative route to entertain the tiatr audience by uploading songs on social media platforms like YouTube. Taking maximum advantage of the digital platform, others decided to give it a try with short films and comedy.
But some of the tiatr directors, who have all along have been entertaining Goan audiences with live performances on stage with their productions foresee no other alternative conducive for entertainment than the Konkani stage. They believe it has always served as a strong platform to perform and deliver what’s best to tiatr fans.
Roseferns, the noted tiatr director of the Konkani stage was all set to entertain the audience with his 97th production ‘Dev Bhogsum’ this Easter season. But he had to untie his theatrical shoes after the Coronavirus threat and the lockdown that followed immediately.
“We have to face the hard reality and live with it,” says Roseferns, “as everyone had to face the unexpected.” “No doubt,” he continued, “many are slowly moving and literally shifting from the stage to social media. And it could be beneficial for some of the tiatrists, especially the singers.”
“But to think of uploading a tiatr, which runs for three-odd hours on stage, on YouTube is simply not possible as it could be a costly affair,” Roseferns noted. “And with the insistence by the authorities to maintain social distancing, a tiatr on social media is impossible,” he said.
“For things to improve for better and the best,” Roseferns suggested, “the churches should open for religious services. “And with that exercise, the fear that has been imbibed in the minds and hearts of the people will gradually vanish, inviting people to step out from their houses and flock to auditoriums as well,” he added.
Roseferns said the threat to life still persists in the minds of the people and it will continue until another vaccine like the smallpox is invented to fight against Covid-19. “Under such circumstances,” he mentioned, “to get the tiatr audience back to their seats in the auditoriums is very difficult.”
For those tiatr directors, who have been in the tiatr field for a long period, “they may be able to cope up with the situation,” Roseferns stated, “but what about those who had stepped on stage for a brief period and were surviving only on tiatrs? Not all will be able to face the ground reality. Some of them will have to slough and work hard, seeking an alternative route to sustain economically.”
For instance, Peter/Roshan had stepped in as tiatr directors shortly with 25 productions under their sleeves. This tiatr couple earned their living solely on tiatr performances in cities and villages and now with the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown has left them high and dry.
With tiatrs no longer in active mode, “who will give us our daily bread?” inquires Peter. “The government should find an alternative to resurrect tiatrs and save the age-old art and tiatrists from extinction.
“Under such dreadful circumstances,” informs Peter, “some tiatrists, who have side business to run, may survive. But what about the rest of the tiatrists, who were and are totally dependent on tiatrs? Will they be able to face the present tide? And if so, for how long?” “Had there been unity among all the tiatrists,” he continues, “an alternative could have been traced and tiatrs could have been revived all over again.”
From June 5-7, Peter/Roshan was supposed to go on a UK tour with their production ‘Fest Korta Ganv, Pirjenti Nanv’, but plans jeopardized. “Tickets were sold out, besides halls booked for the show,” he said, “It’s a big loss for us
Prince Jacob one of the doyens of Tiatr was all set to release his 70th production ‘Apunn Apnnank Dev Somestank’ this Easter season. Unfortunately, the unexpected outbreak of Coronavirus and its rapid spread brought down the tiatr curtains.
Though uncertainty continues to prevail regarding doors opening for entertainment through tiatrs, Prince Jacob is optimistic and is hopeful of returning sooner or later with a bang. “For the present situation,” he says, “we cannot blame anyone for anything, but face and live with the reality.”
Other than the stage, Prince Jacob sees no other alternative for tiatr as tiatr directors, artists and musicians have entertained the tiatr buffs in the past via live performances. “And the same can never be carried out successfully through social media,” he stressed.
“Presently, due to the lockdown,” Prince Jacob said, “with no other alternative, the audience might seek entertainment through social media. But the tiatr fans would definitely prefer live entertainment on stage rather than on television or mobile through various channels,” he added.
With tiatr industry coming to a standstill, Prince Jacob views things with a broader perspective. He is positive about everything and is content that he has more time with his family, thus strengthening family ties, besides prayer life, which otherwise did not prevail on account of commitment and continuous shows in cities and villages.
And when the tiatr directors return to the stage, Prince Jacob is optimistic that people support will continue in the near future, as in the past. “We do not expect anything from the government in these hard times” he grieved, “ in the good times there was nothing from the government.”
John D’Silva, another noted tiatr director of the Konkani stage was set to release his 48th production ‘Doiall’ for Easter, but couldn’t proceed due to dreaded corona virus and the lockdown that followed thereafter in Goa.
Comedian John sees no ray of hope for the tiatr industry till the Coronavirus disease vanishes from the face of the earth. “It came as a thunderbolt from the blues,” he says, “and we just can’t get over it with all the limitations and restrictions imposed for the good of all.”
John only hopes that God will have mercy on mankind and things will return to normalcy. “It has turned into a nightmare to stay indoors like a prisoner,” he grieves, “and no interaction with relatives and friends apart from threat in the consumption of food will turn people insane.”
Mario Menezes, another noted tiatr director from South Goa, was supposed to release his 53rd production ‘Ho Mog Nhoi’ during the Easter season. But he was unable to go ahead with his venture due to the pandemic.
“Commencement of tiatrs before or end of this year is simply impossible,” predicts Menezes, “and if things materialize, then it may see the light of the day only next year. Till then, it is a dark period for tiatr and the tiatrists.”
“All other professions may commence in course of time,” said Menezes, “but tiatr may remain an exception.” “And all efforts to get tiatr on the social media will simply not materialize as people have always enjoyed live entertainment on stage.”
“As the government has taken a bold initiative to assist the daily wage labourers, who are badly affected at construction sites and other places, likewise the government should also come forward to equally assist some of the commercial tiatrists, who are totally dependent on tiatrs for their living,” suggested Menezes. “Those deprived of their daily bread due to the shutdown of entertainment through tiatrs should be compensated,” he added.
But the real deal is clear. The Curtains have to go up, the audiences will have to cheer and clap, issues of the day raised and enacted. Only then will tiatr be tiatr.
