It was yesterday once more

PANAJI: Nostalgia, pride and happiness were the main emotions visible on the faces of the senior tiatrists present at the 125th tiatr anniversary celebrations organized by Kala Academy and

Tiatr Academy of Goa

(TAG), at the Kala Academy’s

Dinanath Mangueshkar

auditorium, on Monday evening.

Senior artistes like

John Claro

, 87, reminisced about their acting days. Claro remembering Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes said, “During his last days, Fernandes, who I met at Cross Maidan in Bombay, told me that tiatr is a different art of stage acting and that its standards should not be allowed to lower.”

Prominent singer Anthony San recalled singing the opening chorus along with late M Boyer, late H Britton, late Jr Rod, Josephine Dias, Betty Naz and Felcy for the 100th tiatr anniversary celebrations. He also recollected having acted alongside late Souza Ferrao, late Prem Kumar, late Alfred Rose, late Remmie Colaco and others.

Senior tiatrists Cyriaco Dias, Marcelin de Betim, C D’Silva and Platilda Dias got nostalgic remembering their colleagues.

“Now, tiatrists enjoy facilities that we did not possess earlier, and therefore they can stage four tiatrs annually. They also perform in all tiatrs. I don’t know how they manage all of this,” D’Silva said, exhorting the future generation to preserve the tiatr.

Fatima D’Souza said, “I am very happy to be part of this celebration, but I miss my husband, Anil Kumar.”

“I feel very privileged to be part of this gathering where so many artistes from Goa as well as Mumbai have gathered,” Jesse Dias, 70, said maintaining it was an occasion to be celebrated with great joy.

Senior tiatrist Paul Romy, while saluting priests and journalists for promoting Konkani, said, “This event serves as an encouragement for young aspiring artistes.”

Another prominent Mumbai-based tiatrist

Kenny Zuzarte

praised the efforts of the organizers and said, “I pray that tiatrists remain united always.”

Senior tiatrist Joe Rose said, “I thank the government for having been so generous in giving us funds for this celebrations, not only for today, but for the entire year.”

Highlighting a little known fact that the tiatr has served to bind the Hindus and Christians of Goa, Premanand Lotlikar cautioned that since some tiatrists give their plays a communal flavour it keeps Hindus away from the audience. “Tiatrists should strive to increase the Hindu audience as this will commercially enrich tiatrs,” said Lotlikar.

The highlight of the celebration was the cultural programme titled Goychea Tiatracho Itihas (History of Goan Tiatr) that paid tribute to yesteryear tiatrists such as late Miguel Rod, late Alexinho de Candolim, late J P Souzalin, late C Alvares, late Prem Kumar, late Alfred Rose, late M Boyer, late Remmie Colaco, late Jacinto Vaz and late

Robin Vaz

through performances by prominent titatrists comprising of Joe Rose, Eugenio Cardozo, Ben Evangelist, Jessie Dias, Betty Naz, Rita Rose, Anthony San, Premanand Sangodkar, Antonette Mendes, William Fernandes, Kenny Zuzarte, mestri Thomas, Peter Barbosa, Batu Rodrigues, comedians Agostinho, Janet, Domnick and Luis Bachchan, Roseferns, Prince Jacob, Mario Menezes, Rosy Alvares, Mariano Fernandes, Cezar D’Mello, Alfy de Divar, Marciano Noronha, Marcos Gonsalves, Vhorty, Dulcin and Lynne.

Agnelo de Borim and Michael Gracias compered the event.