TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Expressing serious concern over the government’s move to censor tiatr, the Tiatristancho Ekvott on Thursday has demanded that the government give a written assurance to the tiatr fraternity within 15 days that the popular tiatr will not be brought under the censor board.
The forum has said that it would chalk out its future course of action if the government goes ahead with the move to censor tiatr. The tiatrists, however, expressed happiness that the government has denied any move to censor tiatr.
Tiatrists under the banner of Tiatristancho Ekvott met in large numbers in Margao on Thursday morning and deliberated on the move to censor tiatr. After the meeting, tiatrist Roseferns said the tiatr fraternity was happy that the government has denied the move to censor tiatr, but demanded that the government give them a written assurance within 15 days that it would not bring tiatr under the censor board.
“If the government claims that it is unaware of any move to censor tiatr, it is well and good. Tiatrists had submitted a memorandum to the government demanding scrapping of the proposed move. We want the government to give us a written assurance that it has no plan to censor tiatr,” Roseferns said, asserting that Censorship will spell doom for tiatr and tiatrists.
In his address, Prince Jacob told the media that it is not practical to censor tiatr and other programmes when the state produces a whopping 449 scripts of tiatr and other programmes annually. “Will the government authorities be able to deal with so many productions annually? The government says it has no move to censor tiatr. If it is so we are happy. We appreciate the government sand, and there should not be any such move in the future,” he said, while favouring a self regulation mechanism amongst tiatrists.
Comedian Agostinho said political songs have become a part and parcel of tiatr over the years. He said that ministers and MLAs not only from Salcete but from North Goa also have been supportive of tiatr. “The government says there is no move to censor tiatr. I only request the government not to bring tiatr under censor board,” he said.
Singer Francis de Tuem demanded to know whether censorship is applicable only for Tiatr and not for the media. “We compose our songs based on media reports. How can they haul up the tiatrists if they take names of personalities, while nothing is said against the media,” he asserted.
Wilzon Mazarello said the tiatrists should be prepared to fight till the last if the government brings tiatr under censor board. ‘Censorship will kill tiatr. I have experienced it in Mumbai. Tiatr has been in existence for decades now, but we have not come across a single instance that it is responsible for any riot or law and order problem,” Mazarello said.
Meanwhile, speaking in the capacity as President of Tiatr Academy of Goa, Prince Jacob said the Academy had around two months ago received a communication from the government requesting the body to explore the possibility of self censorship in respect of tiatr. He said the request was rejected by the members of the TAG.
