Kuwait: Konkani dramas in Kuwait have always provided great entertainment with productions that challenge, enlighten, and engage the community.
With the presence of established superstars, Goan directors have always promoted and fostered fresh talent exhibiting skillful expression of ideas in their dramas.
‘MAIM PAI TIM MAIM PAI’ - Silver Jubilee Show written and directed by Shri Domnic Fernandes captured everyone’s hearts and was hailed by many as one of the best shows in years especially for the message it conveyed.
The drama brought tears as well as smiles and a sense of contentment on people’s faces as it provided the audience with a variety of entertainment.
Incidentally, Shri Domnic became the first overseas Goan director to stage a Silver Jubilee of a drama. Among overseas dramatists, adorable Jose Rod, and late Rosary Ferns have been most successful, maintaining high standards, and keeping up the name of Konkani flying high on foreign shores.
Domnic’s last drama ‘Amchem Khoim Chukta Sodun Kadd’, a tiatr with a solid theme and dialogues was also staged all over Goa in 2014.
‘Maim Pai Tim Maim Pai’ was staged at Kuwait’s SIMS auditorium recently under the platform of Goan Cultural Centre (GCC).
HATS OFF TO SPONSORS
With the help of well-wishers and sponsors, directors have continued to meet the needs of rising production costs in Kuwait. The show saw as many as 11 artistes especially flown in from Goa.
Shri Domnic extended his gratitude to a number of well-wisher who were kind enough to be considered sponsors or gave a donation to help in making the show a super success and memorable.
In his emotional speech, bab Domnic pulled out Mr. Carmo Santos (president – GCC), Mr. Agnello A.S. Fernandes (Navelim), Mr. Bosco Leitao (Chinchinim), Alberto Azavedo, etc, for special mention, for their undivided support in staging the show.
In a short presentation during the break, Shri Domnic was honored by Goan Cultural Centre president Carmo Santos with a special artifact memento presented on the director’s Silver Jubilee achievement.
Mr. Agnello Fernandes, Bosco Leitao, Mr. Mercy Dias, Joseph D’Souza, Martin Afonso, Mario de Vasco, Braz de Parra, Gasper Crasto (compere) and actress Evon were present on stage during the formality.
Notable organizations and personalities who supported the show included:
Jet Airways,
Alberto Azavedo & fly (Vasco da Gama)
Alex Mascarenhas, Mona Mascarenhas and Darryl Mascarenhas
Apolonio Cardozo & fly
Credat Real Estate (Mangalore)
Gasper Almeida & fly (Parra, Bardez)
J.B. Ramesh (Samrosh Creation - Darpan Studio for Videography & Photography)
Jane Barretto (Consolidated Shipping Services)
Luis Dias (Raia, Bacbhatt)
M. Fernandes (SME Goa Cargo Direct Service)
Mario Fernandes (Curtorim)
Norma Fernandes (Nagoa, Bardez)
Patrick Rodrigues (Punjabi Suit Dress Material),
Paul Azavedo (Siolim)
Rocky Braganza
Santan Pereira (Sanvordem)
Tony Dias - Raia (Shuwaikh Electricals)
A Well-wisher from Sanvordem
Housie Prize (a LED TV set) was sponsored by Anthony Joao Rodrigues (Borim) & Mona Mascarenhas (Mumbai).
Shri Domnic also extended special thanks to Virginha & Elias Louis, MANU de Mandur & Braz de Parra, Anthony Rodrigues (Medyaf Travels), Gennifer Marshall - Verem, Martin Fernandes, USA (brother of Domnic Fernandes), Alex Mascarenhas (Bombay), Backstage Team, Entire Goa & Kuwait based artistes & musicians, Anand Sound System, etc.
Shri Domnic also acknowledged the media specially Arab Times, Indians in Kuwait, Mangalorean.com, Daijiworld, TimesKuwait, GoaWorld, etc.
STORY BRINGS EMOTIONS
An absorbing story and variety of meaningful songs kept the audience captivated all throughout the show.
Story of ‘Maim Pai Tim Maim Pai’ was considered by many to be a mirror image of most people working abroad.
The story is based on a mother (Evon Fernandes), and father (Mario de Vasco) working abroad, sacrificing their life for their only son. The parents ensure that the child (child artiste baba Valentino) is brought up with all comforts in life; the father staying back abroad for years just for the sake of his son, forfeiting his own pleasures of life back home.
Typically, when the son grows up and gets married, the parents are left alone to fend for themselves. Nonetheless, anti-climax of the drama reveals a solemn heart of the mother and father towards their son, a bond which perhaps surpasses all relations – Maim Pai Tim Maim Pai.
Many in the audience expressed that the drama demonstrated a high degree of emotions on the sacrifices made by parents working abroad, living a solitary life only for their children back home.
The fact that the drama was based on a true incident that happened in Kuwait made it even more special for the Kuwait audience.
Shri Domnic, in his speech, explained how the story originated, when one fine day he got to observe a Goan man weeping in front of the grotto at Kuwait church, and then opened up to him his sad saga.
Specially made curtains (pordhe), depicting some eye-catching scenes of Kuwait including the famous Kuwait Towers and the Kuwait Cathedral grotto, were shipped in for the show from Goa.
All acts (pordhe) were fluently performed by the artistes.
Mario de Vasco and Evon who played lead roles of the mother (maim) and father (pai) were excellent. Their dialogues and true to life acting brought tears to even stone hearts in the audience. Evon's grace, accent and a star glamor on stage was magnificent.
8 year old Valentino stole everyone’s heart with his cameo act and ‘flying’ song while his sister Valentina was marvelous in her act too.
Wilton, Anthony San, Zelia D’Souza, etc, played other important roles in the drama with great sensitivity.
The comedy was hilarious, brief and fluently enacted by Comedian Lino, Comedy Queen Querobina Carvalho, Nelson Colaco, Comedian Agnelo, and Alberto Cardozo.
All comedy sequences were connected to the main script which brought an added flavor and flow to the drama. It should be noted that no vulgar words or political slaughter were employed by the comedians to squeeze out laughter.
The evergreen Querobina Carvalho made her star presence felt living up to her image as the supreme Comedy Queen of Goan stage. While Comedian Nelson’s appearance was enough to make the audience laugh, Alberto Cardozo, a rising Goan star, played his character with great enthusiasm and passion.
MUSIC & SONGS
Musicians for the show were splendid, showing flawless combination.
The group included Maestro Faustino Fernandes (trumpet), Christo (trumpet, especially flown from Goa), Maestro Succor de Mello (rhythms), Melvin (keyboard), Dennis Gonsalves (bass guitar), Merwyn Fernandes (violin) and Tony Fernandes (drums).
All acts of the drama were interspersed by amazing songs.
Superstar Seby de Divar delighted with his songs as usual, legend Anthony San dazzled – his golden voice echoed the auditorium while Soccor de Santa Cruz was at his usual best.
Other singers included director Domnic Fernandes, Mario de Vasco, Jose Fernandes, Alberto Cardozo, Agnelo, Braz de Parra, Pitu Ferns, Gennifer Marshall, Zelia D’Souza, Gasper Crasto and Esparansa, etc.
OPENING CHORUS
The opening song was sung by Anthony San, a legend of a singer. It was a treat to watch him on Kuwait stage. His voiced echoed the auditorium while his smile and style exhibited a class of immense calibre.
Anthony San sang another high-profile melodious song on Our Lady of Fatima. While his comedy duet with Querobina Carvalho was super too.
DIRECTOR DOMNIC SINGS 2 SOLOS & A TRIO
Domnic’s song on Tiatr was a well-thought subject and uniquely composed. The director received great applause for the song as well as for his other solo on the life of people working abroad.
Domnic sang fluently in the trio song as well featuring Wilton and Alberto Cardoso. The subject was based on true colors showed by yester year and present day ‘tiatrists’ off the stage stage and in their efforts in promoting Konkani language.
Mario de Vasco brought memories of a ‘postman’ in his melancholy song on the subject, beautifully expressed by the star.
‘Pai Dhuvanchi Vakann’ni’, a trio by Gennifer Marshall, Zelia D’Souza and Goan star Alberto Cardoso was beautifully presented and sung. While the song praised daughters of today’s genre, Alberto’s perfect movements teamed with beautiful voices by the girls made the song even superior.
SEBY DE DIVAR & SOCCORO DE SANTA CRUZ DELIGHT
Both the Goan superstars were at their best.
Seby de Divar was one of the star attractions of the show. The famed singer energized everyone with a powerful political solo which was encored repeatedly.
His other song was a trio, also a political song alongside Soccor de Santacruz and Comedian Agnelo.
Soccoro de Santa Cruz sang 2 Solos – ‘Konknniche Martir’; the other song was based on Shri Domnic. Both songs were fluently sung by the singer known for his beautiful voice and tunes.
LADIES TRIO & OTHER STARS
It is perhaps for the first time that a Ladies Trio was introduced on Kuwait stage. The trio consisted of Querobina Carvalho, Zelia D’Souza and Gennifer Marshall.
The ladies were wonderful in their outfit and blend of voices. They exposed the value of women in today’s society and their role, especially in Gulf countries, to take up the mantle of the family on their shoulders.
Deep voiced Pitu Ferns lived up to audience expectation singing a song in memory of late Junior Rod.
Braz de Parra, known for his powerful voice, sang a song with one of the best beats and tunes. The song titled ‘Mhojem tem mhojem, dusreachem mhojem zaina’ said it all.
Gasper Crasto and Esparansa sang a foot-tapping duet ‘Kazar’, well applauded by the audience.
Goan star Jose Fernandes sang a beautiful ‘decent’ solo on ‘Kuwaitche Goenkar’ which was much applauded by the crowd for a repeat performance.
THE END
It is indeed an enormous task to organize a drama in Kuwait with so many restrictions and limitations especially in recent times. It was a great show that kept the audience glued to their seats till the end. Incidentally, the show started on time.
Shri Domnic truly deserves all credit for a grand Silver Jubilee of MAIM PAI TIM MAIM PAI and entertaining Kuwait audience.
While sharing extreme happiness on the stunning success of the drama, Shri Domnic stated, “I hope the message conveyed in the drama reaches far and wide especially to people working abroad which has been my main aim in producing ‘Maim Pai Tim Maim Pai’.”