Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 11: Fr Victor Martis of Puttur, parish priest of Vincent Pallotti Church, said that plays play a vital role in preserving one’s mother tongue and also serve as a strong foundation for sustaining native languages among modern youth. He noted that the play preparing for its 100th performance is highly commendable and said such an achievement is the result of the tireless efforts of an entire team. He wished that the play would become a model for future generations and find a place in history.
He was speaking as the chief guest during a simple stage programme held during the interval of the 99th performance of the Konkani humorous social play ‘Mhataro Charbela’, presented by Konkani Community of Marol. The drama troupe led by veteran Konkani theatre personality, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy award winner and comedy king actor Francis Fernandes Cassia successfully staged the 99th show of the play on Sunday evening at the open auditorium of Pallotti Church at Marol (Vijaynagar), Andheri East.
Fr Victor Martis and the programme’s chief coordinator Ronnie Gonsalves, executive chairman of Skylink Freight Forwarders Private Limited, felicitated the artistes. Julie Vaz of Marol was specially honoured and congratulated on the occasion. The organisers also honoured the guests with bouquets. Joy Paladka welcomed the gathering, compered the programme and delivered the vote of thanks.
Among those present as special invitees were Fr Walter Michael Mendonca, Sr Vina Mathew, Sr Felsy Menezes, Model Bank director Clement A Lobo Nakre, Prof Philomena C Lobo, Divo Konkani weekly editor Lawrence Coelho, Seculac Citizen weekly publisher Sujanha L Coelho, real estate agent Paul Mascarenhas, entrepreneurs Anand Ivan D’Souza and Vipul Rodrigues of Marol, St Joan Konkani Community Marol president Sunita A Suarez, Eugene D’Souza, Nelly Rego, Anthony D’Souza, Claudy Francis Montero, James Prakash D’Sa, Edwin Augustine Suarez, Hilda V Mathias, Melissa Nair and others.
The 99th performance of the humorous social Konkani play ‘Mhataro Charbela’, written and acted by around 83-year-old veteran artiste Francis Fernandes Cassia and directed by Joy Paladka, was successfully staged mostly by the same artistes who had acted in it nearly three decades ago. Joy Paladka, Betty Nhaz Bandra, Julie Vaz Marol, Flora D’Souza Kalmady (Jerimeri), Shanthi Barboza Boliye, Gregory Sequeira Niddodi, Peter Poys Basrur, Peter Coutinho Mundkur, Lavina D’Souza Jerimeri and Francis himself in the lead role earned appreciation from theatre lovers.
‘Mhataro Charbela’ set for 100th show
The 100th performance (centenary celebration) of ‘Mhataro Charbela’, presented by Frank Production, will be staged on Sunday, May 23, at Kuvempu Auditorium in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka. Hundreds of art lovers and several dignitaries have congratulated and extended their best wishes to the troupe, which has created a record in Konkani theatre.