‘MUSICIAN’ – a new Konkani Video Film shot in Kuwait

‘MUSICIAN’ – a new Konkani Video Film in Kuwait by Shahu Almeida



Musicians usually specialize in particular types of music although there can be the opportunity to move between the genres. The job requires high levels of skill, expertise and dedication. Most musicians do their job as they have a passion for music.

Kuwait based Goan musician Shahu Almeida, first Goan musician to play a one-man band in dramas, has been playing a variety of music right from his young age. He ventures his skills into direction and singing in a Konkani songs video (DVD) album comprising select Goan artistes based in Kuwait.

The album, entirely shot and produced in Kuwait is scheduled to go public on 1st October 2010 at Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya, Kuwait.

For decades Konkani language songs 'Cantaram' on radio and on stage have been taking their cues from real life. Konkani singers are quick to get across their views, on life and day-to-day issues, with stunning boldness, criticism and satire.

However, in a video film, the challenge any videographer faces is to create a video that keeps the ‘watcher’ captivated. It requires an extra effort spent on special effects and specialized editing techniques. Those who are new to the business may not have time to develop such techniques as they refine more basic capabilities—like learning to shoot efficiently or streamline their editing workflow—before finding the specialities. Ignatius Fernandes, the editor of the film realizes the time and burden that these demands add to a typical edit and has covered it up with a very decent cinema-photography.

‘Musician’ doesn’t have creative elements to boast of but it definitely portrays fabulous artistic quality in both Shahu the musician and Ignatius the videographer. The DVD has sparkling quality in clarity.

Being shot in Kuwait, many would expect the unexpected with Ignatius to exploit what the structural beauty of Kuwait City has to offer. Still, Shahu and Ignatius have done a tremendous job. Shooting a video-film in a country like Kuwait, known for it’s strict legislation for outdoor filming, is difficult indeed. But Ignatius, the young, budding filmmaker shows great potential and professionalism with a more than average creation.


Report: Gasper Crasto

[As forwarded to goa-world.com]

From tiatr to cinema

From tiatr to cinema


Sharon Mazarello, a household name in Goa, famous crooner, is now all excited as she sets out to promote her first Konkani film, ‘Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo?’ (What would you have done?), written, produced and directed by the lady herself.
Sharon who is a professional singer in tiatrs for the last 25 years tried her hand at writing and that is how this movie idea eventually was born.

“This story is actually a tiatr script which I had submitted at the Kala Academy’s competition and had staged. It received a good response. That is when I submitted the same script to avail of the film financing scheme of the Goa government. Actually we (my husband, Wilmix, son, Claron) had submitted three scripts but this got selected. That is when the process of writing a story began,” stated Sharon while speaking at the launch of the music of the movie at the FM radio station, Radio Mirchi. ‘Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo? is slated to be released on November 1.
The music album was formally released by the president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), Mr Tomazinho Cardozo who stated that Sharon’s venture into Konkani cinema would help take Konkani music to a wider audience.

The music for the film has been created by Balthazar Fernandes (ex-assistant to Kalyanji-Anandji) while Wilmix has penned the lyrics and set it to tune. The cinematography has been done by Domnic Dias.

The cast of the movie includes Sharon Mazarello, Pradip Naik, Franky Gonsalves, Wilmix, Comedy Supremo Humbert, Effie Fernandes, Roseferns, Menino de Bandar, Comedian Edisson, Fermeeno, etc.

The music album will be formally released in the market next week. Till then Radio Mirchi will play the songs on their radio station.
Speaking more about the movie, Sharon added that it was a woman centric film. “In our society we always blame a woman even if she is not at fault. My film deals with this aspect,” added Sharon who refused to reveal more about the film as it would then lose out on the suspense element.

Commenting further, she mentioned that this film has achieved many firsts. Through this film, Sharon has started a blog (sharon-shamazfilmsgoa.blogspot.com) and has become the first Goan tiatrist to do so. This blog has interesting snippets related to the movie, its cast, and crew. There is also a section on Wilmx and Sharon - a real life couple - and their love and their journey on the Konkani stage. There is detail data about their work and their achievements.

“We also wanted to do away with giving press kits and by having this blog we are actually saving on a lot of paper,” adds Claron Mazarello.
This will also be the first Konkani film to use professional choreography involving Goan fire-dancers.
‘Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo? also came across a few hurdles prior to its release. It was stalled by the censor board for using two names -‘Parvati’ and ‘Tulsi’ in a comic scene. “We didn’t realise they are mythological names; we were only trying to make a comic remark on TV serials. We changed those names as we don’t want to hurt any sentiments,” says Sharon.

Currently Sharon is working on two more scripts and is considering films as the next step. She says, “I will continue acting on stage but films are what that I am focusing on as of now. It is indeed a wider and a bigger platform,” concludes Sharon.

http://www.navhindtimes.in/iwatch/tiatr-cinema

Workshop on ‘Kantaram’ organized by Kala Academy Goa & TAG

Workshop on ‘Kantaram’ organized by Kala Academy Goa & TAG



A workshop on stage songs of tiatr ‘Kantaram’ was organised by Kala Academy Goa in collaboration with Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) on 8th August 2010 at the Black Box, Kala Academy, Panjim. ‘Kantaram’ is a part and parcel of a tiatr, which also constitutes its uniqueness.

‘Kantaram’ are of different types such as Solos, Duets, Trios, Quartets etc. and all these songs of different types must be included in the tiatr. However in the recent times it has been observed that variety of ‘kantaram’ which form the uniqueness of tiatr, is not maintained by the present day tiatr artistes. Hence, the workshop was organised.

Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG explained in detail the various types of ‘Kantaram’ such as Solos, Duets,Trios, Quartets etc. He brought out the exact nature of Duets, Trios, Quartets and stressed upon the fact that the lyrics should be interactive in nature and every singer should be projected as a different character. He also stated that ‘Kantaram’ which are sung together with different voices and which can be termed as choral songs also form the part of a tiatr. Yet another type of song which is sung by different people and in which there is no interaction is also a part and parcel of the package of ‘Kantaram’ for a tiatr.

During the interaction, various participants asked for clarification and also gave valuable suggestions in order to dispel misunderstanding regarding Solos, Duets, Trios, Quartets etc. in the minds of singers and lyricists.

Dr. Pandurang Phaldessai, Member Secretary of Kala Academy in his address stated that such type of workshops are very valuable because it helps in better understanding of Tiatr, its Song & Music and also helps in the development of Tiatr, its Song & Music. He further stated that the concept of Duets, Trios, Quartets and choral songs as discussed in the workshop will be made applicable in the forthcoming Tiatr Festival and Konkani Kantaram Festival to be organised by Kala Academy shortly. He appealed to all the participants to implement the new changes effectively and make Goan ‘Kantar’ more popular and interesting to listeners. Victor de Da, Member Secretary of TAG proposed the vote of thanks.




[As forwarded to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com by TAG via email]