You may buy a ticket and go to a Konkani tiatr to escape the drudgery of the real world for a few hours, but you could return home realising that the tiatr, and its lampooning of the politicians, makes more sense than some of the statements of the politicians or the deeds of the government. The satire, the parody and the slap-stick comedy is far more palatable for those few minutes in the auditorium than the farce the politicians play in their role as guardians of Goa, its wealth, its culture, its environment.
There perhaps is not a single Konkani tiatr currently being staged that does not have at least one song lampooning the political situation in the State and the politicians, some even being extremely rude in their lyrics and angry actions. There is nothing new in this, except that many of the same Konkani singers and tiatrists were, not too long ago, being extremely kind in their lyrics and gentle in their actions when referring to the same dispensation. As swiftly as the waters of the Rivers Mandovi and Zuari rise and fall has the feeling of admiration that the Konkani stage artistes had for this government ebbed from the high it was just about three years ago. Rather than building upon the goodwill that it had gained in 2012, this government has ensured that it loses it all. But then, in the euphoria of that splendid victory, this government didn’t realize that it won, not because of its own magnetism and charm, but because of the unwinnable position that the previous government had placed itself in.
The tiatr has always been a reflection of the mood and sentiments of society. Over the decades it has become a mirror to the government’s performance. All those who make up the government have to do is watch a few performances of the tiatrs to learn what the people feel about their performance since they came to power in 2012. While the tiatr itself, the storyline may have nothing political in it, it is the songs that are sung in the interludes between the scenes that are social commentaries and pack a punch that no column in any publication can, and they sing it in such manner that the audience reacts immediately to the lyrics.
The popularity of the song and the singer is gauged by the wolf whistles and loud and long applause from the audience that brings back the singer to the stage, sometimes with a new verse, but at other times repeating what has already been sung. And these curtain calls are happening with regularity to the political songs in these days. The angry resentment that the people are nurturing against the government is as clear as any writing on the wall. You don’t have to seek it, for it is there quite palpable and visible.
The songs in the tiatr take up all social and political issues, never missing out on the opportunity to pick on the government on any of their mistakes or even assumed errors. While the criticism of the government may be far too acerbic, it is visible for all that this government is merely bumbling about, inviting criticism from all sides. Take for instance the procrastination, in all things, even in inducting a new minister to fill in a gap that was created in April this year. Did it really take the party six months to decide who should fill in that gap? If that is so, then how can the government be expected to decide on the numerous issues it is faced with every single day. The government, besides acting on issues, needs to hasten its pace or it will definitely have the tiatrist community pointing fingers at it.
The present government is very aware of how the tiatr and the tiatrists can turn the tide of a large number of voters in favour of a particular party or against it. It did provoke the tiatr artistes once already. A few months ago, in February this year, the government had sought to censor the tiatrs and it was Herald’s proactive stance against this, and the tiatrists opposition to any pre-censorship, that foiled the government’s attempts. At that time, one prominent tiatrist was candid enough to point out that it was the criticism of the previous government that had brought the BJP to power. And now, is the criticism of the present government going to bring about its downfall?
While it may be too early to predict something like this, should it shrug its shoulders and attempt to ignore the tiatrists and their criticism, there will still be one thing that will definitely make the government, and in this case also the Congress uncomfortable, and that is the calls given out to Arvind Kejriwal to come to Goa. Kejriwal’s party is already here, merely a shadow of what the AAP was in Delhi before the elections, and that is perhaps why it passes off unnoticed. Is Goa then looking for a Kejriwal-like figure in the State who speaks his mind, goes on dharna and challenges the government at the drop of a hat?
Whether it does or not, there is still drama going on in Goan politics giving enough fodder to the tiatrists. The speculation of a rift between the BJP and the MGP and the possibility of the ministers of the alliance partner being divested of some portfolios and finally the status quo on this has enough meat for the lyrics of another song. In such a scenario one can definitely not blame the tiatrist for taking on the government. Especially when the criticism makes sense and the government does not.
(Alexandre Moniz Barbosa is Executive Editor, Herald)
