M'lore: Konkani Writer, Director, Actor Francis Cascia Bags Prestigious KKSA Award
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Mangalore, Feb 24: Francis Fernandes Cascia of Mangalore bags the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy (KKSA) award for his outstanding contribution to the field of drama. Cascia is one amongst the noteworthy awardees to bag this award from the KKSA, Mangalore, which has announced its annual honorary awards for the year 2007. It may be noted that every year the KKSA announces this award, for deserving individuals in the fields of literature, folk arts and drama.
According to a press release from H.S. Shivarudrappa, registrar of the academy, here on Saturday, Feb 23 the award winners are as follows: Gerald Pinto (Gerry Niddodi) of Udupi for literature, Manjaiah Shivu Kumbri of Honnavar for folk arts and Francis Fernandes Cascia for drama, as informed earlier too.
(Dr. Gerlad Pinto, Francis Fernandes Cascia and Manjaih Shivu Kumbri)
The general body meeting of the KKSA took a decision to this effect here, on Thursday, Feb 21 taking into consideration the contribution of individuals to their respective fields, Shivarudrappa informed. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, a certificate and a memento. These will be presented to the winners individually at a function to be held at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district on March 9 at 5.30 p.m. The function will be presided over by the president of the academy Eric Ozario.
Brief note on awardees: Francis Cascia (63) is a popular Konkani writer, director and actor who has written several plays and dramas. He is also popularly known as 'Comedy King' and has been involved in the field of dramatics for nearly 40 years. He is settled in Dubai, U.A.E.
"Kityak Negar Karthai?" his first play, staged numerous times including the famous Don Bosco Hall. It is claimed to be the first play to be taken part by both men and women together. In 1967 same play was staged in St. Mary's Hall Mumbai and admired by a vast group of audience.
28 Konkani plays written during 1967-1977 and staged more than 150 times between that period in Mumbai and Mangalore. Seven of his plays staged have been staged in Dubai as well as Abudhabi."Maldisaanv" and "Avoi thi Avoi" plays gained tremendous popularity, eventually more than 3000 video cassette copies of both plays sold out worldwide.
Apart from stage plays, he has also written short stories, articles in various Konkani periodicals. "Dhulimthli Phulam" and "Mojya Voili Kaals Nivaar" his two serial stories published in "Poinaari" Konkanni weekly. His first novel was "Konn Aikaatha Mojo Thaallo"
Apart from his literary work, Francis is known for helping poor families back home in India. He also contributed monetarily to numerous Konkani magazines, sponsored Konkani events. He was the sole sponsor for publishing and distributing "Amchi Kursachi Vat" (Romi and Kannda script) in St. Mary's church Dubai. Francis is active member of "Daiji Dubai" Currently Francis holds the key position of Co-Ordinator of Daiji Dubai writer's forum.
The other two awardees Gerald Pinto (51) is a resident of Kallianpur in Udupi, is the editor of “Samparka”, a Kannada quarterly. He has written stories, short stories, poems and more than 340 articles in his career spanning 34 years. Manjaiah Kumbri (55) is an active folk artiste heads the Gudde Sidda Konkani folk troupe in Honnavar.