The people over turned the decision of the director Tousif Sheikh to postpone its release in the wake of a law and order threat, refusing to bow down to the forces of communalism. He spoke to GUILHERME ALMEIDA when he decided to call off his show on Saturday morning and again after he bowed down to peoples wishes and staged his tiatr.
Herald: Till Friday evening, you appeared determined to stage your tiatr on Saturday. Even the police had promised protection at the Gomant Vidya Niketan. What finally prompted you to announce postponement of the show? Tousif de Navelim: I received two calls at around 2.30 am on Saturday threatening to disrupt the show and create law and order in Margao. The police had offered me protection, but I was more concerned about the threat to a law and order situation by these elements and the inconveniences that would have caused to the common man. My show was going houseful, I would have earned a profit of Rs 2-3 lakh, but I was more concerned about my fellow Goans.
Herald: But, finally you went ahead with the show. What made you to do a re-think? TdN: Well, I was present outside the Gomant Vidya
Niketan to ensure that tiatr lovers get their refund. But, what I found was an angry reaction from the tiatr lovers against my decision to postpone the show. They were not ready to relent and wanted me to hold the show by reassuring Goan people will stand by me against
the outside elements. Finally, I took the call by respecting the sentiments of the tiatr lovers. Herald: You said while announcing the
postponement of the show that your birth in a Muslim family has been used to create more communal divisions over the tiatr.
TdN : I am born in a Muslim
family. These elements
tried to take advantage of my Muslim background
to foment discord and trouble amongst Hindus
and Muslims. I had this fear in my mind and
ultimately the people would have blamed me for
any untoward incident.
Herald: Why do you say that the government is
indirectly hand in gloves with the forces opposing
the tiatr?
TdN: First, Ravindra Bhavan tried to silence the
tiatrists by coming out with a draft undertaking
and now this uproar by the Ram Sene over my
tiatr. Sadly, none of the Ministers or ruling MLAs
has supported me. Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar could have cleared the atmosphere, but
he preferred to remain silent. These elements have
even threatened to kill my family.
The Chief Minister ought to have come out in
my support being a citizen of Goa, but he has not
extended any support. He has not uttered a word.
I have given names of people and the
telephone numbers, but the police
have not laid their hands on them.
Parrikar is the Home Minister and he
should have directed the police to nab
the callers. The Chief Minister has to
come out in my support and direct
the police take the investigations to
the logical conclusion. I thank the
media for supporting me right from
Day one when these elements issued
threatening calls.
Herald: The Ram Sene insists that
the tiatr is directed at its supremo
Pramod Muthalik to portray him in
poor light. They have questioned
your audacity to portray Muthalik as
a terrorist.
TdN: This is totally wrong. I have not
mentioned anything about Pramod
Muthalik in my tiatr. I have not
defamed anyone. The tiatr portrays unity, peace
and brotherhood amongst Goans. These elements
were worried that the tiatr would further cement
ties existing within the Goan communities.
Herald: But, the Ram Sene says the poster clearly
shows that the tiatr is about Muthalik. Comment.
TdN: If one takes a close look at the poster,
nowhere is the name of Pramod Muthalik is
mentioned. I fail to understand how they have
assumed that the tiatr is directed at the Ram Sena
chief. And, now they have threatened to cut my
hands.
Herald: Akantvadi Goeant Naka is Tousif de
Navelim’s second Konkani tiatr. Will the raging
controversy deter you from coming up with many
more productions in the future?
TdN: These people may try to frighten me with
these threats, but they will not be able to finish
my spirit. Nothing will deter me from coming up
with tiatr in the future. They will not be able to gag
me. I will continue to work for truth and against
injustice.
Herald: What has been the response of your
colleagues from the tiatr fraternity after you came
under attack from these radical groups?
TdN: I must thank my regular troupe, who stood
behind me during this entire
episode. They have all
supported me throughout.
You have called upon the
government to act and
assure that tiatr culture is
not killed in Goa. What sort
of action do you expect the
government?
TdN: Yes, the government
should act and foil attempts
by institutions, groups or
individuals aimed at gagging
the tiatr and tiatrists. No
doubt, the police had offered
me protection, but the
government should show
its sincerity by investigating
into my complaints and
initiate action.
