Konkani on celluloid

Ever since the first World Konkani Cultural Convention began on November 25 by Mandd Sobhann, the world’s premier Konkani cultural organisation, Kalaangann is in news everyday.

Be it cultural fest (Sanskrutik mell), art fest (kala mell), youth fest (yuva mell), food fest (khannam mell), kavitha fest (kavya mell) or exhibition (saanth), the fragrance of Konkani is being spread far and wide. In fact, the events are being discussed worldwide among the Konkani speaking people, courtesty the internet and the websites.

Though some of the events took the audience down memorylane and made them nostalgic, the film fest (Pinturam Mell), in particular, has been gaining popularity day after day. As the CDs or DVDs of several Konkani films are not available in the market, several film buffs have been waiting to watch their favourite movies of the bygone era.

The beginning

“When I was given the charge of organising film fest as a part of World Convention, I was blank. I approached wellknown film maker Richard Castelino who agreed to give his film ‘Bogsane’. Later, we approached the Rebimbus family who agreed to give their film ‘Mog ani Moipas’.

Then we approached the Entertainment Society of Goa as many Konkani films have been made in Goa.

“Though the Society initially agreed to give the films, they backtracked later. At this juncture, Goa Film Guild Head and film producer Arnaldo D’Coasta came to the rescue.

He introduced several producers and succeeded in getting 22 good Konkani films including his 2 films — ‘Vizmit’ and ‘Chintnam Nuim Sopnam’ and wellknown producer Rajan Talak’s 3 movies — ‘Antarnad,’ ‘Alisha’ and ‘Savaria.com (all 3 movies have won national awards),” informed Rony Arun, the incharge of Film Fest and also the treasurer of Maandd Sobhann.

Later, the organisers found some more Konkani movies, but the committee decided to screen only those films which have Censor Board certificates, Rony adds.

Rush for films

“Since most of the Konkani movies being screened in the film fest are not available in the market in the form of CDs or DVDs, we can’t afford to miss them.

Its a golden opportunity to all movie buffs to watch the movies of bygone era again,” says Wilfred, who wants to watch as many movies as possible.

The film fest while showcasing the richness of the Konkani language and heritage, also promotes Konkani culture, art, language, tradition and music, opined Pradeep, another movie buff.

As Mandd Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario puts it: “This world is a beautiful garden of various cultures and languages of different hues and fragrances. Konkani is one of the most beautiful and fragrant among them. In preserving Konkani culture, we preserve the beauty of this world”.

Out of the 27 movies, 3 have won national awards while 8 have won state awards. Its a golden opportunity to watch the old Konkani movies. Don’t miss them and don’t regret later.

List of films

Dec 4: Ek Dis (10 am), Tho Dis Udelo (2.30 pm), Padri (9 pm);
Dec 5: Zhavabdari (10 am), Kantyanthlem Ful (9 pm);
Dec 6: Maryad (10 am), Khon Zhavabdar? (2.30 pm);
Dec 7: Mog ani Moipas (10 am), Ardhen Chadar (2.30 pm);
Dec 8: Kalzache Gave (10 am), Bogsane (2.30 pm);
Dec 9: Nirmone (2.30 pm);
Dec 10: Antarnad (10 am), Alisha (2.30 pm);
Dec 11: Savaria.com (10 am), Bitharlya Monacho Munis (2.30 pm), Vizmit (9 pm);
Dec 12: Amchem Noxib (10 am), Buinyarantlo Munis (9 pm);
Dec 13: Kazaar (10 am), Sopna & Shreyarthi (2.30 pm);
Dec 14: Sir (10 am), Maka Sangaath (2.30 pm);
Dec 15: Ek Jivo Borvoso (10 am), Just a Minute (2.30 pm);
Dec 16: Piracy (10 am), Ek Dis (2.30 pm);
Dec 17: Tho Dis Udelo (10 am), Zhavabdari (2.30 pm);
Dec 18: Khon Zhavabdar? (10 am), Maryad (2.30 pm), Mog ani Moipas (9 pm);
Dec 19: Zuzari (10 am).

Note

*There are 3 shows everyday at 10 am, 2.30 pm and 9 pm. Some of the movies are being screened more than once for the benefit of movie-lovers.
*  Only those movies which have Censor Certificates have been selected for the film festival.
*  There is no entry fee.

The striking features

The earliest films in Konkani were made in Goa, the subject matter being social themes, religious beliefs, triumph of good over evil, trials and tribulations of the common man and the like.

One of the striking features of these films, indeed of all Konkani films, is the melodious music. Be it the Portuguese fado-inspired sad songs or the mando and baila inspired dance songs, they never failed to move the audience. Most of the artistes in the film had a theatre background and all the early films were in black and white.

The Konkani films from Goa, produced over the last four decades, include Mogacho Avando, Sukhache Sopan (both directed by Jerry Braganza), Amchem Noxib, Nirmon and Moji Ghorkarn all directed by A Salum, Curtubacho Sounsar directed by Albert da Britona Jivit Amchem Osem and Boglant both directed by Prem Kumar, and Jait, a telefilm directed by Sridhar Bandolkar. Bhuyarantlo Munis (The man from the cave), a Konkani colour film released in the eighties, was a potboiler in the mould of Hindi films.

Mangalore, which has a sizeable number of Konkani speaking people, made a surprisingly late entry into Konkani films.