STARS OF THE KONKANNI STAGE : WILMIX SHARON - MAZARELLO.
By Wellington Dias.

The husband & wife team of Wilmix-Sharon do not need much introduction to Konkani drama / tiatro goers, as both over the years with their talents have made their presence felt on the Konkanni stage.

During their recent Kuwait visit (in April, 2002) to act in Rafael de Majorda’s drama “Hanv Nokho Zalom”, had a pleasant talk with both of them on 27th April, 2002.

Profiling both their careers with Wilmix providing bulk of the info., WILMIX WILSON MAZARELLO traced his roots to acting in Village concerts and then acting in professional tiatros around 1970. He mentioned about writing & directing about 11-tiatros so far, writing a lot of one act plays for Radio & TV and also composing & singing more than 200-songs, to date.

Meanwhile, SHARON MELANCIA MAZARELLO, got going by crooning for an English Band in Bombay at 16-years of age and acting professionally in tiatros around 1980. She mentioned about writing & directing 3-tiatros professionally, writing a few one act plays in Konkani, composing & singing many Konkani songs and publishing a book of 105-Konkani one act plays entitled ‘Jivit Ek Tiatr’ in the devangri script.

Speaking about themselves, Wilmix  mentioned of their together producing about 26-audio tapes of Konkani songs, travelling extensively in India (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Karnataka, Maharashtra, etc.) and acting in hundreds of Konkanni tiatros. Some of the leading Writers & Directors, whom both have acted for include,

M. Boyer, C. Alvares, Prem Kumar, John Claro, Aristides Dias, Alfred Rose, Remmie Colaco, Jacint Vaz, etc.

Some of Wilmix’s tiatros are “Tiatrist”, “Konknno”, “Durig”,  “Sukti-Bhorti”,  “Sounsar ani Sorg”, “Mogachi Kanni”, “Viswas Ghatki”, “Chor-Pulis”, “Devachem Utor Hem”, “ “Chorachea Horrdeant Dukh”.

While that of Sharon’s tiatros are "Cheddo”, "Cheddun" "Il’lxi Chuk”,  “Baulem”, “Fuddem Paulem”.

As both believed in giving a good moral through their tiatros, they mentioned about promoting themes of Social awareness and protection of the environment through this art form.

Wilmix mentioned about publishing 2-books of Konkani tiatros namely “Sukti-Bhorti” and “Durig” in the devnagri script. When questioned as to why his books were published in the devnagri script instead of the Roman script, he stated that since devnagri script is the officially recognized script he felt that this is the only way for his books will reach out & be accepted and furthermore stated that the Roman script reading people would rather prefer to watch the tiatros  than read books on them. Besides the above 2-books, he's published a book in English entitled ‘100 Years of Konkani Tiatro’, giving history of the Konkani tiatro for the past 100 years.

Wilmix, speaking of his early years, had to say that at that time, one really had to fight one’s way up (he gave the example of Prem Kumar) and to be a tiatrist at that time he stated that the main criterion was one had to be a Singer and only if one could sing then the senior established tiatrists would be willing to help out. But, he pointed out that on the whole most of the senior tiatrists were very selfish and are responsible for the tiatro almost being extinct today.

Furthermore, he felt that in all respects the present scenario is much better nowadays than in the past in terms of unity and cited the recent instance of the Konkani stage artistes coming together to raise funds for the ailing Rosario Rodrigues.

He further added that he sees a bleak future for the Konkani stage unless some drastic changes were introduced & effected to the same, as most of the dramatists took drama as a business and not as an art, thereby, sacrificing quality of the same and had to say that up-liftment of the stage is more important than monetary benefits.

With regards to non-stop drama & tiatro, he had to say that both are art forms of the Konkani stage and according to him the stage should have first priority instead of bickerings between these art forms & its artistes. He mentioned about his acting in non-stop dramas and non-stop dramatists acting in his tiatros, which according to him was an example of his not differentiating between both these art forms.

He acknowledged the contribution of the non-stop dramatists and the positive influences they have brought to the Konkanni stage.

With regards to stage lighting, he had to say that good lighting can work wonders on-stage and not just the trend of flashy lighting methods being followed presently in dramas.

Wilmix mentioned that innovations to stage settings and other things were always welcome and could further help improve the stage on the whole.

He spoke about his organising the All India Seminar for Overall Development of the Konkani Stage in Nov., 2001, wherein speakers from the theatre in Bengal, Maharashtra, Nataks (Goa), Non-stop dramas, Konkani tiatro, hindi  films, etc., were invited and an open house discussion was held with a number of resolutions being adopted. One of the main things that all were in unanimuous agreement to the fact that, the Konkani drama & stage needs a professional touch in terms of direction.
When one of the hindi movie directors present at the symposium offered  to help in this regard, he was told of the exorbitant costs involved should a professional director be hired and according to Wilmix, this director voluntarily committed himself to do the first drama free of charge and thereafter, charge a nominal amount  for the following drama(s) so that the stage's standard could improve.

On the above, he was quick to point out as to how many present day Konkani drama directors' / writers' ego would permit them to accept another director directing their dramas & dictating  terms to them. He also cited the notion that is presently being followed, that is, everyone wanting to be all in one (Writer / Director).

With regards to the Goa Govt.'s non-support to the tiatro and Konkani stage, he had to say that it was a big controversy.

Both Wilmix & Sharon spoke about their present venture, wherein, they run an institute by the name of THEATRE ART & CULTURAL TRAINING INSTITUTE (GOA),  which offers classes in acting & other stage-craft for upcoming Konkani artistes and according to them both, they  derived immense pleasure in imparting their knowledge of acting instead of acting.

Sharon & Wilmix who have 2-sons, when requested of Wilmix to shed some light on their personal lives, he had to say that he prefers to keep his personal life separate from the stage as incorrect information portrayed by the press could tend to hurt people.

Other than acting, Wilmix, a BSc Graduate, mentioned of his working as a medical representative and travelling to Afghanistan, Russia, East Africa, Middle East and other Countries when working as the Export Manager of a Pharmaceutical firm in Mumbai.

He mentioned of his being an Executive Member of the Goa Konkanni Academy.

Both of them presently reside at Fatorda, Goa.

@ 2002 Wellington Dias
Copyrights Reserved
E-mail: wellydias@hotmail.com


P.S.: * For Jose Rod’s contribution to the Konkanni stage, the AVC Goan Overseas Sports & Culture Association presented their Overseas Award to Jose Rod by honouring him with the title of ‘PRIDE OF THE KONKANNI STAGE’ & also presented him a Crystal Plaque during the drama “Hanv Nokho Zalom”.