Keeping an
institution, which itself is a work of art, under wraps, as it were to allow for
restoration, and re- strengthening , is something that no one in the arts and
culture fraternity should have any problems with. What artist, tiatrists and
show organisers can’t seem to figure is why they were not taken into confidence
and the plans discussed, instead of sending them letters, stating that their
booked shows will e cancelled.
And this isn’t a
sudden temporary closure. For a decision of this nature, those whose work and
creative living centre around the academy should have been a part of the
decision making and not treated as mere recipients of information, causing
losses.
Roseferns, a noted
tiatr director had three shows in August at Kala Academy which have been
cancelled. “I had booked the three dates in August almost three months in
advance. On July 7, 2019 I received a letter stating that the bookings had been
cancelled due to renovations and the money will be refunded. The monsoon tiatrs
are planned only for the cities and it is a major loss for me if my houseful
shows are getting cancelled. There is no alternate space to stage these tiatrs
in Panjim with good sound and other facilities for the audience. They should
have allowed at least the shows that were booked in advance to run. The reports
about the structure should be shared with us too,” says Roseferns.
Goa Cultural and
Social Centre has been organizing the All Goa state level Mando Festival
annually for the last 52 years. Milagres Fernandes, the secretary of the
committee was being optimistic till they received a letter from Kala Academy
about the cancellation of the venue. “We will be having our annual elections of
the committee on August 11, 2019 where will have to decide the options for the
festival. We had it at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall but it was not
feasible. The Don Bosco auditorium is good enough but the Kala Academy indoor
auditorium had a seating capacity of 900. We were hoping the closure would be
for three months but the hall has been cancelled for our festival in December”
explains Milagres.
Mario Menezes, a
noted Tiatr director whose tiatr, ‘College Life’ will be staged at Ravindra
Bhavan, Margao on August 1, 2019, feels the tiatr fraternity will not be
affected by the decision to temporarily shut out Kala Academy. “During this
season till the month of October, there are annual tiatr competitions held at
the auditorium. Commercial tiatrs were not given many dates even during the
weekends. The tiatr fraternity will not be affected as most tiatrs have already
been withdrawn,” says Mario.
This year, the 10th
Popular Tiatr Competition was organised by Tiatr Academy of Goa and the 10th
Children’s Tiatr Competition will be organised later in the year.
Cezar D’Mello, the
member secretary of Tiatr Academy Goa, says, “It was difficult to get reservations
for the Kala Academy indoor auditorium for various competitions and that is the
reason, we had recently held Children’s Tiatr Competition and the Popular Tiatr
Competitions in other parts of Goa. The shows have to be booked almost a year
in advance at Kala Academy. Being a part of Tiatr Academy of Goa, we have not
held elections yet and after the selection of the new committee we will be able
to decide on the venues for the upcoming competitions. We have not received any
complaints from the Tiatr fratentity about the shows at Kala Academy being
cancelled but as Kala Academy is a separate entity, our say won’t matter.”
The audience of
Panjim have also much to say about the closure of this reputed venue known for
its cultural programs. An ardent tiatr fan and a lover of Konkani music, Joe
D’Cruz from St Inez feels the audience from Tiswadi is being deprived of a
source of entertainment. “It is important for the authorities to listen to what
the Charles Correa Foundation has to say. They cannot be ignored as they are
the right people to give them advice. When it comes to commercial tiatrs, Kala
Academy is the only space for the whole Tiswadi taluka.
Institute Menezes
Braganza Hall is small and it will be very difficult to recover the investment
the directors put into tiatrs. Kala Academy is the only source of entertainment
for the Konkani speaking crowd and temporary closure is going to deprive the
audience of good entertainment. The tiatr fraternity should protest against the
closing of this heritage site,” says Joe.
Meanwhile,
the much anticipated sixth edition of Goencho Avaz, All Goa Konkani singing
competition by Herald Group, Ulhas Jewellers and State Bank of India have
shifted the finals from Kala Academy, Panjim to Ponda on August 8, 2019 and the
finals and mega finals will be held in Margao on August 10 and 16, 2019
respectively.
