MARGAO: Is it curtains – albeit temporary – for the 129-year-old tiatr industry in the wake of a total shut down due to the pandemic? The impact could be far-reaching.
Tiatr, which is unique in nature compared to other dramatic art forms, has been a source of income for hundreds of artistes in Goa for the last several decades. However, nearly 80 per cent of them, who are fully dependent on this performing art, are struggling to survive, as they have no other source of income in order to feed their families.
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In the last one and half year, most of the tiatr artistes have lost what they had in their saving accounts. Few tiatrists are finding it difficult to adapt to the needs of any new source of income, as their plans and dreams lie shattered.
Hence, the tiatr fraternity has urged the government for financial support in return for what they have given to society.
For the majority of tiatrists, their performance puts food on the table. Now tiatr halls are closed and no shows are being performed. Hundreds of tiatrists are struggling to earn their livelihood.
Speaking to Herald Roseferns, one of the most senior of tiatrists, said that the Covid pandemic has really hit hard the tiatr artistes who were fully dependent on the stage.
“Many tiatr artistes are in a situation where if they have no show to perform, they find it difficult to get food for the family. For close to eighteen months, there has been no tiatr shows in the halls, which means there is no income for the tiatrists. Only God knows how our tiatr artistes are sustaining in this pandemic,” he said.
Roseferns said that most of the artistes from his group are fully dependent on the tiatr shows. “Hence, I urge the government to help out these tiatrists in whatever way they can, The government needs to initiate a scheme to help out the needy tiatr artistes at earliest,” he stated. The Rajasthan government has initiated one scheme for the artists to help financially.
According to Mario Menezes, another most popular tiatr writer and director, several tiatr artistes are in trouble due to the pandemic and they are struggling. “Many artistes who have no other source of income other than tiatr are just managing to sustain with the minimum savings they had in the bank account. However, the situation is very bad, and they will find it difficult to survive if things do not improve,” he stated.
Menezes also said that the tiatr industry is one of the biggest theatre industries in the country, with regard to dramatic performing art. However, the artistes of tiatrs, which is unique in the form, are struggling due to the Covid pandemic.
“Tiatr artistes are hundreds in numbers and to my knowledge, nearly 80 per cent of the tiatrists are fully dependent on tiatrs only. Hence, a help of Rs 10,000 per month should be given to such tiatr artistes who are financially struggling to survive in this pandemic. So that their basic necessities are fulfilled,” he urged the government.
Menino Fernandes, president of Tiatr Academy (Goa) is also of the opinion that tiatrists should get government support in situations, which have hit them badly.
“The government should come out with some sought of policy to help them,” he said and added that the academy is ready to submit a memorandum to the government, provided tiatr artistes under any banner come forward and request the academy to do so.
Meanwhile, the fiery Francis De Tuem was blunt, “This is our culture. And tiatrists are your cultural ambassadors. Is this the way they should be treated when they have served the State? Why just tiatrists. Look at musicians, look at those who do nataks based on Marathi theatre. Every industry including the casino industry can be supported. So why not help us? Give us support, subsidise our costs, show that you care.”
