Going back to St Xavier’s College, Mapusa has its own nostalgic
charm for the alumni and when it is to watch the current students of the
college put up an exciting new tiatr, it adds to the pride of being a student
of this prestigious institution. It was the same feeling of exuberance that saw
a packed audience at the college for the first show of ‘Bhangar Mhojem’, a tiatr
which was performed by the students across all streams. The tiatr was
originally written and directed for the second Inter Collegiate Tiatr
Competition organised by Tiatr Academy of Goa in October, where it won the
third place. However, with so much of effort going into its creation, it would
be unfair not to showcase the talent of these students to a wider audience.
Presented by the Parish Linkage Cell of St
Xavier’s College Mapusa, ‘Bhangar Mhojem’ is performed across 14 venues as part
of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the college. The tiatr is written by Fr
Luis Gomes, assistant professor, Konkani at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and
directed by Sandeep Kalangutkar, a retired lecturer of School of Drama in Kala
Academy. The first show of the revised tiatr was held on January 5 at the
college. “This is the second tiatr that we have worked on. The first tiatr was
‘Komb’ in 2018. However, this is a completely new troupe of actors and
musicians. As soon as the Inter Collegiate Tiatr Competition was announced, we
sent out a call to the students who were interested in acting to give
auditions. Sandeep was impressed with the actors and as he didn’t want the
students to feel left out, he even created roles to absorb those students.
Interestingly, the students are from all the streams including Biotechology and
BBA besides Arts, Commerce and Science. There are nearly 30 percent of the cast
and singers who are Konkani students,” says Fr Luis Gomes.
The story is based on a minister (Judas) and how his wife (Maria)
and two children (David and Valanka) have to face the consequences of his
support to the drug world. The main cast is supported by the comedians (Ganju
and Heroine). For first time performers, the students played their part very
well. Megan De Souza who plays the role of Valanka had the audience in tears
during her solo act. A six units Konkani student of TYBA, Megan credits Sandeep
for bringing out the best in her character. “I love performing in plays at the
church programmes. I also played a role in the tiatr ‘Ami Sogllim Ek’ by
Tomazinho Cardozo for the All Goa Tiatr Competition when I was in second year
of college. I also played a role in a short film on garbage for St Xavier’s
Higher Secondary School, Mapusa which won the first place. I was thrilled to
perform in ‘Bhangar Mhojem’ as my parents and my sister were in the audience.
Sandeep really pushed me to do my best in the character and he was confident
that I could do better,” says Megan.
The songs in the tiatr include an opening chorus by Unesia,
Shawn, Nilosha, Myron, Lenina, Dalcy, Agnelo and Christavio, ‘Sale Deed,’ a
solo by Simon, ‘Photographer zaunk sodtam,’ a trio by Agnelo, Melanie and
Christavio, ‘Vhoddlo Player Zatolo’ a solo by Valerius, ‘Tiatrachi uddtti
vollokh’, a solo by Unesia, ‘Nhoure’, a quintet by Marlon, Valerius, Agnelo,
Shawn and Lenina, ‘Mog Tuzo’, a duet by Melanie and Neville, ‘St Xavier’s
College Hirok Mha-Utsov,’ a choral by Unesia, Christavio, Shawn, Melanie,
Myron, Lenina, Dalcy and Agnelo, ‘Konknnicho Soinik’, a solo by Nilosha,
‘Padri’, a solo by Nevil, ‘Bondkonnint asloleancho Patronn’, a solo by Shawn,
‘Hoi ami zhogoddttat’ a duet by Lenina and Unesia, ‘Social Media’, quartet by
Dalcy, Neville, Lenina and Agnelo, ‘Mogachi gaddi’, a solo by Christavio and
‘Preman Poddlim’, a duet by Unesia and Shawn.
The tiatr had to be revised with seven more songs and a few new
cast members. “The songs are written by Tomazinho Cardozo and I and I had to
keep them more relevant to the times and which appeals to the audience. We
earlier had seminarians playing different roles but due to their schedule, we
had to replace them with new actors. The lead roles are played by Marlon
Cardozo, Rizel Fernandes, Megan De Souza, Simon D’Silva, Valerius Fernandes and
Namashri Parab,” says Fr Luis.
Fr Ramiro Luis, Director of Crescendo and assistant professor,
Psychology at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa is proud of the music band as it
features the faculty and students of Crescendo. Trumpeter Nolvert Cota takes
the lead with two trumpet students, Cleron Fernandes and Aaron Fernandes,
supported by musicians, Samson Mascarenhas, Flynn Lobo, Fenton Fernandes and
Stalin. After training the musicians for four months to play the trumpet,
Nolvert is happy with the performance in the tiatr format, “I wanted to
introduce them to tiatr. They play the trumpet but they are not ised to this
format of the tiatr which has different count bars. They had the basic
knowledge and have the aptitude to pick up fast. Even with the recent changes
of the songs, how they performed the songs is commendable,” says Nolvert.
The next shows will be held in different parishes of Goa at 7
pm. Today, January 7, the show will be held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church,
Mandrem; on January 9 at Our Lady of Grace Church Compound, Madel-Chorao; on
January 11 at St Alex Church, Calangute; on January 13 at Our Lady of Amparo
Church, Mandur; on January 15 at St Michael Church, Taleigao; on January 18 at
Sts Cosmas and Damian Church, Bogmalo; on January 23 at Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception Church, Moira; on January 25 at St Thomas Church, Aldona; on January
27 at St Joseph Church, Shiroda; on January 30 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao; on
January 31 at Dando AC Hall, Candolim; February 4 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Church, Arambol and the last show on February 5 will be staged at St Anne’s
Church, Parra.
In
its Diamond Jubilee year, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa is focused on the theme,
‘Together on a Mission, Working Hand-in-Hand for Transformation’. There are
many programmes earmarked during the year as part of the celebrations.
