Tiatr & Film

A medium to reach the masses is through drama. The society likes to see its reflection in the drama. In Goa, Tiatr is a very successful form of drama. Tiatr won over the relationship with the masses  and the commoner has fully fostered this form of play over a hundred years. Today Konkani drama, is trying to establish a link with the masses.

In Goa, Konkani poetry, the short story and novel have not yet reached the masses. But, while retaining its literary character, the drama has managed to go and settle there. The commoners have taken great pleasure and delight in seeing its own reflection in the theatre. Konkani drama will perform a great historical task in future in bringing the masses towards Konkani. We can't boast of any noteworthy tradition of kirtans and pravachans.

There is yet another medium, which appeals to the commoners. And that is the film. We are lagging far behind in this arena. The South Indian languages prosper through films and engrave a place in the hearts of the viewers.

In Konkani, so far, hardly a dozen films have gone on celluloid. In 1997, for the first time a state-level film festival was held in Goa. But in the absence of celluloid films, it turned out to be a video festival. The first prize winning film in the festival did reach the national hook-up and via the C-D technology, it rreceived sub-titles in 12 languages.

Film festival is a very good and encouraging activity but that is not sufficient. Basically the production of films needs lot of capital and some arrangements in this sphere will have to be made. The Goa government does not have any plans. Goa doesn't have the system of giving grants as they have in Maharashtra and other states.

There are special facilities for making regional films in Karnataka and Konkani films get some benefit occasionally, that's all. Nothing in this regard has been happening on the Konkan fora. Everybody is quiet as if "Konkani film is not our subject." If a Konkani film can be sub-titled in 12 languages and it gets telecast in those 12 language centres, then why can't other language films be subtitled into Konkani? Such a thing must take place. Nobody enquires about it.

Occasionally an individual in his private capacity takes up courage and enthusiastically produces a film on his own and then repents after sustaining heavy losses. None comes forward to rescue him. It's a tragedy that the Konkani forum has not yet recognised that Konkani film is essential for the development of the language. It is absolutely necessary that we should look at the film-medium more seriously, the medium, which can keep the masses, glued to the Konkani environment.