As all eyes are focused on the political theatre, the Konkani tiatr stage is getting equally raucous as singers belt out their views on the government and politics. Singers, who draw applause and wolf whistles for stinging political songs, have gone all out to highlight the failures of the government to their audiences.
This week, a political song by Saby de Divar in comedian Sally’s tiatr ‘Maim Paichem Besanv’ provided a report card of the State government. “It is not a creation of stories, but an evaluation of the achievements and failures of the government. After hearing this, it is up to the audience to decide whether BJP will pass or fail in the Assembly elections,” says Saby de Divar.
He adds, “During the Congress government, corruption prevailed, but the party was not communal and it never created disharmony among people of different religions. Due to corruption, Congress was brushed aside and BJP was given a thumping majority in the last elections. But what has the ruling party given back to the electorate?” he pauses, for a moment before continuing, “In the name of religion, nuns have been raped and the country has witnessed desecration of churches and crosses.”
“They spoke about ‘aache din’ but those golden days never dawned for the common man. As the future is in our hands let us accept whatever is offered to us, but in the end let us vote consciously,” he advises.
Besides Saby de Divar and Francis de Tuem, the emerging and vibrant sole woman political singer, Olga Vaz is on fire when on stage, as she points out what’s ‘bad and the ugly’ in the government. She lashes out at bad governance and the misdeeds of the government, but does not favour any political party specifically.
Instead, she says that “The communal forces have to be driven out. The division created among the Catholics, Hindus and the Muslims in the name of religion has to be eliminated. No doubt there is development for everyone to see, but at what cost? The hidden agenda is only destroying our youth and their future.”
She asserts that the Konkani singer is playing the role of the opposition in the State. “Today, there is no opposition in the Assembly though it is important for constructive development, hence opposition from the tiatr stage is coming and it will continue,” she says.
“Whichever party it may be,” Olga affirms, “let not communal forces creep in and bring in a barrier among the people. Unity among all sections of people prevailed for ages, so why should it be destroyed now? Corruption is pardonable to a certain extent but not the drift that is created intentionally in the name of religion.”
In Mini Mario’s tiatr ‘Khobro’, Mini Mario, Valencio and Jack de Colva highlight demonetisation. “The common man had to face umpteen hardships. The future of the BJP is sealed and the electorate will provide a befitting answer to the ruling party at the elections.”
In an ongoing tiatr, another noted political singer has slashed the ruling government for its ‘aache din’ promise that never came for the common man, except for the powers to be. He mentions in his song that the electorate was eagerly waiting for happy days to dawn, but it has been just the opposite with a continuous hike in prices and other burning social issues remaining unsolved till date.
He highlighted various schemes introduced for the common man, but said its benefits were availed by only a section of the society. “The days are not too far when voters will show the exit door to the ruling party and it will ‘bure din’ for the BJP,” he asserts.
Another tiatr couple, Peter and Roshan, who sang political songs in various tiatrs earlier and delivered encores for the audience, have now put a full stop to politics and political songs. Instead, they have focused on non-stop shows and prefer to stay away from the mess.
“We have always highlighted issues related and affecting the common man rather than going in for personal attacks,” they say. “Who are we to wash dirty linen of the politicians? When we have our personal lives, we have no right to launch a personal attach on the netas,” they add.
